Edzell's Alastair Webster

earns place in Senior


Open championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY PGA
A handful of PGA professionals will rub shoulders with man-of-the-moment Tom Watson after qualifying for this week's Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale.
More than 300 hopefuls teed up yesterday battling it out for just 28 places at this year's 72-hole championship, which tees off on Thursday.
Qualifying at the first attempt were Edzell's Alastair Webster (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) - PGA Professional champion in 1990 - and Hawkstone Park's Frank Kiddie, who both turned 50 this year. They came through in a share of second place at Mill Ride with two-under-par 70s.
Also through is Baildon's Richard Masters, who was a shot further back.
Leigh Driving Range's Bill McColl, Scots-born winner of the PGA Professional Championship in 1991, qualified for the second successive year with a level par 70 at Camberley Heath. He will be joined by Ireland's Peter O'Hagan, who also shot to 70 to line up in the championship for the first time in his career.
Kibworth's Bob Larratt, who won the Senior PGA Professional Championship in 2005, will play in his fourth Senior Open - having made the cut on each his previous three appearances.
Larratt secured his place in the field with a three-under-par 69 at The Berkshire, where former European Open winner Andrew Murray (McDonald Portal) also qualified after shooting 70.
Reigning Senior PGA Professional champion George Ryall, who secured a top 10 finish at the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship last month, failed to qualify after carding a four-over-par.
The 72-hole championship, which carries a prize fund of $2,000,000, will feature the cream of senior golf from around the world including a number of Major winners such as Mark O'Meara, Tom Lehman, Jerry Pate, Larry Mize, Greg Norman, Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam.