Peter Smith and Steve Martin miss out on Algarve
Fraser Mann wins £1,450 and one of six top
cards for next year's European Seniors Tour
By STEVE TODD, European Senior Tour Press Officer
John Harrison fired a final round 67 to win the European Senior Tour Qualifying School by three shots in Portugal, setting the lowest total in the event since 2001.
The Englishman finished on 14 under par 270 at Pestana Golf Resort’s Vale da Pinta course on the Algarve, the lowest aggregate 72 hole score since Steve Stull’s 10-shot victory eight years ago, to lead the 20 graduates who secured playing privileges on the 2010 Senior Tour.
Joining him in the top six, who all gain full cards in Category 6 for next season, were Argentine Adan Sowa, who also posted a 67 to finish second on 11 under par, Sweden’s Anders Johnsson and Australian Graham Bannister, who finished a further shot back, with Carnoustie-born former Scottish PGA champion Fraser Mann, the Musselburgh pro, and Angel Fernandez of Chile both on eight under par.
Carnoustie-born Mann, winner of both the Northern Open and Scottish professional titles in 2002, had at least a shot to make up to get into the top six and he responded to the pressure with a bogey-free round studded with four birdies in five holes from the eighth.
He said: "I've really been looking forward to coming on the Senior Tour for the last couple of years now and I should be able to play in most of the events. I played some super golf today and it was my putting that got me into the top six."
Mann celebrates his 50th birthday on February 21, 2010. He has won over £250,000 on the Tartan Tour since he turned pro in 1979. Fraser picked up a cheque for £1,450 for his joint fifth finish in Portugal but the key of the door to the over-50s circuit is far more important in terms of potential future earnings - his "pension fund" as the Seniors Tour was once described by another Scot, Ross Drummond.
Englishman John Harrison, who won £3,500 as leading qualifier, was equally pleased.
“I’m delighted to get my card for next year,” said Harrison, who becomes eligible for the Senior Tour when he turns 50 in May. “I came here this week hoping to get in the top six so to win it was fantastic. I’m really chuffed and I’m looking forward to next season.”
Having led the Stage One Qualifiers from Pestana Resort’s Gramacho course last week, Harrison had taken a three stroke lead into the deciding round of Final Stage and never looked like surrendering his position at the top of the leaderboard.
After a nerve-settling birdie on the second hole, his only mistake of the day came on the fourth when he found the trees with his tee shot and had to chip out, eventually making a bogey.
A fine six-iron approach shot to six feet on the seventh hole saw him retrieve that shot and he added further birdies on the 10th and 14 holes. The club professional from Matfen Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne then capped off a superb week when he rolled in a 20ft putt for another birdie on the last hole.
“There was a lot of pressure out there even though I had the lead and I didn’t feel relaxed until I came down the last two holes,” said Harrison.
“Today was the worst I have played all week but I scored well. I’ve putted really well all week and that has been the best part of my game.”
Harrison’s victory means he will follow in the footsteps of his elder brothers Phil and Steve who have both played on the Senior Tour.
“I’m sure Phil will play some events next year and Steve will probably play in the De Vere PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall, which is our local event, so we could all be there together,” said Harrison. “I’m not sure if there has ever been three brothers together on the Senior Tour so that would be a nice first for us.
“I played on The European Tour for a couple of years but because of working as a club professional I never had chance to fully commit to it so this is my second chance. I’ve got a very good golf club and I intend to play as many events as I can after I turn 50 in May.”
Harrison will look to replicate the success of Kenneth Ferrie, whom he coached to two European Tour titles, while he will also hope to follow the example set by South African Bertus Smit, who finished second at last year’s Qualifying School and went on to win the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open on the 2009 Senior Tour.
“My target will be to retain my card for the next season as I can’t play all of the events with not being 50 yet but you never know,” said Harrison. “You look at Bertus winning and you think ‘why not?’.
“I’ve coached for the past 16 years and helped Kenneth to his two titles so it’s now my chance to have a go.”
The top six players all carded final rounds of 67 apart from Australian Banister, who secured his card with a round of 68.
A further 14 players secured conditional cards for next season, led by Englishman Mark Belsham and American Pete Oakley, the 2004 Senior Open Champion, who also both signed for rounds of 67.
Three other Englishman, John Gould, Ricky Willison, and Steve Cipa gained playing privileges along with American pair Greg Towne and Mike Donald, Zimbabwean Mike Williams, Swedish-based but Scots-born Terry Burgoyne and Canadian Graham Gunn.
Former World Cup winner Torsten Giedeon of Germany will also return to the Senior Tour for another season along with Peter Dahlberg of Sweden, Jean Pierre Sallat of France and Glyn Davies of Wales. Dundee's Steve Martin and Aberdeen's Peter Smith finished on the 286 mark, missing out by four strokes from making the top 20 and at least some appearances on the over-50s pro circuit next year.
Both Steve and Peter could not recover the ground lost with opening rounds of 76.
Jeb Stuart, the American who had been joint leader on 68 on Day 1, finished up being squeezed out on a comparison of final rounds from the top 20. He finished with a 73 while the two other players who had the same 72-hole total of 282, both scored 72.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
270 J Harrison (Eng) 68 68 67 67 (£3,500).
273 A Sowa (Arg) 68 71 67 67 (£2,400).
274 A Johnsson (Swe) 69 70 68 67, G Banister (Aus) 71 69 66 68 (£1,800 each).
276 A Fernandez (Chi) 73 68 68 67, F Mann (Sco) 69 74 66 67 (£1,450 each).
279 J Gould (Eng) 71 68 70 70, P Oakley (USA) 69 72 71 67, M Belsham (Eng) 73 72 67 67 (£1,200 each).
280 R Willison (Eng) 67 70 71 72, M Williams (Zim) 68 75 67 70 (£975 each).
281 T Burgoyne (Swe) 69 73 70 69, M Donald (USA) 69 68 72 72, G Gunn (Can) 71 67 73 70, G Towne (USA) 69 72 72 68, P Dahlberg (Swe) 69 74 64 74, S Cipa (Eng) 71 70 72 68, T Giedeon (Ger) 67 71 71 72 (£364 each).
282 G Davies (Wal) 68 71 71 72, J Sallat (Fra) 68 72 70 72.
=============MISSED THE CUT FOR CARDS ===============
282 J Stuart (USA) 68 71 70 73 (eliminated with poorest last round of three players who totalled 282).
283 P Allan (Eng) 70 68 75 70
284 B Hardwick (Can) 72 69 71 72, J Stansberry (USA) 74 69 73 68, M Briggs (Eng) 72 69 70 73, I Mosey (Eng) 75 68 74 67
285 D Johnson (USA) 69 75 72 69, C Acutis (Ita) 73 72 71 69, G Ryall (Eng) 70 72 76 67
286 S Martin (Sco) 76 68 70 72, P Smith (Sco) 76 70 70 70
289 J King (Eng) 70 70 77 72
290 J Hall (Eng) 73 75 68 74, M Kierstenson (Eng) 74 73 70 73, M Gallagher (Eng) 72 74 70 74, M Aparicio (Esp) 68 78 70 74
291 S Shields (Eng) (am) 74 72 72 73, J Mills (Eng) (am) 73 71 73 74
293 S Van Vuuren (RSA) 75 69 73 76
299 K Worm (Den) (am) 74 70 74 81
cards for next year's European Seniors Tour
By STEVE TODD, European Senior Tour Press Officer
John Harrison fired a final round 67 to win the European Senior Tour Qualifying School by three shots in Portugal, setting the lowest total in the event since 2001.
The Englishman finished on 14 under par 270 at Pestana Golf Resort’s Vale da Pinta course on the Algarve, the lowest aggregate 72 hole score since Steve Stull’s 10-shot victory eight years ago, to lead the 20 graduates who secured playing privileges on the 2010 Senior Tour.
Joining him in the top six, who all gain full cards in Category 6 for next season, were Argentine Adan Sowa, who also posted a 67 to finish second on 11 under par, Sweden’s Anders Johnsson and Australian Graham Bannister, who finished a further shot back, with Carnoustie-born former Scottish PGA champion Fraser Mann, the Musselburgh pro, and Angel Fernandez of Chile both on eight under par.
Carnoustie-born Mann, winner of both the Northern Open and Scottish professional titles in 2002, had at least a shot to make up to get into the top six and he responded to the pressure with a bogey-free round studded with four birdies in five holes from the eighth.
He said: "I've really been looking forward to coming on the Senior Tour for the last couple of years now and I should be able to play in most of the events. I played some super golf today and it was my putting that got me into the top six."
Mann celebrates his 50th birthday on February 21, 2010. He has won over £250,000 on the Tartan Tour since he turned pro in 1979. Fraser picked up a cheque for £1,450 for his joint fifth finish in Portugal but the key of the door to the over-50s circuit is far more important in terms of potential future earnings - his "pension fund" as the Seniors Tour was once described by another Scot, Ross Drummond.
Englishman John Harrison, who won £3,500 as leading qualifier, was equally pleased.
“I’m delighted to get my card for next year,” said Harrison, who becomes eligible for the Senior Tour when he turns 50 in May. “I came here this week hoping to get in the top six so to win it was fantastic. I’m really chuffed and I’m looking forward to next season.”
Having led the Stage One Qualifiers from Pestana Resort’s Gramacho course last week, Harrison had taken a three stroke lead into the deciding round of Final Stage and never looked like surrendering his position at the top of the leaderboard.
After a nerve-settling birdie on the second hole, his only mistake of the day came on the fourth when he found the trees with his tee shot and had to chip out, eventually making a bogey.
A fine six-iron approach shot to six feet on the seventh hole saw him retrieve that shot and he added further birdies on the 10th and 14 holes. The club professional from Matfen Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne then capped off a superb week when he rolled in a 20ft putt for another birdie on the last hole.
“There was a lot of pressure out there even though I had the lead and I didn’t feel relaxed until I came down the last two holes,” said Harrison.
“Today was the worst I have played all week but I scored well. I’ve putted really well all week and that has been the best part of my game.”
Harrison’s victory means he will follow in the footsteps of his elder brothers Phil and Steve who have both played on the Senior Tour.
“I’m sure Phil will play some events next year and Steve will probably play in the De Vere PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall, which is our local event, so we could all be there together,” said Harrison. “I’m not sure if there has ever been three brothers together on the Senior Tour so that would be a nice first for us.
“I played on The European Tour for a couple of years but because of working as a club professional I never had chance to fully commit to it so this is my second chance. I’ve got a very good golf club and I intend to play as many events as I can after I turn 50 in May.”
Harrison will look to replicate the success of Kenneth Ferrie, whom he coached to two European Tour titles, while he will also hope to follow the example set by South African Bertus Smit, who finished second at last year’s Qualifying School and went on to win the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open on the 2009 Senior Tour.
“My target will be to retain my card for the next season as I can’t play all of the events with not being 50 yet but you never know,” said Harrison. “You look at Bertus winning and you think ‘why not?’.
“I’ve coached for the past 16 years and helped Kenneth to his two titles so it’s now my chance to have a go.”
The top six players all carded final rounds of 67 apart from Australian Banister, who secured his card with a round of 68.
A further 14 players secured conditional cards for next season, led by Englishman Mark Belsham and American Pete Oakley, the 2004 Senior Open Champion, who also both signed for rounds of 67.
Three other Englishman, John Gould, Ricky Willison, and Steve Cipa gained playing privileges along with American pair Greg Towne and Mike Donald, Zimbabwean Mike Williams, Swedish-based but Scots-born Terry Burgoyne and Canadian Graham Gunn.
Former World Cup winner Torsten Giedeon of Germany will also return to the Senior Tour for another season along with Peter Dahlberg of Sweden, Jean Pierre Sallat of France and Glyn Davies of Wales. Dundee's Steve Martin and Aberdeen's Peter Smith finished on the 286 mark, missing out by four strokes from making the top 20 and at least some appearances on the over-50s pro circuit next year.
Both Steve and Peter could not recover the ground lost with opening rounds of 76.
Jeb Stuart, the American who had been joint leader on 68 on Day 1, finished up being squeezed out on a comparison of final rounds from the top 20. He finished with a 73 while the two other players who had the same 72-hole total of 282, both scored 72.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
270 J Harrison (Eng) 68 68 67 67 (£3,500).
273 A Sowa (Arg) 68 71 67 67 (£2,400).
274 A Johnsson (Swe) 69 70 68 67, G Banister (Aus) 71 69 66 68 (£1,800 each).
276 A Fernandez (Chi) 73 68 68 67, F Mann (Sco) 69 74 66 67 (£1,450 each).
279 J Gould (Eng) 71 68 70 70, P Oakley (USA) 69 72 71 67, M Belsham (Eng) 73 72 67 67 (£1,200 each).
280 R Willison (Eng) 67 70 71 72, M Williams (Zim) 68 75 67 70 (£975 each).
281 T Burgoyne (Swe) 69 73 70 69, M Donald (USA) 69 68 72 72, G Gunn (Can) 71 67 73 70, G Towne (USA) 69 72 72 68, P Dahlberg (Swe) 69 74 64 74, S Cipa (Eng) 71 70 72 68, T Giedeon (Ger) 67 71 71 72 (£364 each).
282 G Davies (Wal) 68 71 71 72, J Sallat (Fra) 68 72 70 72.
=============MISSED THE CUT FOR CARDS ===============
282 J Stuart (USA) 68 71 70 73 (eliminated with poorest last round of three players who totalled 282).
283 P Allan (Eng) 70 68 75 70
284 B Hardwick (Can) 72 69 71 72, J Stansberry (USA) 74 69 73 68, M Briggs (Eng) 72 69 70 73, I Mosey (Eng) 75 68 74 67
285 D Johnson (USA) 69 75 72 69, C Acutis (Ita) 73 72 71 69, G Ryall (Eng) 70 72 76 67
286 S Martin (Sco) 76 68 70 72, P Smith (Sco) 76 70 70 70
289 J King (Eng) 70 70 77 72
290 J Hall (Eng) 73 75 68 74, M Kierstenson (Eng) 74 73 70 73, M Gallagher (Eng) 72 74 70 74, M Aparicio (Esp) 68 78 70 74
291 S Shields (Eng) (am) 74 72 72 73, J Mills (Eng) (am) 73 71 73 74
293 S Van Vuuren (RSA) 75 69 73 76
299 K Worm (Den) (am) 74 70 74 81
Labels: Pro seniors
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, November 19, 2009
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