DENIS DALE WINS THE 2009 GRANGE SENIOR OPEN





ROUND TWO REPORT

The wind was not quite as strong but had completely turned around with the locals saying the course was definitely harder with this wind. They proved to be correct with again a small number of seniors managing to break 80. The best score was shared by Denis Dale and John Beaumont with 78s.

Playing together Dale and Beaumont swapped the lead several times and when Beaumont holed a 50 metre pitch for a birdie at 10 he led by two. Dale then played some very good golf on the concluding nine parring this second nine and eventually running out the winner by two strokes.

For Beaumont is was another high finish in a Senior Ranking event. His consistency has placed him well inside the Top 10 senior amateurs in Australia and a breakthrough win must be very close.

Third place went to Queenslander Ken Glasson who returned a pair of 80s. His final day score could easily have been better if not for a quadruple bogey 7 on the par 3 fourth hole.

Fourth place went to West Australian Nigel Goodall who also had a horror start - losing his ball on the first hole that led to a triple bogey and then a double bogey at the second. His second round 81 was a fighting round and he is another player sure to win soon.

Three players tied for fifth place - local member Joe Scopacasa who scored under 80 on day two (85-79), fellow South Australian Lindsay Elliott (82-82) and Victorian visitor Alan Bullas (83-81).

Rounding out the top ten was a group of four in a share of eighth place. This group included the tournament host Tony Mazzone who recovered from a disastrous 87 on day one with a very good 79 on day two. Others sharing the same 36 hole score as Mazzone were Queenslander Ian Read (85-81), South Australian Chris Whitford (84-82),and Victorian Pat Giles (84-82).

This was the inaugural running of the Grange Seniors and the event was a definite success. A large contingent of interstate players had travelled to The Grange and were certainly impressed with the course and the organisation. The hospitality shown by the club captain, local members and the regular Senior Ranking event player, Tony Mazzone, was truly wonderful. All the interstaters will long remember the dinner at Tony and Lena Mazzone's home on Wednesday night - quite unbelievable!

When Tony advised that the Grange Seniors event will be on again next year alongside the 2010 South Australian Senior Amateur Championship (both to be played at The Grange - East and West courses) there was an immediate round of applause.

This inaugural event included a separate competition for the senior ladies and although not a large field it was also a success. Hopefully this will be the beginning of more simultaneous events for the senior men and women.

The Grange Golf Club and their officials and members made everyone welcome. The course was a great test and the prizes were certainly generous. As an example, in winning the men's event Denis Dale received a $300 voucher and a bottle of 2004 Grange Hermitage. All winners also received additional gift packs of Haselgrove wines again courtesy of Tony Mazzone and his business partner Tony Carrocci.

There was even a special presentation for SA senior Mark Paxton who managed to hole his sixth bunker shot on one hole to record a quintuple bogey 9 - this is a hard way to win a bottle or two of Haselgrove wine Mark!

When you are preparing your itinerary for 2010 it would certainly be a good idea to include a visit to The Grange - you will love the event and the challenge of both the East and West courses.

TOP 10 Final Scores:

1      155      DALE Denis 77 - 78 NSW
2      157      BEAUMONT John 79 - 78 SA
3      160      GLASSON Ken 80 - 80 QLD
4      161      GOODALL Nigel 80 - 81 WA
5      164      ELLIOTT Lindsay 82 - 82 SA, BULLAS Alan 83 - 81 VIC
                   SCOPACASA Joe 85 - 79 SA
8      166      GILES Pat 84 - 82 VIC, WHITFORD Chris 84 - 82 SA, READ Ian 85 - 81 QLD
                   MAZZONE Tony 87 - 79 SA

ROUND ONE REPORT

In a very testing day with winds gusting to 40 knots only two players manage to break 80 in round one of the inaugural The Grange Senior Championship. Leading is NSW player Denis Dale who played some very good golf in recording a score of 77. He has a two shot lead over South Australia’s best senior amateur – John Beaumont on 79.

West Australian Nigel Goodall and Queenslander Ken Glasson returned scores of 80 to share third place. General consensus was that a score of 80 was equivalent to a par round given the demanding conditions.

One unforunate happening was the disqualification of NSW senior Tony Kennings for an incorrect score card. Although the nine hole totals and the 18 hole totals were correct the individual holes contained an error. Kennings had scored 82 and was certainly well in contention. Bad luck Tony!

The championship concludes tomorrow and with calmer winds scoring is expected to be better.

Leading Scores:

77      DALE Denis
79      BEAUMONT John
80      GLASSON Ken, GOODALL Nigel
82      ELLIOTT Lindsay, HYDE Tony
83      BULLAS Alan
84      COATS Chris, CORDERY Jim, GILES Pat, KREUZER Martin, WHITFORD Chris
85      MORRISON Dave, READ Ian, SCOPACASA Joe, SMALL Sandy, STANFORD Greg .

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The Grange Golf Club is one of South Australia's premier sporting venues with two internationally rated 18 hole golf courses.

Grange has previously held major professional events including the West Lakes Classic and the South Australian Open and PGA events. The Club has also hosted all major Australian Amateur events including the Australian Amateur and Interstate Team Australian Junior as well as Australian Lady Amateur events.

We are committed to ensuring the Club continues to be recognised at the highest level in Australia's Golf Clubs providing excellent facilities to our members and their guests.

Just the name "The Grange Golf Club" conjures up the most pleasurable and exciting memories; the birthplace of my professional career where I won the West Lakes Classic, my first professional victory. The camaraderie throughout the club has and always will be second to none. It is a club with all the finest Australian traditions of golf and everything that is associated with this wonderful sport we all love. I'm sure everyone who visits this great club will experience the same pleasure. . . . Greg Norman