2010 ASIA PACIFIC SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

                      Bangkok Golf Club, Thailand Nov 24-26, 2010


Bangkok Golf Course



Bangkok Golf Course



Bangkok Golf Course



Bangkok Golf Course



Bangkok Golf Course



Bangkok Golf Course




       Stefan Albinski
  2009 Individual Champion



       Australia
      2010 Team Champions

AUSSIES WIN 2010 ASIA PACIFIC TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP!

ROUND THREE REPORT:

All the round 3 scores here - Round 3 Scores

In a day of exciting and dramatic golf Australia has won the 2010 Teams Championship in the 2010 Asia Pacific Senior Championship played at the Bangkok Golf Club from November 24-26, 2010.

Australia had entered the final round tied for the lead with New Zealand and two strokes in front of the Indian team. At the end of play the Australians had a narrow three stroke margin over the Kiwis with India another 5 strokes away in third place.

In this championship each team has 6 players with the best 4 scores to count. The key to Australia's victory was consistent rounds with the highest score counted on any of the days being a 77. Every day several of the team produced scores in the low to mid 70s and they did it again under the pressure of the final round.

It was far from an easy win with the Kiwi team leading clearly in the early part of the day. Very experienced Rodney Barltrop was three under par after seven holes, Murray Martin was two under par after eight holes and Tony Treen one over after fifteen holes. With the pressure mounting and the Aussies fighting back the Kiwis dropped a few shots with Barltrop finishing on 73 and Martin on 78. Tony Treen had the misfortune to record an 8 on the par four 16th before finishing on 77. As is often the case in matches between these two keen rivals the result could easily have been a different one.

The highest placed Australian in the individual competiton was Greg Corben who finished equal fourth after consistent rounds of 75-75-76. Stefan Albinski would have finished in third place but his disqualification in round two eliminated him from the individual competition.

1. 902 AUSTRALIA
Rick Oliver 74-72-82 Gra MacDonald 75-77-79 Greg Corben 75-75-76
Stefan Albinski 76-DQ-74 P. King 80-79-75 John Beaumont 81-76-77

2. 905 NEW ZEALAND
Arthur Parkin 73-74-80 Murray Martin 73-73-78 H. Harrison 77-79-82
Tony Treen 80-76-77 John Sanders 80-77-77 Rod Barltrop 82-74-73

3. 910 INDIA
Vijay Bhadana 71-73-76 G. Khaitan 73-75-78 Ips Mann 76-81-80
Lakshaman Singh 77-79-76 V. Date 79-78-78 Krishna Bajoria 84-81-79

4. 914 THE PHILIPPINES
J Hechanova 74-78-75 Iggy Clavecilla 76-82-79 D Hernadez 77-79-73
R Garcia 78-85-75 F Gaston 80-76-80 Tommy Manotoc DQ-76-77

Australian Scores:

Greg Corben
Greg Corben 226
75-75-76
Rick Oliver
Rick Oliver 228
74-72-82
Grahame MacDonald
Gra. MacDonald 231
75-77-79
John Beaumont
John Beaumont 234
81-76-77
Peter King
Peter King 234
80-79-75
Stefan Albinski
Stefan Albinski DQ
76-DQ-74













  • As is becoming expected Greg Corben again played well and recorded a good final round score of 76. Although dropping a few shots late in the round his 76 was a low score on a day when most players found the course harder than the earlier days. Corben was the only Australian to have his scores counted every day.
  • Rick Oliver could not repeat his excellent form from round one and two that had helped put Australia in the lead and had a disappointing day. Oliver has played in two Asia Pacific Senior Championships (2008, 2010) and Australia has won both times - clearly he is a lucky charm (and a very good player).
  • Grahame MacDonald worked hard all day but was another to drop a few strokes late in the round on his way to a score of 79. A member of the Australian team that finished second in 2009 he was very pleased to now have a winner's medal in his trophy cabinet.
  • John Beaumont had two double bogies on the opening nine but showed great determination to equal par coming home for a much need team score of 76. Beaumont has had a great year winning for the first time in the Australian Senior Ranking competiton and the team win in the Asia Pacific was a great way to finish the successful year.
  • Peter King was the first of the Australian's to tee off in the final round and he needed a good round to get the team off with the start they needed. With the pressure on he produced his best round of the week, finishing par-birdie-par for a round of 75.
  • Stefan Albinski overcame the disappointment of his round two disqualification and again played solid golf to record one of the day's best scores - 74. Albinski had won the individual title in 2008 and 2009 and although missing a third title he was very happy with a team win for Australia.

    ROUND TWO REPORT:

    All the round 2 scores here - Round 2 Scores

    Australia has a 36 hole total of 600 and shares the lead with arch rival New Zealand after the Kiwis recorded an improved showing on day two. Australia's chances were made a little tougher with the disqualification of Stefan Albinski for having a practice putt on the 14th green. His round of 74 did not count and he has also been disqualified from the individual title he has won for the past two years.

    Just two strokes behind the Aussies and the Kiwis are the strong Indian team on a total of 602. It looks certain that the title will be decided by which of these three teams can best handle the pressure of the final round. Each team has 6 players with the best 4 scores to count.

    600 AUSTRALIA
          Rick Oliver 74-72 Grahame MacDonald 75-77 Greg Corben 75-75
          Stefan Albinski 76-74(DQ) Peter King 80-79 John Beaumont 81-76

    600 NEW ZEALAND
          Arthur Parkin 73-74 Murray Martin 73-73 Hugh Harrison 77-79
          Tony Treen 80-76 John Sanders 80-77 Rod Barltrop 82-74

    602 INDIA
          Vijay Bhadana 71-73 Gangaish Khaitan 73-75 Ips Mann 76-81
          Lakshaman Singh 77-79 V. Date 79-78 Krishna Bajoria 84-81

    620 THE PHILIPPINES
          J Hechanova 74-78 Iggy Clavecilla 76-82 D Hernadez 77-79
          R Garcia 78-85 F Gaston 80-76 Tommy Manotoc DQ-DQ
  • Rick Oliver had an exciting day with 6 birdies on his way to an even par round of 72. He is the best placed Australian in third place overall. Obviously in good form and putting well Oliver can be counted on for a good final score.
  • Greg Corben was another Aussie to find the greens to his liking and his round included 4 birdies. Unfortunately two bogies on the par fives stopped an even better round than his score of 75. Consistency is his middle name - a good score expected tomorrow as well.
  • Grahame MacDonald started a little slowly but hung on well until a seven on the 13th ruined his card. Showing his typical determination he birdied the final hole for his score of 77. He is ready to fire!
  • Stefan Albinski played solid golf and carded a two over par 74. However, that was not the end of the day. During his round he had a short practice putt after finishing play on the 14th green. After signing his card for the round of 74 he became aware of a specific condition of play and that raised the possibility that the practice putt had been a breach of the rules. He contacted the tournament referee and after explaining the situation was subsequently disqualified for submitting an incorrect card. He was very disappointed for the impact on the team and will definitely be one to watch as he strives to make amends in the final round tomorrow.
  • Peter King continued to struggle with the greens and he did not manage a birdie in his round. He is a known fighter and is certainly striking the ball well enough for a good score on the final day when the Aussies need him!
  • John Beaumont played well all day and it was only three bogies in the final five holes that stopped a much better round than his four over par 76. If a few putts drop tomorrow a very good round is on the cards.

    In the overall individual section the leader is still Taimur Amin from Pakistan with the outstanding score of 6 under par after rounds of 66-72. The best placed Australians are Rick Oliver in third place, Greg Corben in seventh place and Grahame MacDonald in eighth place. Stefan Albinski would have shared seventh place if not disqualified.

    ROUND ONE REPORT:

    All the round 1 scores here - Round 1 Scores

    The Australian team has made a solid start in the 2010 Asia Pacific Senior Championship being played at the Bangkok Golf Club.

    Australia is in second place three strokes behind the team from India. Close up three strokes behind Australia are their arch rivals from New Zealand with another two strokes to the team from The Philippines. Each team has 6 players with the best 4 scores to count.

    297 INDIA           Vijay Bhadana 71 Gangaish Khaitan 73 Ips Mann 76 Lakshaman Singh 77
                              (V. Date 79 Krishna Bajora 84)

    300 AUSTRALIA   Rick Oliver 74 Gra. MacDOnald 75 Greg Corben 75 Stefan Albinski 76
                              (Peter King 80 John Beaumont 81)

    303 NEW ZEAL.    Arthur Parkin 73 Murray Martin 73 Hugh Harrison 77 Tony Treen 80
                              (John Sanders 80 Rodney Barltrop 82)

    305 THE PHILIPP.  J Hechanova 74 Iggy Clavecilla 76 D Hernadez 77 R Garcia 78
                               (Francis Gaston 80 Tommy Manotoc DQ)

    The Australian team had a mixed day with a few highlights and a few disasters!

  • Rick Oliver had not found a birdie all day but made up for it with a great eagle on the pat 5 17th hole. He is the leading Australian with a two over par 74.
  • Greg Corben also played without a birdie until the 17th where he finally managed to find one and return a three over par 75. Corben is a very consistent player and is expected to score well each day.
  • Grahame MacDonald had an early birdie on the 3rd hole and after that played solidly for his score of 75 that included a finish of seven straight pars.
  • Stefan Albinski had a finish he would rather forget - a bogey 5 on the 16th and then a bogey 6 on the easy par 5 17th for a back nine of 40. He is bound to improve on his opening 76 tomorrow.
  • Peter King had a horror patch on the back nine with seven dropped shots in five holes before also having an eagle 3 on the 17th. He will be keen to improve on his 80 and have a counting score on day two.
  • John Beaumont started well with birdies on the first and third holes but thereafter it was not his usual high standard with a score of 82. He is another keen to record a "counter" tomorrow.

    • In the individual section the leader is Taimur Amin from Pakistan with the outstanding score of 6 under par 66. The best placed Australian is Rick Oliver (74) in sixth place and Greg Corben (75) and Grahame Macdonald in equal eighth.

    Defending champion Stefan Albinksi (76) is in tenth place and has a lot to do if he is to win his third title.