The 2009 Queensland Senior Open is underway at the Nudgee Golf Club. This event includes senior professionals and amateurs over the age of 50 years. As only those amateurs over the age of 55 can receive Australian Senior Ranking points this page focuses on these players.

FINAL SCORES of all players (amateurs and professionals) can be found by clicking on the 2009 Results button above. Details on all players can also be found on the Golf Queensland Web Site.

Round Three Report:

Conditions for the final day were more difficult than the opening two days and the swirling winds made the Nudgee course a real test for all. The 36 hole leader Michael Maher failed to maintain his excellent form and after opening with 73-73 returned a final round of 81 for a 54 total of 227 that saw him finish alone in fourth place.

Holding second place teeing off for the final eighteen ACT senior Tony Gover was another to struggle in the difficult conditions. His final round of 85 saw him slip down the leader board to finish in seventh place. Big hitting Queenslander Ken Glasson performed well on the last day with a 77 and that was enough for him to climb a few places and eventually share second place with rounds of 76-73-77=226. This year Glasson has finished third in the 2009 NSW Seniors and the Queensland Senior Open and a break through win may not be too far away.

The very consistent Victorian Ross Percy once again played steadily and his round of 78 gave him a 54 total of 228 (74-76-78) and a share of fifth place with Queenslander Lindsay Brown who recorded an 80 on the final day. Brown does not play in too many senior events but hopefully we can see him join the "tour" a little more in 2010.

The best rounds of the day from the 55 and over senior amateurs belonged to New South Welshman Greg Corben and local Nudgee member Grahame MacDonald. Handling the windy conditions and the fast greens these two players recorded very good scores of 75. With Corben shooting consistent rounds of 75-73-75 this gave him a total of 223 and victory by three shots from MacDonald who went close to defending the championship he won in 2008. MacDonald's rounds of 73-78-75 gave him a total of 226 and he shared equal second place with Ken Glasson.

This was the first win in a Senior Ranking event for Corben. His very consistent form during the year folowed up with this win has now placed him in sixth place on the overall Australian Senior Ranking System. With the Australian team for the 2009 Asia Pacific exepected to be named in August this was a certainly perfect time for Corben to break through for a win.

Leading Scores:
1. 223 Greg CORBEN 75 - 73 - 75 (NSW)
2. 226 Grahame MACDONALD 73 - 78 - 75 (QLD), Ken GLASSON 76 - 73 - 77 (QLD)
4. 227 Michael MAHER 73 - 73 - 81 (QLD)
5. 228 Ross PERCY 74 - 76 - 78 (VIC), Lindsay BROWN 74 - 74 - 80 (QLD)
7. 232 Tony GOVER 72 - 75 - 85 (ACT)
8. 234 Alan DAVIES 78 - 77 - 79 (QLD)
9. 235 Joseph SCOPACASA 77 - 74 - 84 (SA)
10. 236 Raymond GEARY 79 - 80 - 77 (QLD), Sam MASUI 76 - 83 - 77 (QLD)
12. 237 Geoffrey EVERETT 82 - 77 - 78 (NSW), Patrick GILES 78 - 79 - 80 (VIC), Kevin ASHLEY (NSW) 75 - 80 - 82

2009 Amateur age division results:

Winner - 50-54 Years: John Small(Killara) - 72.71.72 - 215
Runner Up: David Burton (Club Pelican) - 73.71.77 - 221

Winner - 55-59 Years: Greg Corben (Twin Creeks) - 75.73.75 - 223
Runner Up: Grahame MacDonald (Nudgee) - 73.78.75 - 226

Winner - 60-64 Years: Michael Maher (Royal Queensland) - 73.73.81 - 227
Runner Up: Ross Percy (Cobram Barooga) 74.76.78 - 228

Winner - 65-69 Years: Patrick Giles (Goonawarra) - 78.79.80 - 237
Runner Up: Kevin Ashley (Newcastle) - 75.80.82 - 237

Winner - 70 Years & Over: Geoff Everett (The Lakes) 82.77.78 - 237

Round Two Report:

Royal Queensland senior golfer Michael Maher holds the 36 hole lead in the 55 and over amateur section of the 2009 Queensland Senior Open. Maher has been on the leaderboard in many senior events for several years but has yet to break through for a win. After opening rounds of 73 and 73 perhaps this is his chance. One shot behind is another senior trying for his first title - ACT golfer Tony Gover who has recorded rounds of 72 and 75.

Playing alongside the the senior professionals has been exciting and motivating for many of the amateurs with good second round scores also returned by Greg Corben (75-73) and Lindsay Brown (74-74). This pair are in equal third place two shots behind Maher. Again, a win for either of these players would be their first on the senior amateur "tour".

In fifth place is former senior professional Ken Glasson who followed an opening 76 with a fine round of 73. He is closely followed by senior tour regular Ross Percy who has scored rounds of 74 and 76 and his total of 150 sees him hold down sixth place.

Newcomer from South Australia Joe Scopacasa and local member and defending champion Grahame MacDonald are next on 151.MacDonald has slipped back in the field after a disappointing second round of 78 but he has shown recently that he has the game to shoot the low score that will be needed if he is to defend his title.

Former senior amateur Phil Wood is now a senior professional and he followed an opening 80 with an excellent round of 72. To see all the scores clcik here Golf Queensland Web Site.

Leading Scores:
1. 146 Michael MAHER 73 - 73
2. 147 Tony GOVER 72 - 75
3. 148 Greg CORBEN 75 - 73, Lindsay BROWN 74 - 74
5. 149 Kenneth GLASSON 76 - 73
6. 150 Ross PERCY 74 - 76
7. 151 Joseph SCOPACASA 77 - 74, Grahame MACDONALD 73 - 78
9. 154 Rodney MCNEVEN 74 - 80
10. 155 Tony IRVINE 80 - 75, Alan DAVIES 78 - 77, Kevin ASHLEY 75 - 80

Round One Report:

The leading 55 years amateur after the opening round is ACT golfer Tony Gover who returned a fine round of one over par 72. Gover has fired some good rounds in recent senior events and this may be the time for him to break through for his first victory.

One shot behind are the defending leading amateur champion Graham MacDonald and Royal Queensland star senior golfer Michael Maher. They lead a trio of experienced senior golfers - Lindsay Brown, Rod McNeven and Ross Percy who all scored 74s.

Leading Scores:
1. 72 Tony GOVER
2. 73 Grahame MACDONALD, Michael MAHER
4. 74 Lindsay BROWN, Rodney MCNEVEN, Ross PERCY
7. 75 Greg CORBEN, Kevin ASHLEY
9. 76 Kenneth GLASSON, Peter ROBERTS, Ronald GOULD
12. 77 Joseph SCOPACASA, Neil KING, Gary TROEDSON


Report from Golf Queensland Web Site

Merrick wins John Deere Queensland Senior Open by Three

South Australian Senior Professional Garry Merrick has won the 2009 John Deere Queensland Senior Open by three shots over Rodger Davis (NSW), after carding a one over par round (72) to finish on a total of four under par for the 54 hole event.

Merrick was able to hold off his rivals over the final round with the solid shot making that had given him an overnight three shot lead.

It was not all smooth sailing for Merrick over the opening holes, " I hit the ball probably the best I had all week today, however the putts just did not drop." It was not until the 15th hole Merrick finally made a 30 foot putt for birdie, that gave him the confidence to then go on an make two solid par saving putts on holes 16 and 17. Down the last Merrick played the hole in regulation par to take out the Championship.

Both Davis and Roger Stephenson (WA) playing with Merrick in the final group, cut the lead down to one throughout the final round, however Davis made bogies on holes 7 and 8 to fall three back. Stephenson pushed Merrick all the way up to the final two holes, but finished with a double bogey, bogey, to finish in outright third.

The leading amateur, finishing in an impressive tie for fourth place was John Small (Killara, NSW) who had rounds of 72,71 and 72 in his first QLD Senior Open Event.

Nudgee Golf Club proved again to be a great host for the Senior Open event, with many players commenting on not only the great condition of the course, but also on the warm level of hospitality.

The John Deere Queensland Senior Open marks the start of the Queensland Legends Tour which will continue over the next 5 weeks, with 13 events and $137,000 on offer for the professionals. The next event for the Senior Professionals will be at Surfers Paradise Golf Club on Monday 27th July.