In winning the 2008 NT Senior Amateur Championship played at the world rated rated Alice Springs Golf Course Brian Sams has added another senior title to go with the impressive collection he has already accumulated. The margin was the narrowest possible with just a single shot separating Sams from the joint runner ups - Peter Terrace (QLD) and John Beaumont (SA).

Report on Round 1:

Leading the event after Round 1 was John Beaumont from South Australia. John has travelled to just about every event on the Order of Merit circuit this year and this experience plus his improved consistency is now reaping definite rewards. His opening par round of 72 gave him a one shot lead heading into the second round of the 54 hole championship.

Just a single shot behind after opening 73s were the 2007 runner up Peter Terrace, the 2007 third place getter Chris Coats and the experienced Victorian campaigner Alan Evans. Lurking close by was the pre-tournamnet favourite Brian Sams on 74.

The most common report from players when the after match summaries were being shared was the speed and size of the greens. Alice Springs greens are very large and long putts are normal occurrences. For a good score careful approach putting is most important.

72    BEAUMONT John
73    TERRACE Peter
73    EVANS Alan
73    COATS Chris
74    SAMS Brian
75    OLIVER Rick
76    DALE Denis
76    BOCKMAN Ross

Report on Round 2:

Another fine day after a cool morning and all players teed up with expectations of an improved score. John Beaumont (72-74) did not match his opening par round but a very tidy 74 was enough for him to maintain the 36-hole lead.

Just over his shoulder and trailing by one shot with the final round to be played was Brian Sams (74-73). Chris Coats (73-76) showed a good return to form with his two round total of 148 and this trio of Beaumont, Sams and Coats would make up the final group on Day 3.

Victorian Ross Percy charged back to the leading groups with a great round of 72 after an indifferent 77 on day one. His total of 5 over par 149 was matched by Peter Terrace (73-76). Denis Dale improved on his opening 76 to return a 74 for a total of 150. This trio of Percy, Terrace and Dale would be the second last group in the seeded draw on Day 3.

Unless some of the remaining golfers could return a sensational final 18 it was expected that the winner would certainly come from the final three groups containing the leading ten players (listed below).

It was interesting to note that from the leading ten players seven were striving for their first ever stroke play win in an Australian Senior Order of Merit event with only Brian Sams, Rick Oliver and Denis Dale having recorded previous victories. Friday promised to be an exciting day!

146    BEAUMONT John (72-74)
147    SAMS Brian (74-73)
148    COATS Chris (73-75)
149    TERRACE Peter (73-76)
149    PERCY Ross (77-72)
150    DALE Denis (76-74)
151    BOCKMAN Ross (75-76)
152    EVANS Alan (73-79)
153    STANFORD Greg (77-76)
153    OLIVER Rick (75-78)

Report on Round 3:

The early finishers made no spectacular scores although Queenslander Grahame MacDonald (80-79-73) improved noticeably on his early rounds with a one over par 73. Another to improve with his final round being his best was West Australian Nigel Goodall (77-79-76). This pair would eventually share tenth place with a 54 total of 232 (16 over par).

NSW player Rick Oliver could not find his normaly smooth putting stroke in any round and after steady rounds of 75-78-75 he finished alone in ninth place on 228. Another NSW player, long hitting Ross Bockman, maintained his good form shown in WA recently and his consistent rounds of 76-75-75 gave him a total of 226 and eighth place.

Alan Evans equalled the day's best score with another 73. After opening with a 73 Evans could only wonder what happened in round two where his 79 eventually proved very costly. Chris Coats started the final round in the worst possible way with a triple bogey seven on the relatively easy opening hole. Three more bogies followed soon after and at six over par a high final score looked likely. As always Coats worked hard and his form returned and he ground away to finish with a five over par 77 and a three round total of 225.

Another to total 225 and share fifth place with Evans and Coats was NSW player Denis Dale. His consistent scores of 76-74-75 were enough to share fifth but that very good closing round needed to apply some pressure and challenge the leaders was not there this time.

Ross Percy played his usual down the middle par golf and with a few holes to go he had narrowed the gap between himself and the leaders. A couple of late bogies saw him return a final round of three over par 75. Percy finished alone in fourth position and yet another Top 5 finish. It is hard to imagine that Percy has not won an Order of Merit event - perhaps next month in the Queensland Senior Amateur at Bribie Island?

Ahead the leading pair of Brian Sams and John Beaumont were fighting a very close battle with rarely more than a shot between them. In the second last group Peter Terrace turned one under to also move into serious contention for his first ever OOM title.

Sams struck trouble and double bogied where Beaumont parred. About the the same time Terrace dropped two ina row and the championship was there for the player who could best handle the pressure. With three hole remaining this trio were locked together in a three way tie at 5 over par for the tournament.

Peter Terrace came up a little short on 17 and was left with a long putt. It slid past the hole and when the tricky return putt narrowly missed he was 6 over. Sams and Beaumont made solid pars on 16 to stay at 5 over.

Terrace attacked down the last and played a great approach right over the flag. His birdie putt was dead centre but stopped just a few centimetres short. He signed for a final round 73 and a total of 222. He could only watch on as Sams and Beaumont two putted for pars on 17 - still locked together at 5 over.

Sams drove straight on 18 but Beaumont made a rare mistake off the tee with a poor swing. He was left with a very long second and although hit well it missed the green to the left. Sams clipped a neat 9 iron to 5 metres below the hole and a safe two putt at worst. It was now up to John Beaumont - he needed a great up and down to send the game into a play off. He chipped straight but a little long. Sams two putted and it all came down to the last putt of the day. As the crowd looked on Beaumont struck the putt - a little low! The 2008 NT Seniors belonged to Brian Sams.

Brian Sams has now won the Senior Championships of NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Who is to say he will not make it the full set by claiming future titles in the ACT, South Australia and Tasmania?

During the presentation dinner the hard working organiser Paul Pearson (Golf NT) indicated that the 2009 event may also be held at the Alice Springs Golf Course. Paul and the Alice Springs Club had certainly made this year's event a very successful one. All who attended this year enoyed their stay and would certainly add encouragement to those interested in making the trip to "The Alice" in 2009.

1.   221    SAMS Brian (74-73-74)
2.   222    BEAUMONT John (72-74-76)
2.   222    TERRACE Peter (73-76-73)
4.   224    PERCY Ross (72-77-75)
5.   225    DALE Denis (76-74-75)
5.   225    EVANS Alan (73-79-73)
5.   225    COATS Chris (73-75-77)
8.   226    BOCKMAN Ross (76-75-75)
8.   228    OLIVER Rick (75-78-75)
10. 232    GOODALL Nigel (77-79-76)
10. 232    MACDONALD Grahame (80-79-73)

The Alice Springs course had been the venue for the inaugural NT Seniors Championship in 2006. Denis Dale (NSW) was the winner being one of the four interstate players who helped make up a small field.

In 2007 the event was held at the RAAF Course in Darwin and attracted a field of 30 players with 12 interstate golfers. Tony Kennings (NSW) was the 2007 winner.

For this year's event a total of 31 interstate golfers travelled from across Australia to join the local players, enjoy the hospitality of the Territorians and the excellent Peter Thompson designed course. This group included the Top 6 players from the 2007-08 Australian Senior Order of Merit. The growth of the NT Senior tournament also highlights the ongoing and successful growth of the Australian Senior Order of Merit competition.