AUSTRALIA RUNNER UP IN ASIA PACIFIC SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2007 Asia Pacific Seniors Championship was played from November 21-23 at the Mt. Malarayat Golf & Country Club, Lipa City, Batangas, The Philippines.

Golf Australia sent an offical three-man team to the championships with selection in the team based on the 2006-07 Australian Senior Order of Merit. The team for 2007 was Denis Dale (NSW), Tony Kennings (NSW) and Brian Sams (NSW).

FINAL ROUND SUMMARY:

The Australian team played well in all rounds of the championship but once again finished as tournament runners up.

In 2006, when the event was played in Australia (Moonah Links), Australia entered two teams and both tied for the runner up position behind New Zealand.

This year the Australian team had consistent scores of 150, 149 and 150 each day but the class of The Philippines number one player (Tommy Namotoc) was too much and second position was the best they could achieve.

After a week of rain squalls and delayed play the rain stayed away for round three but probably because the winds were too strong with a typhoon expected to arrive soon after completion of play. With the tougher conditions higher scores were expected for the final round and this was generally true. Australia's Brian Sams was one to avoid this trend with a great par equalling round of 72. Only the individual winner Tommy Namotoc could match this round.

Denis Dale and Tony Kennings reported that they played well from tee to green but struggled on the very grainy greens and their final rounds were a story of too many missed putts. Overall the Australian team was pleased with their effort but disappointed to once again finish in the runner up poition. Perhaps next year!

Sams' excellent final round allowed him to pass quite a few of the international players and eventually he shared second place in the individual event with a total of 225 - six behind the winner Tommy Namotoc. West Australian Alex Cleave, who was competing in the individual section only, returned a final round 75 to share the runner up position with Sams and Jun Kee Lee of Korea. Sams was awarded the trophy for runner up on a count back.

Denis Dale's total of 228 saw him finish in 8th place while Kennings totalled 231 for a share of 10th place. Australia had 4 players inside the top ten - Sams, Cleave, Dale and Kennings. This was the best from any country. This group of four players has been selected in the twelve man Australian team for the next major seniors event - the Sanctuary Cove Trophy against New Zealand at Titirangi Golf Club in February 2008.

Bill Bell was the highest finishing New Zealander in equal 6th position. Bell had the equal best round of the tournament with a 71 in round two (equalled by Alex Cleave). Experienced NZ senior Rodney Barltrop, and the defending individual champion, shared 8th place with Denis Dale. The remaining Kiwis (Neale Pitches (14th), Philip Cleland (21st) and David Headland (21st) finished outside the top ten.

FINAL TEAM SCORES:

445 - The Philippines 1 (Iggy Clavecilla, Tommy Manotoc, Sev-Roxas Chua)
449 - Australia 1 (Denis Dale, Tony Kennings, Brian Sams)
450 - Korea (Jun Kee Lee, Sun Yul Lee, Young Park)
463 - New Zealand 1 (David Headland, Phil Cleland, Bill Bell)
464 - New Zealand 2 (Rodney Barltrop, Neale Pitches)
466 - The Philippines 2 (Francis Gaston, Rolly Viray, Carlos Coscolluela)
481 - Hong Kong 2 (Don Moore, Bertie To, Brian Hsu)
486 - Taiwan 1 (Tu Shang-San, Su Ting, Alex Ho)
487 - Hong Kong 1 (Joe Pethes, Mike Grimsdick, Terence Collins)
510 - Taiwan 2 (Shiu Min-Chua, Chen I-te, Wan-hsi Wang)
513 - Guam (Phillip Torres, Francisco Romero, John Shaw)

FINAL INDIVIDUAL SCORES:

219 - 72,75,72 - Tommy Manotoc (Philippines)
225 - 74,79,72 - Brian Sams (Australia)
225 - 79,71,75 - Alex Cleave (Australia)
225 - 76,72,77 - Jun Kee Lee (Korea)
226 - 75,74,77 - Iggy Clavecilla (Philippines)
227 - 76,71,80 - Bill Bell (New Zealand)
227 - 75,73,79 - Young Park (Korea)
228 - 76,74,78 - Denis Dale (Australia)
228 - 74,75,79 - Rodney Barltrop (New Zealand)
231 - 76,75,80 - Tony Kennings (Australia)
231 - 75,78,78 - Sun Yul Lee (Korea)


Photos from Practice Day


Denis Dale, Tony Kennings and Brian Sams at the Mt Malarayat course.


The storms may have only lasted 15 minutes but they certainly were heavy!


Denis Dale seeks help from his caddy as an another downpour arrives.