Bermudian Vallis wins Senior British Open

Amateur Championship at Prestwick

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ROYAL & ANCIENT
In a closely contested final day's play at Prestwick, 56-year-old Robert Vallis from Bermuda scored a one-over-par 73, for a 54 hole total of 224 to win by two shots from Canada’s Graham Cooke and defending Champion Paul Simson of the USA in the 41st Seniors British Open Amateur Championship.
Irish Seniors champion Maurice Kelly returned a five-over-par 77 to share fourth position with Alloa’s Tony Stafford who had three steady rounds of 76, 76 and 75 (227).
On a final day of fluctuating fortunes for the leading pack Vallis made his move with a one-under back nine, highlighted a by a crucial 24 foot birdie putt on the 17th to take him into the outright lead on eight-over-par.
“Coming from a small island, I have won a few events at home but this is my first significant win. An emotional Vallis explained, “It’s nice to shoot some good scores. It’s hard to believe and down in your hearts of hearts you wonder if you are good enough to do it.”
Vallis earns an exemption for next year’s Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie as well as for next month’s US Seniors Amateur.
“I am delighted to get the chance to play in these events.” Vallis said, “I love links golf, it’s been a great Championship”
Despite leading from the first round, runner up Cooke, saw his hopes of completing a victory thwarted with a damaging inward half as he missed out on the senior title again, having finished second and third in previous years.
Cooke said, “It’s another near miss I think I will drop my putter somewhere over the Atlantic on the way home.” He went onto say, “This is a true, old links course. It’s a great pleasure to play here; I will come back next year with a new putter.”
Title-holder Simson made a spirited defence of the championship, having been well off the pace with an opening 80 but his closing 75 was not quite good enough to secure a third victory.
Joint overnight leader Kelly was disappointed with his performance. A bogey six at the par 5, 7th and another dropped shot at the 8th halted the Irishman’s bid for the title.
“The bogey at the seventh really killed me and from then on it was a struggle, said the 59-year-old from Killeen.
The 2010 Seniors Open Amateur Championship will be played at Walton Heath, 11-13 August.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
224 Robert Vallis (Bermuda) 73 78 73.
226 Paul Simon (US) 80 71 75, Graham Cooke (Canada) 71 79 76.
227 Tony Stafford (Dun Ochil) 76 76 75, Maurice Kelly (Killeen, Ireland) 77 73 77.
231 Richard Umani (US) 76 80 75, John Long (US) 78 76 77.
233 Michael Wigley (E 79 82 2, Robert Broad (Eng) 75 80 78, Rick Woulfe (US) 80 72 81, Adrian Morrow (Ire) 78 74 81, Val Smyth (Ire) 81 75 77.
Selected scores:
234 Peter Lamb (Biggar) 82 78 81, John Johnston (Lanark) 78 80 76.
236 Derek Murphy (Kinross) 81 79 76, Ronald McLean (Hamilton) 79 78 79, David Lane (Goring & Streatley) 78 76 82, George Paterson (Northern) 79 74 83.
237 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 87 77 73.
238 William Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 84 73 81.
239 Ronald McLellan (Turnberry) 80 79 80, Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) 76 76 87, David Downie (Kirriemuir) 76 80 83.
240 George Macgregor (Glencorese) 80 79 81, George Brown (Vale of Leven) 80 78 82.
241 Keith McIntosh (Cardross) 82 79 80, Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 79 80 82.