ROUND THREE REPORT:
Another great day and with the final 18 to be played on the Moonah Course (rated 6 in Australia) everything was set for an exciting and enjoyable day. The main chances were expected to be in the final group of Ross Percy (76-76=152), Trevor Box (73-79-152), Michael Jackson (75-79=154), Denis Dale (80-74=154) and two from the preceding group Rick Oliver (76-78=154) and Than Chin (80-75=155).
Than Chin was first to make a charge and with immaculate golf where he was not more than 4 metres from any pin he was two under par at the turn. Percy was one over and they were joint leaders with Trevor Box a couple behind.
Michael Jackson started with a very uncharacteristic six straight bogies and although finding his putter thereafter to finish with a six over par 78 his chances went early. Jackson eventually finished in fifth place. Denis Dale had no problem finding the greens but an amazing 6 three putts during the first nine holes and a total of 43 putts overall quickly put him out of the picture. He ended up in ninth place and went off to buy a new putter!
Rick Oliver started slowly and was three over par but then his iron play and putter went hot. All three courses at The National place great emphasis on where you are on the green - the wrong side of the slope can mean a very difficult two putt. Oliver birdied four in a row to go to one under par and was back in the race.
Trevor Box played steady golf with some nice par saving putts keeping him in the race. His final round 76 was good enough for outright fourth place. Box has been a consistent performer in recent Senior Ranking events and it will not surprise to see him collect the winner's trophy soon.
Ross Percy played immaculate golf all day missing only three greens with two of these being irons that were straight at the pin but finished through the green. It was great golf to watch from the form player in senior golf. A few putts did drop and his final round score of 74 gave him a total of 226. In recent months Percy has taken all before him and once again had close to the best round every day.
A member at The National and a very impressive golfer, Than Chin dropped a few strokes coming home but still recorded a one over par score of 73 that gave him a total of 228 and outright third place. Playing alongside Chin, Rick Oliver maintained his straight driving and accurate iron play and with one hole remaining was still one under par and now held a one stroke lead. A par would give him the title.
In his own words Oliver "started talking to myself about not ruining a good round with one hole to go but I am not a good listener". As often happens, he promptly hit his worst drive of the day. After digging it out of the rough he bogied the hole and his even par round of 72 gave him the same total as Percy. There was some confusion as to a possible playoff but the conditions of the event stipulated a countback and Oliver was awarded the coveted green jacket. It is likely that next year will see a play off if required.
Another consistent Victorian Alan Bullas finished in sixth place. With scores of 76-81-75 Bullas continued his record of top ten places. He is now in fifth place on the Australian Senior Ranking table without a win - his turn is not far away. Sharing sixth place was local member John Wheeler who recovered from a disappointing opening round of 84 with great rounds of 75 and 74. Like many of the field it was a case of one bad round.
Eighth place belonged to big hitting local member John Laxton. The 8 handicapper played some great golf and was a clear winner in the handicap section of the tournament. Others in the top ten were Paul Lulofs (73-87-76) and Ray Walker (73-85-78). Again, one bad round put paid to their chances but a top ten placing in a strong field is still a good result.
This was the first playing of this event and it was a resounding success with most commenting it was the best senior event we have had. The club left nothing undone with superb organisation, excellent prizes covering every day's play, wonderful meals (sensational buffet on Thursday night) and of course those three magnificent golf courses. To make it absolutely perfect they even arranged for warm sunny days with just an occasional cooling breeze. A great tournament and one you should definitely add to your calendar for 2011. Already there are plans from the organising committee to make it even bigger and better in 2011 - hard to imagine how!
ROUND TWO REPORT:
Victorian super senior Ross Percy has taken the 36 hole lead in the 2010 The National Senior Masters. Percy has had a pair of 76's to lead joint overnight leader Trevor Box (73-80) by one. Another stroke away are the experienced trio of Michael Jackson (75-79), Rick Oliver (76-78) and Denis Dale (80-74).
The weather was once again excellent with the rain not arriving as predicted. However, the Ocean course is a very stern test of gof and low scoring was always going to be tough. Equal joint leaders after the first round Ray Walker (73-85) and Paul Lulofs (73-87) struggled and have probably lost their winning chances.
Percy has been a prolific winner on the Victorian Senior Circuit this year and holds a commanding lead in the Doug Bachli trophy. His consistent play and determination will make him hard to beat in the final round. Trevor Box struggled a little for his second round 80 but on a day when only 8 players managed a score under 80 he held his position in the final group on Friday.
Michael Jackson worked hard all day without his normal crisp iron play and was plased to score 79. Denis Dale played strongly off the tee and managed to avoid the three putts that troubled so many and his score of 74 was the best of the day. His 154 total sees him complete the final group.
Rick Oliver played solidly as he always does and on 154 will certainly be in the finish. as will local member Than Chin (80-75) who is expected to use his local knowledge on the Moonah course.
There is a gap of three strokes to the next pair of Alan Bullas (77-81) and Ray Walker (73-85) but they would need something special to worry the leading group. Local John Wheeler and NSW player Richard Greville jumped many places on the leaderboard with excellent second scores of 75.
Tomorrow the event continues with the final eighteen played on the Greg Norman designed Moonah course.
ROUND ONE REPORT:
There is a three way tie for the lead after the first round of the 2010 The National Senior Masters. Played on The Old Course for the first eighteen the joint leaders are Paul Lulofs, Trevor Box and Ray Walker with excellent rounds of 73.
The weather was perfect and good scores were there for those good enough to keep the ball in play and then handle the testing greens. The Old Course is a majestic course and it easy to be overwhelmed by this great layout. Patience and clever shot making is essential and then there are the greens to baffle all but the best putters.
Obviously the leaders did everything well and after their scores of 73 they have already opened up a nice lead over the majority of the field. Special mention must go to Paul Lulofs who is now aged 70 - what a great round highlighted by four birdies in a row! Queenslander Trevor Box has played very well recently and this good round was not a urprise to those who follow the senior circuit. Similarly Ray Walker's form has been very consistent as evidenced by his plus one handicap. He will be hard to hold off.
Evergreen Michael Jackson had his usual good round and he is next on 75 a single stroke ahead of Rick Oliver, Ross Percy, Ted Johnson and Jack Patten - all on 76.
Tomorrow the event continues with the second eighteen played on The Ocean course. With cooler weather and some rain forecast this will be another great test.
After a very successful time at the challenging Cobram Barooga Golf Club the Victorian Secondary level event on the 2010 Australian Senior Ranking circuit has moved to The National Golf Club complex.
The 54 holes at The National is arguably the best complex in Australia. In the recent list of Australia's Top 100 courses the three at The National were rated at number six, sixteen and thirty seven.
