PETER SMITH OUT TO FOLLOW

FRASER MANN EXAMPLE

AT SENIOR Q SCHOOL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
"Anything Fraser Mann can do, I can do better." That's the tongue-in-cheek approach of another former Northern Open champion Peter Smith as he prepares for the European Senior Tour Qualifying School at Pestana Golf Resort on the Algarve from November 11 to 18.
"Fraser played on the Senior Tour this past year after coming through the Qualifying School last November so that's a big source of encouragement to me," said Udny-born Smith who turned 50 last year and has recently returned to his native Aberdeenshire after several years divided between club posts in the Netherlands and New Zealand.
Smith, who has been appointed coach by Paul Lawrie to his Elite Foundation Team, played in this year's PGA Senior Championship with Sandy Lyle, Sam Torrance and Barry Lane as partners and was not in the slightest bit overawed.
"It was great to catch up with the players I knew and played with 20 years ago. I have to say I felt very comfrtable playing at that level again and it would be a dream come true to compete against them on a more regular basis on the over-50s circuit," said Smith.
Peter played on the European Tour from 1990 to 1993. He won the PGA of Holland Senior Cup last year and the New Zealand club pros' title earlier in this decade. Last year he was picked to play for Sir Bob Charles' New Zealand Senior Professionals' team against Kel Nagle's Australian seniors team in an inaugural Ryder Cup-style challlenge match.
Smith, who is looking for a golf club in the Aberdeen area to give him a base for coaching when he is not involved in tournament golf, has signed a sponsorship contract to carry the name of Steadfast Scotland, an Aberdeen-based multi-commodity supplier to the international oil and gas industry at the Seniors' Qualifying School.
Stage 1 over 36 holes will be held on November 11 and 12 with the Final Stage over four rounds at the Vale da Pinta course from November 15 to 18.
Smith realises that he has to be on his game to follow Fraser Mann's example. Only six players' cards for the 2012 European Seniors Tour are up for grabs. The next eight in the final totals at the Q School will gain restricted playing rights.