Staysure Tour announces 2019 schedule
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Press Release
The Staysure Tour today announced four new tournaments as part of its 2019 schedule, which features a minimum of 19 events on four continents.
The Arras Open Senior Hauts de France by Jean van de Velde, Austrian Senior Open, Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship, and Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla are the newest additions to the schedule which runs from April to December.
The season will begin at the inaugural Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla, which is tri-sanctioned with the European Challenge Tour and Ladies European Tour, with 40 professional golfers representing each Tour in a first-of-its-kind stroke-play event at Ayla Golf Club from April 4-6.
Jean van de Velde, a member of Europe’s 1999 Ryder Cup side, will host the Arras Open Senior Hauts de France by Jean van de Velde at Le Golf d’Arras in June. Le Golf d’Arras is no stranger to elite competition, having hosted the Ladies European Tour on 11 occasions from 1996 to 2009.
Also in June, the Harry Colt-designed Championship Course at Trevose Golf Club will host the inaugural Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship, promoted by Champions UK and hosted by 1991 Masters winner and 2006 Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam.
Previously a venue for the Brabazon Trophy, McGregor Trophy and English Men’s County Finals, this will be the first European Tour-sanctioned event staged on the Cornwall links.
Later in the year, Austria will become the 45th nation to host a Staysure Tour event with the inaugural Austrian Senior Open at Golfclub Murhof from September 27-29.
Staysure, which became the Tour’s title sponsor at the start of the 2018 season, are again title sponsors of the four-round Staysure PGA Seniors Championship which will be held at London Golf Club, a European Tour Destination, from August 1-4, the week after The Senior Open Presented by Rolex (July 25-28) which returns to Royal Lytham and St Annes for the first time in 25 years.
PGA Catalunya Resort, formerly host of European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage and part of European Tour Destinations’ global network, will host the 2019 European Tour Destinations Senior Classic as part of the Stadium Course's 20th anniversary celebrations from July 12-14.
After the introduction of the season-ending Indian Ocean Swing in 2018, the two-stage MCB Tour Championship will again bring the year to a close on the paradise islands of Seychelles and Mauritius.
Oak Hill Country Club, venue of The 1995 Ryder Cup, will host the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship for the first time since 2008 from May 23-26.
The Senior Italian Open presented by Villaverde Resort (May 30 – June 1) will be followed by the inaugural Arras Open Senior Hauts de France by Jean van de Velde at Le Golf d’Arras in northern France from June 7-9.
The Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship (June 21-23) takes place the week before the U.S. Senior Open (June 27-30) at The Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame.
Golf Club Bad Ragaz will host the 23rd edition of the Swiss Seniors Open (July 5-7), while PGA Catalunya Resort will host the third edition of the European Tour Destinations Senior Classic from July 12-14. The WINSTONgolf Senior Open will this year be played on the WINSTONopen course for the first time since 2015 from July 19-21.
The Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Royal Lytham (July 25-28) is the first of four consecutive events to be played on UK soil and is followed by the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship (August 1-4), Scottish Senior Open (August 16-18) at Craigielaw Golf Club and The Sinclair Invitational (August 30 – September 1) at Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club.
The Sinclair Invitational will offer total prize money of £400,000 and raise money on behalf of the On Course Foundation.
The Paris Legends Championship returns to Racing Club de France La Boulie from September 20-22 and the Austrian Senior Open will take place two weeks later (September 27-29). Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel and Country Club will host the Farmfoods European Senior Masters for the third year in a row from October 4-6, and Spain will stage the final event before the second season-ending Indian Ocean Swing from November 14-16.
This season, Constance Lemuria will host the first stage of the Indian Ocean Swing with the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles taking place from December 5-7, before 2019 draws to a close at Constance Belle Mare Plage at the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius (December 13-15).
Similar to the European Tour, the Staysure Tour has adopted a new points system for the Order of Merit as Paul Broadhurst defends the John Jacobs Trophy which he won for the second time in three years in 2018.
David MacLaren, European Tour Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Head of the Staysure Tour, said: “With four new events announced for the 2019 season, the appetite for over-50s golf worldwide is certainly growing and we are excited to bring the Staysure Tour to new markets this year. We hope to make further progress this season as we work diligently to add new tournaments to this year’s schedule.
“As we embark on the second season of our partnership with title sponsors Staysure, we are delighted to continue the progress we have made over the last few years and are confident our efforts will go from strength to strength.
“We are thankful to all our existing tournament promoters and sponsors for their support of the Staysure Tour and we look forward to what promises to be another memorable season.”
Ryan Howsam, Chairman of Staysure, said: "The Staysure Tour continues to build momentum and we are proud that the 2019 schedule offers our players and fans one of the most exciting event calendars ever. We look forward to welcoming everyone to world-class golf venues including Trevose Golf Club in Cornwall and Royal Lytham and St Annes for The Senior Open Presented by Rolex.
“As title sponsors of the Tour, a year into our ten-year sponsorship, we are proud of how successfully this relationship is developing. We are especially pleased to be once again working with the team at the Staysure Tour, PGA and London Golf Club to deliver the Tour’s most historic event, the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship in August.”
Bold denotes Senior Major Championship
*Points earned at these events will not count towards the Staysure Tour Order of Merit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday, February 07, 2019
Tournament: ISPS Handa Vic Open
Race to Dubai: Tournament nine of 48 events
Venue: 13th Beach Golf Links, Victoria, Australia
Prize fund: A$1,500,000
Race to Dubai: Tournament nine of 48 events
Venue: 13th Beach Golf Links, Victoria, Australia
Prize fund: A$1,500,000
Round one report
Home favourite Nick Flanagan recorded a brilliant round of 62 to take a two-shot lead at the end of a low-scoring first day of the ISPS Handa Vic Open in Australia.
Flanagan opened with a ten under par total - one shot away from the course record on the Creek course at 13th Beach Golf Links. The 34 year old has six professional wins worldwide but is chasing his first European Tour title in just his 16th event after finishing in the top ten at this season's Australian PGA Championship.
Meanwhile, history was made over on the Beach course as countryman James Nitties carded a world record-equalling nine birdies in a row while matching the course record with a round of 64.
After teeing off from the tenth, his incredible run from the 15th to the fifth matched the feat of 1989 Open Championship winner Mark Calcavecchia at the 2009 Canadian Open on the US PGA Tour.
Austrian Bernd Wiesberger made nine birdies in a row at the 2017 Maybank Championship but with preferred lies in play on that occasion, Nitties' run of nine consecutive gains made him the first player to officially do it on the European Tour.
That took him into a tie for second place alongside Englishman Callum Shinkwin, New Zealand’s James Anstiss and Chilean Hugo Leon, all of whom also equalled the course record.
Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open at Anahita champion Kurt Kitayama and another local star in Jason Scrivener are also at eight under par after playing the Creek course, a shot clear of Scotland’s Grant Forrest, Swede Anton Karlsson and five Australians - Peter Cooke, Matthew Griffin, Lucas Herbert, amateur Andre Lautee and Wade Ormsby.
The innovative ISPS Handa Vic Open is making its first appearance on the Race to Dubai, with men and women playing over the same layouts in separate tournaments for equal prize money.
The men’s event is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, while the women’s championship is co-sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf and the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
Player quotes
Nick Flanagan:
“Just had one of those days where everything seemed to kind of go right. If I hit a bad shot, it would just miss a bunker and end up in a nice lie, knocked it up close and kind of just kept momentum going.
“The two bogeys I had were really, really easy bogeys from nowhere. But I knew that if I could just keep hitting it in the middle of the greens over there, I was putting well enough that eventually I was going to make a couple more birdies.
“I had a bogey when I was at six under, and then next thing you know, birdie, birdie, eagle and you're at nine under. The rest of it is history. So, it can come up that quick.
“I would love to play in Europe. I feel like the European Tour suits my game, courses like this and just a little bit of different golf to some of the golf I've been playing for the last two or three years. And those Monday qualifiers get old quick, so I'm kind of pretty sick of them.”
James Nitties:
“I don't hold any other world records that I know of, so to be a part of one is pretty cool. Had a good chance for that 10th birdie, but I didn't want to break it. It's such a longstanding record, I wouldn't do that to Mark (Calcavecchia), so it's good to hold it with him.
“I was kind of devastated last year when I was four holes away from a European Tour card and currently have no status. I mean, I have partial status on the Web.com Tour that will get me no starts.
“Any time I can play well in a co-sanctioned event and throw myself in the mix to have a chance to maybe get some status or even just play well in an event like this, it's always good. Happy to start the year like that and, I mean, it was a cracking day, so it was good fun.”
Hugo Leon:
“Beautiful way to start the year for me. I holed out from 93 yards on two and then I proceeded to birdie four with a similar distance shot. Played very good from there on out.
“Everything was pretty sharp. I was very clean. My irons were very good today. The putter, obviously I rolled in some putts, but I felt like I was very good at placing the ball in the right spot. I had great looks all day.”
Kurt Kitayama:
“It was good, really solid. Just dropped one shot on the last there, but overall I was happy I was able to get some scoring on the back nine. A lot of opportunities on that Creek side, for sure. Just felt like I didn't take advantage of the front, but I was able to make up for it on the back.
“It's fairly open on the Creek side. Going to the Beach course tomorrow I'll be in the afternoon and it's going to be windy so it's going to be a lot tougher to drive. I'll hit a few this afternoon and try and get some rest, too.”
Ends
Aberdeenshire Ladies County Golf Association fixture list for 2019
April 26: Open meeting, Ballater
May 2: Open meeting, Aboyne
May 3-5: ALCGA County Championship, Murcar Links
May 9: Open meeting, Banchory
May 18: Open meeting, Fraserburgh
May 20: Watt Duffus Inter-Club Trophy, Inverurie
June 13: Open meeting, Westhill
June 15-17: Northern Division Jamboree, Ballater
June 28: Open meeting, McDonald Ellon
July 1: Open meeting, Murcar Links
July 4: Open meeting, Kemnay
July 12: Tri-Am, Banchory
July 25: Open meeting, Cruden Bay
July 29: Open meeting, Deeside
August 2: Open meeting, Newmachar
August 5-6: Lyon Inter-Club Foursomes, Aboyne
August 19: Commonwealth Spoons, Duff House
Royal
August 29: Open meeting, Peterculter
April 26: Open meeting, Ballater
May 2: Open meeting, Aboyne
May 3-5: ALCGA County Championship, Murcar Links
May 9: Open meeting, Banchory
May 18: Open meeting, Fraserburgh
May 20: Watt Duffus Inter-Club Trophy, Inverurie
June 13: Open meeting, Westhill
June 15-17: Northern Division Jamboree, Ballater
June 28: Open meeting, McDonald Ellon
July 1: Open meeting, Murcar Links
July 4: Open meeting, Kemnay
July 12: Tri-Am, Banchory
July 25: Open meeting, Cruden Bay
July 29: Open meeting, Deeside
August 2: Open meeting, Newmachar
August 5-6: Lyon Inter-Club Foursomes, Aboyne
August 19: Commonwealth Spoons, Duff House
Royal
August 29: Open meeting, Peterculter
Michael Stewart wins Med Tour event at East Cairo GC
Ayrshire's Michael Stewart, pictured, won the Mediterranean Tour event at East Cairo Golf Club this week with a 10 under par total of 206.
England's Garrick Porteous also finished on that mark so we presume - the tournament scoreboard does not tell its readers what happened.
Other Scots in the last-day picture were Ben Craggs who finished T4 on 211; Ross Kellett T6 on 212 and Duncan Stewart T16 on 2018.
A fifth Scot, John Henry, totalled 228 for a share of 27th place.
TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL SCORES
CLICK HERE
Ayrshire's Michael Stewart, pictured, won the Mediterranean Tour event at East Cairo Golf Club this week with a 10 under par total of 206.
Other Scots in the last-day picture were Ben Craggs who finished T4 on 211; Ross Kellett T6 on 212 and Duncan Stewart T16 on 2018.
A fifth Scot, John Henry, totalled 228 for a share of 27th place.
TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL SCORES
CLICK HERE
Nitties is Wizard of Oz with nine successive birdies in Vic Open
Australian James Nitties made nine successive birdies in the opening round of his home Vic Open in Barwon Heads on Thursday, matching Mark Calcavecchia's 10-year-old record.
Starting from the 10th hole at 13th Beach Golf Links, Melbourne man Nitties made his remarkable run from the par-four 15th through to the par-five fifth at the European Tour co-sanctioned event.
The 36-year-old's streak set a European Tour record while equalling former Open winner Calcavecchia's U.S. PGA Tour mark, set in the second round of the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in 2009.
A par on the par-four sixth ended his bid to move past Calcavecchia but the Australian had few regrets.
"I don't hold any other world records that I know of so to be a part of one is pretty cool," Nitties said after carding an eight-under-par 64 to stand in a share of second two strokes behind leader Nick Flanagan.
"I had a good chance for that 10th birdie but I didn't want to break it.
"It's such a long-standing record and I wouldn't do that to Mark ... It's good to hold it with him."
Austria's Bernd Wiesberger roled in nine successive birdies at the 2017 Maybank Championship in Malaysia, a European Tour co-sanctioned event, but his haul was not officially recognised as a record because the round was played with preferred lies.
Nitties' blitz was the highlight of a day of low scoring, with his house-mate Flanagan, who won the U.S. Amateur championship in 2003, roaring home with three birdies and his second eagle on the par-five seventh in his last five holes.
Flanagan finished with a 10-under 62 to finish two shots ahead of a group of six players tied for second on eight-under, including Nitties, American Kurt Kitayama, Chile's Hugo Leon and late-finishing local Jason Scrivener.
Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts was two further adrift in a group tied for 14th on six-under after shooting a 66.
The Vic Open is also the second stop on the LPGA circuit, with the 36-hole 13th Beach links running both the men's and women's events concurrently.
England's Felicity Johnson carded a flawless eight-under 65 for a two-shot lead over the second-placed trio of Canadian Anne-Catherine Tanguay, American Kim Kaufman and local hope Su Oh.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES IN THE VIC OPEN
CLICK HERE
Australian James Nitties made nine successive birdies in the opening round of his home Vic Open in Barwon Heads on Thursday, matching Mark Calcavecchia's 10-year-old record.
Starting from the 10th hole at 13th Beach Golf Links, Melbourne man Nitties made his remarkable run from the par-four 15th through to the par-five fifth at the European Tour co-sanctioned event.
The 36-year-old's streak set a European Tour record while equalling former Open winner Calcavecchia's U.S. PGA Tour mark, set in the second round of the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in 2009.
A par on the par-four sixth ended his bid to move past Calcavecchia but the Australian had few regrets.
"I don't hold any other world records that I know of so to be a part of one is pretty cool," Nitties said after carding an eight-under-par 64 to stand in a share of second two strokes behind leader Nick Flanagan.
"I had a good chance for that 10th birdie but I didn't want to break it.
"It's such a long-standing record and I wouldn't do that to Mark ... It's good to hold it with him."
Austria's Bernd Wiesberger roled in nine successive birdies at the 2017 Maybank Championship in Malaysia, a European Tour co-sanctioned event, but his haul was not officially recognised as a record because the round was played with preferred lies.
Nitties' blitz was the highlight of a day of low scoring, with his house-mate Flanagan, who won the U.S. Amateur championship in 2003, roaring home with three birdies and his second eagle on the par-five seventh in his last five holes.
Flanagan finished with a 10-under 62 to finish two shots ahead of a group of six players tied for second on eight-under, including Nitties, American Kurt Kitayama, Chile's Hugo Leon and late-finishing local Jason Scrivener.
Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts was two further adrift in a group tied for 14th on six-under after shooting a 66.
The Vic Open is also the second stop on the LPGA circuit, with the 36-hole 13th Beach links running both the men's and women's events concurrently.
England's Felicity Johnson carded a flawless eight-under 65 for a two-shot lead over the second-placed trio of Canadian Anne-Catherine Tanguay, American Kim Kaufman and local hope Su Oh.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES IN THE VIC OPEN
CLICK HERE
Stuart Baker wins Midland Alliance with a 66 at Montrose
This week he Midland Golfers’ Alliance held the Graeme Paton Team Competition at Montrose Links over the 1562 Course on Winter Greens.
Stuart Baker (Crail, 5) won the scratch prize with a great score of 66. In the Handicap section Harry Grant (Muckhart, 9) took the top prize with a net score of 63.
In the Team Competition Jim McNicoll (Panmure, 10) Davie Hutchieson (Murrayshall, 11) and Alister Duncan (Murrayshall, 4) won the top prize by 2 shots with a 53.
Leading Scratch Scores
66 Stuart Baker Crail, 5
68 Ron Walker P, Lundin
Gary Tough Edzell, +1
69 Stuart McKendrick Dunkeld and Birnam, Scr
Jordan Brown AP, Drumoig Golf Centre
70 Mike Mackenzie AP, Edzell
Scott Arbuthnott Arbroath, 5
Alister Duncan Murrayshall, 4
Keir McNicoll AP, Carnoustie
71 Gary Smith Arbroath, 5
Gordon Mcleod P, Monifieth
Steve Craig P, Archerfield Links
Gary Pyott Arbroath Artisan, 5
Keith Bruce Edzell, 1
Leading Handicap Scores
61 Stuart Baker Crail, 5
63 Harry Grant Muckhart, 9
64 Eric Gourlay Monifieth, 12
Colin Sleight Murrayshall, 10
65 Martin Henderson Muckhart, 12
Scott Arbuthnott Arbroath, 5
Jim McNicol Panmure, 10
66 Gary Smith Arbroath, 5
Dougie Spaven Pitlochry, 11
Gary Pyott Arbroath Artisan, 5
Andrew Johnston Cupar, 11
Davie Hutchison Murrayshall, 11
Andy Black Tulliallan, 14
Alister Duncan Murrayshall, 4
Leading Team Scores
53 Jim McNicol Panmure, 10
Davie Hutchison Murrayshall, 11
Alister Duncan Murrayshall, 4
56 bih Richard Brown Royal Montrose, 8
Eric Gourlay Monifieth, 12
Stuart Greenshield Achterarder, 5
56 bih Stuart Baker Crail, 5
Kevin Lawor Crail, 5
Ian Craig Crail, 7
Next Meeting
Wednesday 13th February
Charleton Golf Course
8.30 -12.00
Lee Sutherland
KRIS NICOL WINS AGAIN WTH A SIX-UNDER 63 AT BUCKPOOL
Buckpool golf course was a green oasis for Wednesday's North-east Golfers Alliance fixtures amid swathes of snow-bound fields, writes Alan Gall.
Tarland’s Richard Blackmore was in the first group out, completing his round in two and half hours, scoring a very respectable one under par 68, net 63. However the lowest scratch scores came from the fifth group including Paul Lawrie (66), son Craig Lawrie (67) with Kris Nicol (Dunes Golf Centre) best of all with a six-under round of 63 over the winter course.
Kris had seven birdies. His only bogey of the round at the seventh hole in his front nine, followed by a three-birdie second half of 31. Nicol's victory follows on from last week’s success at Peterhead and was his third of the Alliance season. He also won at Strathlene on November 21.
TELL-TALE FIGURES
BEST SCORECARDS
SCRATCH SCORES
PRIZEWINNERS
SCRATCH
HANDICAP
CLASS 1
CLASS 2
Sixty-eight players enjoyed brilliant sunshine, light winds and temperatures around 5 Celsius. The course was closed two days previously so it was not surprising that winter greens were in play. The remainder of the course played as normal and was in very good condition for the time of year.
Kris had seven birdies. His only bogey of the round at the seventh hole in his front nine, followed by a three-birdie second half of 31. Nicol's victory follows on from last week’s success at Peterhead and was his third of the Alliance season. He also won at Strathlene on November 21.
4 4 5 4 4 3 4 3 4 - 35 4 4 3 3 4 3 5 4 4 - 34 = 69 PAR Winter Course
4 3 4 4 3 3 5 3 3 - 32 4 4 3 3 3 3 4 3 4 - 31 = 63 K Nicol (Dunes Golf Centre) 1
5 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 - 35 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 3 - 31 = 66 P Lawrie (Gleneagles) 2
4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 - 33 3 4 3 3 5 3 5 4 4 - 34 = 67 C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) 3
North-east Golfers’ Alliance
Buckpool Golf Club
– 6 February 2019
63 K Nicol (Dunes Golf Centre)
66 P Lawrie (Gleneagles)
67 C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre)
68 R Blackmore (Tarland), J Duff
(Newmachar)
69 C Morrison (Inverurie)
70 G Somers (Bon-Accord), I
Esslemont (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre)
71 Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne),
K Beveridge (Kippie Lodge), S Finnie (Northern)
72 B Ritchie (Inverallochy), C
Gilbert Cruden Bay)
73 R Ruddiman (Royal Aberdeen),
M Buchan (Cruden Bay), C Angus (Kemnay), D Buchan (Peterhead)
75 M Denholm (Deeside), S
McWilliam (Royal Aberdeen)
76 G Gibson (Kemnay), S Allison
(Bon-Accord), E Wheat (Montrose Golf Links)
77 G Allan (Newmachar), M Duncan
(Murcar Links)
78 D Mclean (Kemnay), D Leslie
(Bon-Accord), D Nelson (Aboyne)
79 R Davidson (Caledonian), D
MacKay (Fort Augustus)
80 R Reid (Tarland), R Smith
(Craibstone), D Wright (Auchmill), G Homer (Aboyne), L Buck (Peterculter)
81 I Birnie (Deeside), J Scott
(Peterculter), M Fraser (Longside), L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen), A Sorley
(Newmachar)
82 S Kidd (Longside), N Stewart
(Northern), D Fleming (Portlethen)
83 D Cassie (Nigg Bay), T Boyle
(Portlethen), D Lane (Deeside), W Skene (Deeside)
84 C Craig (Kintore)
85 M Brown (Kemnay), R Brown
(Kemnay), N Chisholm (Kemnay), K Mathieson ((Kintore), N Hardie (Kintore)
86 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), R Bruce
(Peterculter)
87 P Cheyne (Northern), R
Denning (Inverurie)
88 B Lumsden (Northern), R
Coupar (Duff House Royal)
91 D Booth (Tarland), D Townsley
(Peterculter)
93 J Forrest (Northern)
94 G Travis (Auchmill), M Rogers
(Kemnay)
NRs J Calder (Newmachar), J
Borthwick (Craibstone), B Munro (Newmachar), S Shand (Kemnay), D Wilson (Paul
Lawrie GC)
63 K Nicol (Dunes Golf Centre)
66 P Lawrie (Gleneagles)
67 C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie Golf
Centre)
68 J Duff (Newmachar)
70 I Esslemont (Paul Lawrie Golf
Centre)
63 R Blackmore (Tarland) (5)
65 R Ruddiman (Royal Aberdeen) (8)
66 C Morrison (Inverurie) (3)
67 G Somers (Bon-Accord) (3)
69 B Ritchie (Inverallochy) (3)
65 A Sorley (Newmachar) (16)
66 G Allan (Newmachar) (11) bih, M Denholm (Deeside) (9)
67 D Wright (Auchmill) (13) bih, G Gibson (Kemnay) (9)