Chapman bidding for debut victory
on European Seniors Tour
By STEVE TODD, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Roger Chapman’s dream start to life on the European Senior Tour continued with a second round 70 in the Son Gual Mallorca Senior Open to set up a mouth-watering final day battle with former Ryder Cup captains Mark James and Ian Woosnam.
Former European Tour winner Chapman, who only turned 50 on May 1, will take a two stroke lead over James and Bobby Lincoln into the final round as he bids to become the joint youngest winner in European Senior Tour history, equalling John Bland’s 14-year-old record of 50 years and nine days set in the 1995 London Masters.
The Englishman, who defeated Padraig Harrington in a play-off to win the Brazil Rio de Janeiro 500 Years Open in 2000, fired four birdies and two bogeys to move to six under par, with compatriot James and South African Lincoln on four under par after both signed for rounds of 70.
Reigning Order of Merit winner Woosnam is amongst a group of players a shot further back after a superb round of 68 at Son Gual Golf but it is rookie Chapman who is the man to catch as he maintained his seamless return to competitive golf after two years as a Rules Official on the Senior Tour.
“I’m more than delighted with the way I have played so far,” said the Senior Tour debutant. “I was just dipping my toe in the water of Senior Tour golf this week so to be leading by two going into the final day is beyond my expectations.
“Yesterday I kept hitting the ball below the hole but today I was on the wrong side of it but I’ve been striking some beautiful shots.
“I hit one bad shot on the 11th when I hooked it left but I’m playing well and it’s nice to be competitive again and hitting some really quality shots.
“I’m just going to go out there and enjoy it tomorrow. It’s a great last group with Mark and Bobby, Lincoln who I played with as an amateur in The 1981 Open Championship. Woosie won the Order of Merit last year too so will be looking to win.
“I’ve already exceeded my expectations so if it goes wrong tomorrow it’s still been a good week but I’d like to win. I’m absolutely delighted to be in this position.”
James, who led Europe in The 1999 Ryder Cup, goes into the final round looking for his second Senior Tour win after the European Senior Masters in 2005.
He said: “I played really well but I holed almost nothing. It was one of those days. There are a lot of people snapping at Roger’s heels – myself and Ian included – and I’m swinging it a lot better than last year.
“If I can go out and shoot 68 or 69 it could win it.”
Meanwhile Woosnam, the 2006 Ryder Cup winning Captain, defied a long standing back problem to eagle the par five fourth hole and carded five birdies – including on the closing 17th and 18th holes.
“I played really well today,” he said. “My back has been hurting all week but I seemed to be swinging better today. Hopefully I can go out and shoot the same tomorrow.”
The Welshman is in a group of eight players on three under par, where he is joined by former Ryder Cup player Eamonn Darcy, five time European Tour winner Mike Harwood and all time leading Senior Tour money winner Carl Mason.
LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
138 R Chapman (Eng) 68 70.
140 M James (Eng) 70 70, B Lincoln (RSA) 70 70.
141 K Spurgeon (Eng) 70 71, T Giedeon (Ger) 71 70, E Darcy (Irl) 71 70, C Mason (Eng) 71 70, I Woosnam (Wal) 73 68, H Carbonetti (Arg) 71 70, M Harwood (Aus) 72 69, J Bruner (USA) 69 72.
142 D Cambridge (Jam) 67 75, T Johnstone (Zim) 73 69, J Sallat (Fra) 74 68.
143 A Franco (Par) 71 72, R Drummond (Sco) 71 72, J Quiros (Esp) 75 68, P Mitchell (Eng) 72 71.
144 B Cameron (Eng) 72 72, G Brand jun (Sco) 74 70, D Smyth (Irl) 73 71, J Chillas (Sco) 70 74, T Allen (Eng) 70 74, A Tapie (USA) 73 71, G Encina (Chi) 72 72
145 M Cunning (USA) 73 72, S Torrance (Sco) 74 71, E Rodriguez (Esp) 75 70, P Oakley (USA) 73 72
146 L Carbonetti (Arg) 78 68, D Merriman (Aus) 75 71, G Brand (Eng) 72 74, P Brostedt (Swe) 74 72, J Rhodes (Eng) 73 73, T Charnley (Eng) 75 71, S Ginn (Aus) 75 71
147 J Hoskison (Eng) 74 73, J Rivero (Esp) 79 68, J Hall (Eng) 74 73, B Longmuir (Sco) 74 73, J Cañizares (Esp) 72 75, G Ralph (Eng) 73 74
148 D Russell (Eng) 75 73, B Boyd (USA) 75 73, G Cali (Ita) 77 71
149 B Smit (RSA) 77 72, J Heggarty (Nir) 73 76, M Williams (Zim) 75 74, A Fernandez (Chi) 72 77, A Murray (Eng) 74 75, N Job (Eng) 74 75
150 K Tomori (Jpn) 73 77, J Bland (RSA) 74 76, E Polland (Nir) 71 79, D Johnson (USA) 79 71, D Good (Aus) 75 75
151 M Piñero (Esp) 74 77
152 G Watine (Fra) 76 76, I Mosey (Eng) 78 74, A Barrera (Arg) 74 78
154 M Miller (Sco) 79 75, D Durnian (Eng) 81 73, D Hospital (Esp) 79 75
157 V Garcia (Esp) 81 76
158 S Bennett (Eng) 76 82, A Garrido (Esp) 78 80, F Chaves (Esp) 81 77
159 M Poxon (Eng) 81 78
161 M Bembridge (Eng) 82 79
162 F Fuentes (Esp) 80 82
168 B Stevens (Eng) 85 83
Retired: O'Sullivan (Irl)
on European Seniors Tour
By STEVE TODD, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Roger Chapman’s dream start to life on the European Senior Tour continued with a second round 70 in the Son Gual Mallorca Senior Open to set up a mouth-watering final day battle with former Ryder Cup captains Mark James and Ian Woosnam.
Former European Tour winner Chapman, who only turned 50 on May 1, will take a two stroke lead over James and Bobby Lincoln into the final round as he bids to become the joint youngest winner in European Senior Tour history, equalling John Bland’s 14-year-old record of 50 years and nine days set in the 1995 London Masters.
The Englishman, who defeated Padraig Harrington in a play-off to win the Brazil Rio de Janeiro 500 Years Open in 2000, fired four birdies and two bogeys to move to six under par, with compatriot James and South African Lincoln on four under par after both signed for rounds of 70.
Reigning Order of Merit winner Woosnam is amongst a group of players a shot further back after a superb round of 68 at Son Gual Golf but it is rookie Chapman who is the man to catch as he maintained his seamless return to competitive golf after two years as a Rules Official on the Senior Tour.
“I’m more than delighted with the way I have played so far,” said the Senior Tour debutant. “I was just dipping my toe in the water of Senior Tour golf this week so to be leading by two going into the final day is beyond my expectations.
“Yesterday I kept hitting the ball below the hole but today I was on the wrong side of it but I’ve been striking some beautiful shots.
“I hit one bad shot on the 11th when I hooked it left but I’m playing well and it’s nice to be competitive again and hitting some really quality shots.
“I’m just going to go out there and enjoy it tomorrow. It’s a great last group with Mark and Bobby, Lincoln who I played with as an amateur in The 1981 Open Championship. Woosie won the Order of Merit last year too so will be looking to win.
“I’ve already exceeded my expectations so if it goes wrong tomorrow it’s still been a good week but I’d like to win. I’m absolutely delighted to be in this position.”
James, who led Europe in The 1999 Ryder Cup, goes into the final round looking for his second Senior Tour win after the European Senior Masters in 2005.
He said: “I played really well but I holed almost nothing. It was one of those days. There are a lot of people snapping at Roger’s heels – myself and Ian included – and I’m swinging it a lot better than last year.
“If I can go out and shoot 68 or 69 it could win it.”
Meanwhile Woosnam, the 2006 Ryder Cup winning Captain, defied a long standing back problem to eagle the par five fourth hole and carded five birdies – including on the closing 17th and 18th holes.
“I played really well today,” he said. “My back has been hurting all week but I seemed to be swinging better today. Hopefully I can go out and shoot the same tomorrow.”
The Welshman is in a group of eight players on three under par, where he is joined by former Ryder Cup player Eamonn Darcy, five time European Tour winner Mike Harwood and all time leading Senior Tour money winner Carl Mason.
LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
138 R Chapman (Eng) 68 70.
140 M James (Eng) 70 70, B Lincoln (RSA) 70 70.
141 K Spurgeon (Eng) 70 71, T Giedeon (Ger) 71 70, E Darcy (Irl) 71 70, C Mason (Eng) 71 70, I Woosnam (Wal) 73 68, H Carbonetti (Arg) 71 70, M Harwood (Aus) 72 69, J Bruner (USA) 69 72.
142 D Cambridge (Jam) 67 75, T Johnstone (Zim) 73 69, J Sallat (Fra) 74 68.
143 A Franco (Par) 71 72, R Drummond (Sco) 71 72, J Quiros (Esp) 75 68, P Mitchell (Eng) 72 71.
144 B Cameron (Eng) 72 72, G Brand jun (Sco) 74 70, D Smyth (Irl) 73 71, J Chillas (Sco) 70 74, T Allen (Eng) 70 74, A Tapie (USA) 73 71, G Encina (Chi) 72 72
145 M Cunning (USA) 73 72, S Torrance (Sco) 74 71, E Rodriguez (Esp) 75 70, P Oakley (USA) 73 72
146 L Carbonetti (Arg) 78 68, D Merriman (Aus) 75 71, G Brand (Eng) 72 74, P Brostedt (Swe) 74 72, J Rhodes (Eng) 73 73, T Charnley (Eng) 75 71, S Ginn (Aus) 75 71
147 J Hoskison (Eng) 74 73, J Rivero (Esp) 79 68, J Hall (Eng) 74 73, B Longmuir (Sco) 74 73, J Cañizares (Esp) 72 75, G Ralph (Eng) 73 74
148 D Russell (Eng) 75 73, B Boyd (USA) 75 73, G Cali (Ita) 77 71
149 B Smit (RSA) 77 72, J Heggarty (Nir) 73 76, M Williams (Zim) 75 74, A Fernandez (Chi) 72 77, A Murray (Eng) 74 75, N Job (Eng) 74 75
150 K Tomori (Jpn) 73 77, J Bland (RSA) 74 76, E Polland (Nir) 71 79, D Johnson (USA) 79 71, D Good (Aus) 75 75
151 M Piñero (Esp) 74 77
152 G Watine (Fra) 76 76, I Mosey (Eng) 78 74, A Barrera (Arg) 74 78
154 M Miller (Sco) 79 75, D Durnian (Eng) 81 73, D Hospital (Esp) 79 75
157 V Garcia (Esp) 81 76
158 S Bennett (Eng) 76 82, A Garrido (Esp) 78 80, F Chaves (Esp) 81 77
159 M Poxon (Eng) 81 78
161 M Bembridge (Eng) 82 79
162 F Fuentes (Esp) 80 82
168 B Stevens (Eng) 85 83
Retired: O'Sullivan (Irl)
Labels: Pro seniors
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, May 09, 2009
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