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Final Round Report:   (courtesy VGA)

Fifty-nine year old Chris Tatt has won the 2009 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship following the final round played at the Horsham Golf Club on Thursday October 29th.

A member at the Buninyong Golf Club, the former Victorian State player fired a three-over 74 for a 72 hole total of 289 (five-over-par) to take the title for the first time. Tatt won by three strokes from 2001 champion Michael Jackson who also closed with a 74 to finish on 292. Royal Canberra's Tony Gover returned a final day 73 to finish outright third on 294

The last round of the 15th Victorian Senior Amateur was played under clear blue skies for a fourth straight day but with a moderate easterly breeze making low scoring difficult.

The Victorian Senior Amateur Handicap Championship, which is played concurrently with the stroke event, saw Neville Wright from the Leongatha Golf Club take the title after a final round nett (handicap reduced) score of 69 for a four round total of 273. The ten handicapper won by seven-strokes from Southern's James Cordery who closed with the joint best nett score of the final day with a 68 to finish on 280 from a handicap of seven.

In presenting the Championship trophy, VGA President John Hobday paid compliment to the Nhill and Horsham Golf Clubs commenting that "both courses were presented in excellent condition for the entire week. Full credit must go to the course staff at each venue together with the respective Club Committees and members for the time and effort that they have put into these facilities."

"On top of that, the organisation has been simply excellent. From the lunches and evening meals provided to the overall hospitality extended to all players and partners, the support that Nhill and Horsham has given the Championship has made for an excellent week of golf."

Played in Western Victoria for the first time, the 2009 Championship attracted a starting field of 100 players from 64 clubs, including 23 Interstate clubs.

The only Australian 72-hole Championship for amateur golfers aged 55 and over will head to Torquay in 2010 when the event will be hosted by The Sands from Monday October 18th to Thursday October 21st.

TOP 10:

1    289    Chris Tatt    (Vic)    74 - 70 - 71 - 74
2    292    Michael Jackson    (Vic)    73 - 70 - 75 - 74
3    294    Tony Gover    (ACT)    76 - 71 - 74 - 73
4    299    Bill Banks    (ACT)    71 - 77 - 78 - 73
               Chris Coats    (QLD)    69 - 71 - 79 - 80
6    301    Alan Bullas    (VIC)    79 - 68 - 76 - 78
7    303    Jeff Hasthorpe    (VIC)    74 - 75 - 80 - 74
8    304    Alan Evans    (VIC)    77 - 75 - 78 - 74
               Paul Day    (NSW)    72 - 80 - 75 - 77
10  307    Mike Holloway    (VIC)    75 - 76 - 81 - 75
               Guy Krall    (VIC)    78 - 73 - 81 - 75

Round Three Report:   (courtesy VGA)

Three time Victorian Country Champion Chris Tatt will take a three-stroke lead into the final day of the 2009 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship following the third round played at the Horsham Golf Club on Wednesday October 28th.

The 59-year-old from the Buninyong Golf Club fired an even par 71 for a three-round total of 215 to lead from Yarra Yarra's Michael Jackson who returned a 75 for 218. Royal Queensland's Chris Coats, who led the event over the opening 36-holes, is one stroke further back on 219 after a third day 79. Royal Canberra's Tony Gover moved into outright fourth after a 74 to be 221 while Commonwealth's Alan Bullas is a further two strokes behind after a 76 for a tally of 223.

At the beautifully presented 5919-metre par 71 Horsham layout, players enjoyed perfect weather for a third straight day with clear blue skies and little breeze to speak of. Tatt made the most of the conditions in search of his maiden Victorian Senior title. Despite a double-bogey at the tricky 362-metre fifth, he fired an outward nine of 36. An inward nine of 35, including birdies at 10th, 13th and 14th sees the former Victorian State Team player well placed going into the final day.

The Victorian Senior Amateur Handicap Championship, which is played concurrently with the stroke title, sees Leongatha's Neville Wright maintaining his lead with a three round nett (handicap reduced) total of 204 after a third round score of 74 from a handicap of ten. Outside of the stroke leaders, who all have relatively low nett totals, the nearest contender is George Kubizniak from the Monash Country Club after a third day 73 from a handicap of 11. His total of 209 sees him stay within striking distance of Wright going into the last day.

From Reporter Graeme Altmann on the course:

"Today was a warm and humid day sapping the strength of most competitors. Reminders of the fire that devastated Horsham Golf Club earlier this year were everywhere but the fairways and greens have recovered very well. Coats, Jackson and Tatt were all late starters so they played through the more difficult conditions.

I'm not surprised to see Chris Tatt leading. For the few holes that I followed him he hit the ball powerfully almost driving the 317m tenth hole and then from 50 metres showing immaculate touch by pitching the ball into less than half a metre to save par on the twelfth hole. Its going to take a great round by Jackson, Coats or Bullas tomorrow to catch him."

TOP 10:

215    Tatt Chris    (Vic)    74  -  70  -  71
218    Jackson Michael    (Vic)    73  -  70  -  75
219    Coats Chris    (Qld)    69  -  71  -  79
221    Gover Tony    (ACT)    76  -  71  -  74
223    Bullas Alan    (Vic)    79  -  68  -  76
226    Banks Bill    (ACT)    71  -  77  -  78
227    Day Paul    (NSW)    72  -  80  -  75
228    Welsh Greg    (Vic)    71  -  77  -  80
229    Hasthorpe Jeff    (Vic)    74  -  75  -  80
230    Evans Alan    (Vic)    77  -  75  -  78

Round Two Report:   (courtesy VGA)

Chris Coats from Royal Queensland has maintained his lead after the second round of the 2009 Victorian Senior Amateur played at the Nhill Golf Club.

Under sunny skies with a moderate breeze for the second successive day, Coats recovered from early bogeys to return a one -over 71 for a two-round total of 140 to lead by three strokes from Yarra Yarra's Michael Jackson on 143. The current leader of the Victorian Senior Order of Merit returned a second round of 70 as he searches for a second Victorian Senior Amateur title to go with his victory in 2001.

Former Victorian State player Chris Tatt is in outright third after a 70 for 144 while Royal Canberra's Tony Gover and Alan Bullas from Commonwealth share fifth position on 147. Bullas, a member of Commonwealth's successful 2009 Division 1 Pennant team, fired the day's best round with a two-under 68 to move well back into contention for his maiden Victorian Senior title.

In the nett (handicap reduced) section, Leongatha's Neville Wright continued his scintillating form with a second round 64 from a handicap of 10 for a two round total of 130. Aside from Chris Coats on a nett 36-hole total of 132 from a handicap of four, the next best nett score belongs to 11-marker, George Kubizniak from the Monash Country Club in Sydney with 136.

The 2009 Championship now moves to Horsham Golf Club for the final two rounds on Wednesday October 28th and Thursday October 29th.

TOP 10:

140 Chris Coats (QLD) 69 71
143 Michael Jackson (VIC) 73 70
144 Chris Tatt (VIC) 74 70
147 Alan Bullas (VIC) 79 68
147 Tony Gover (ACT) 76 71
148 Greg Welsh (VIC) 71 77
148 Bill Banks (ACT) 71 77
149 Geoff Everett (NSW) 74 75
149 Paul Bray (VIC) 77 72
149 Jeff Hasthorpe (VIC) 74 75
149 Tony Hyde (VIC) 74 75

Round One Report:   (courtesy VGA)

Chris Coats from Royal Queensland leads after the first round of the 2009 Victorian Senior Amateur played at the Nhill Golf Club on Monday October 26th.

Under clear blue skies with a moderate breeze, Coats fired an impressive one-under 69 to lead by two strokes from Colac’s Greg Welsh and three-time Victorian Senior Champion Bill Banks from Royal Canberra around the 5692 metre layout.

Paul Day from Kooindah Waters is in outright fourth, one stroke further back after an opening 72. Victorian Senior Order of Merit leader Michael Jackson is also well in contention after an opening 73 along with Cranbourne’s Peter Bywaters. Thirty-five players broke 80 on the opening day and with three rounds to go, the 2009 Championship has the makings of a close low scoring contest.

Outside of Chris Coats with a nett (handicap reduced) score of 65, the next lowest nett score of the day was returned by Leongatha’s Neville Wright with a 66 from a handicap of 10. Ten players in total fired nett scores of 69 or better to highlight the good scoring conditions.

Shot of the day went to Senior Championship debutant John Wheeler from The National. En route to an opening round of 75 from a handicap of four, Wheeler achieved every golfer’s dream with a hole in one on the 139 metre fourth.

First played in 1995, the Victorian Senior Amateur Championship is the only 72-hole event in Australia for male amateur golfers aged 55 years and over. Being played in western Victoria for the first time, the event has attracted a field of just on 100 players from over 50 different clubs including a number of interstate clubs.

The second round will be played at Nhill again on Tuesday before the event moves to Horsham Golf Club for the final two rounds on Wednesday and Thursday.

TOP 10:

69 Coats Chris
71 Welsh Greg
71 Banks Bill
72 Day Paul
73 Bywaters Peter
73 Jackson Michael
74 Everett Geoff
74 Tatt Chris
74 Hasthorpe Jeff
74 Hyde Tony