The 2008 North Sydney Seniors Championship was held over 72 holes on four of Sydney's best golf courses - Pymble, Pennant Hills, Avondale and Manly. In an awesome performance the winner by 15 shots was current Australian Senior Amateur Champion - Stefan Albinksi.
ROUND ONE - PYMBLE
Current Australian Senior Amateur Champion Stefan Albinski holds the lead after round one of the North Sydney Seniors Championship being played over four of Sydney's best courses - Pennant Hills, Pymble, Avondale and Manly. This is a major event in the NSW Senior Order of Merit as well as a point scoring event in the Australian Senior Order of Merit.
Albinski returned a score of even par 72 on a very tough course setup to establish a two stroke lead over Vince Clark from The Lakes Golf Club. The strength of Albinksi's great round was made evident when compared with the scores from the Pymble Open Cup held the previous day (the winning score was 73 with the course setup being almost identical).
Leading scores from those entered in the 4 day Australian Senior Order of Merit component of this event included the following players:
72 Stefan Albinski
74 Vince Clark
76 Rick Oliver
77 Jack Parker
79 Denis Dale Joe Long
80 Tony Gresham Greg Stanford Geoff Everett
81 Russell Rogers Terry Gilchrist
82 Ian Harber Steve Darnoc Ross Bockman
83 Alan Jewell Greg Kent
85 Dave Morrison John Stephens Paul Day
ROUND TWO - PENNANT HILLS
Stefan Albinski demonstrated his class with another par round on the very well presented Pennant Hills course. Albinski's card revealed two bogies and one eagle - a lovely chip from through the green on the par 5 12th hole.
Sharing the honours for the day was local champion Tony Gresham whose round was again consistency with the highlight a holed bunker shot for a birdie on the par four 13th hole.
Vince Clark followed his 74 at Pymble with a 76 and maintains second position overall but is now 7 shots behind Albinski. Denis Dale improved from an opening 79 and his 73 sees him alone in fourth place on 152 a stroke behind Tony Gresham on 151. Newcomer Richard Greville is in fifth place following consistent rounds of 77-76 and a total of 153.
The Pennant Hills course was setup fairly to cater for the large senior field with some of the tees being placed forward in the usual member competition places rather than the championship plates. The heavy conditions following recent rains meant the course still played quite long and the tee position concession was well received by all players.
Top 10 players after 36 holes. This list includes players entered in the 4 day Australian Senior Order of Merit component of this event
1. 143 Stefan Albinski 72-71
2. 150 Vince Clark 74-76
3. 151 Tony Gresham 80-71
4. 152 Denis Dale 79-73
5. 153 Richard Greville 77-76
6. 155 Rick Oliver 76-79
7. 156 Ross Bockman
8. 158 Geoff Greenaway 84-74 Joe Long 79-79
9. 159 Geoff Everett 80-79 Dave Morrison 85-74
ROUND THREE - AVONDALE
Stefan Albinski continued his dominance of the championship although this time he had to share the best score of the day with Rick Oliver. Playing in the same group both players returned two over par 73s on the Avondale course. Many players did struggle with the very heavy conditions and the tight lies and tricky greens did test a player's full game.
Sharing the second best scores of the day with 74 were Greg Stanford and Greg Corben. Both players climbed the leader board with these impressive scores. Tony Gresham was next best with 75 and this was enough to move him into second position overall although Stefan Albinski should feel safe with his 10 stroke lead.
Rick Oliver now holds third place overall with Denis Dale maintaining his overnight fourth place although shooting 79. Vince Clark struggled today and his 83 saw him slip to equal fifth place overall with Richard Greville who also slipped with an 80..
The final round of the 72 hole North Sydney Seniors Championship will be played at Manly Golf Club tomorrow.
Top 10 players after 54 holes. This list includes players entered in the 4 day Australian Senior Order of Merit component of this event
1. 216 Stefan Albinski 72-71-73
2. 226 Tony Gresham 80-71-75
3. 228 Rick Oliver 76-79-73
4. 231 Denis Dale 79-73-79
5. 233 Vince Clark 74-76-83 Richard Greville 77-76-80
7. 235 Ross Bockman 82-74-79
8. 236 Greg Stanford 80-82-74
9. 237 Greg Corben 84-79-74
10. 238 Joe Long 79-79-80
ROUND FOUR - MANLY
2008 Australian Senior Campion Stefan Albinski maintained a perfect record with another win in the final round of the 2008 North Sydney Seniors Championship. Played over four days on four different courses Albinksi had the best score on each day (72-71-73-75=291). In a totally dominant performance his winning margin was 15 shots and in winning each day he has established a record that can never be beaten - only equalled.
The strong winds and very fast greens at the Manly course certainly made it a hard final day for all players and even Albinski looked shaky when 6 over par early in his round before a superb back nine of 2 under par gave him a very comfortable win.
Second place went to NSW golfer Rick Oliver (76-79-73-78=306) who edged out third placegetter Tony Gresham (80-71-75-82) who faded in the final round with an uncharacteristic 82. Fourth place went to Vince Clark (74-76-83-76=309) and the top five was rounded out by Denis Dale (79-73-79-79=310).
FINAL TOP 10 POSITIONS listed below.
1. 291 Stefan Albinski 72-71-73-75
2. 306 Rick Oliver 76-79-73-78
3. 308 Tony Gresham 80-71-75-82
4. 309 Vince Clark 74-76-83-76
5. 310 Denis Dale 79-73-79-79
6. 314 Greg Stanford 80-82-74-78
7. 316 Richard Greville 77-76-80-83 Ross Bockman 82-74-79-81
9. 317 Greg Corben 84-79-74-80
10. 319 Jack Parker 77-83-80-79 Ted Johnson 85-76-79-79
