Round Three Report:
Australia's leading senior amateur Stefan Albinski has claimed another state senior title with victory in the 2011 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship played on the North Course at Rosebud Golf Club.
Photos above courtesy of Peter Bence. Following report courtesy of "lostball" who was a fascinated onlooker.
"After it appeared as if the back 9 would be little more than a formality, the unthinkable almost happened at Rosebud today.
Stefan was one over the card after 10 and leading by six or more over his nearest competitors, when from out of nowhere, the wheels started to fall off. He bogeyed the tricky 11th and then after two good shots, he found the putting surface on the very long 12th hole.
What happened next would potentially turn the tournament on its head.
Stefan's first putt was a beauty from long range to within a metre. He then took four (4) more to finally hole out, giving him a triple bogey. On the same hole, Banks made par and Box birdied.
Both Banks and Box hit the 13th green but Stefan missed short and right. He made bogey to the others pars.
The almost insurmountable lead that Stefan held just three holes ago had evaporated to just one.
Peter King in the previous group was going along nicely at even par for the day and now he also was in the mix.
His run would end at the fairly easy 16th when he made a double.
Meanwhile in the final group, Banks was having no luck with his putter and shaved the hole repeatedly.
Trevor Box made a great birdie on the 16th that was unlucky not to have been even better with his chip rolling over the edge of the hole.
Most in the gallery were not sure of the exact margin as the players went to the 17th tee. A brilliant drive by Stefan set him up for a mid iron second on one of the toughest holes on the course. Meanwhile his playing partners were both well back and required fairway woods.
A majestic iron to the fat of the green and an easy two putts gave Stefan a little bit of breathing space.
All players played fine drives up the last and all hit the green in reg. Then each two putted in turn and Stefan had dodged a bullet and retained the Championship for another year.
I didn't think that I'd ever see the day that Stefan would come under such pressure given his halfway lead on the final day. But he was good enough to regroup and that's what Champions tend to do."
Albinski had followed his opening rounds of three over par 74 and one under par 70 with a final round of 77 for a 54 hole total of 221. In windy conditions Albinski's 77 was enough to give him a four shot margin over Queenslander Trevor Box (72-77-75) who finished on a total of 224. NSW senior Paul Maslen had the round of the day and his even par 71 saw him pass many golfers on his way to third place with rounds of 75-79-71 and a total of 225.
There seems to be nothing or no-one who can stop Albinski who has now won every national, state and territory title except the NSW and ACT. Many of his titles have been won multiple times including three Australian Amateur Championships and now three Victorian Senior Championships. He is the obvious favourite for the Match Play Championship starting next week at Thirteenth Beach Golf Club.
Equal fourth place was shared by ACT senior Bill Banks (73-76-77=226) and Queenslander Peter King (77-75-74=226). Sixth place went to Colac senior Greg Welsh who showed a welcome return to form with consistent rounds of 77-74-77=228.
Seventh place went to NSW senior Brian Sams (76-75-78=229) in an impressive performace after several months away from golf with a broken shoulder. South Australia's leading senior John Beaumont continued his consistent play with rounds of 74-78-78=230 for outright eight place a stroke ahead of wily veteran Pat Giles (80-73-78) and regular top ten finisher Grahame MacDonald (76-78-77).
Leading Scores:
221 ALBINSKI Stefan 74 - 70 - 77
224 BOX Trevor 72 - 77 - 75
225 MASLEN Paul 75 - 79 - 71
226 KING Peter 77 - 75 - 74, BANKS Bill 73 - 76 - 77
228 WELSH Gregory 77 - 74 - 77
229 SAMS Brian 76 - 75 - 78
230 BEAUMONT John 74 - 78 - 78
MACDONALD Grahame 76 - 78 - 77
NSW were very easy winners of the annual Walking Stick Trophy
1137 NSW: Stefan Albinski 74-70-77, Greg Corben 82-79-80, Paul Maslen 75-79-71, Clark Gibbons 79-81-84 , Tony Kennings 74-80-79, Brian Sams 76-75-78, Russell Rogers 74-82-81 1172 QLD: Ray Adams 84-83-83, Trevor Box 72-77-75, Col Hallam 82-81-82, Peter King 77-75-74, Grahame MacDonald 76-78-77, Norm Way 83-85-80 1177 VIC: Ross Percy 78-81-79, John Wheeler 78-79-75, Alan Bullas 80-73-82, Paul Lulofs 80-81-82, Michael Jackson 78-76-78, Guy Krall 79-83-84, Wayne Aigner 77-82-95
Round Two Report:
In what was an almost expected result Australia's leading senior amateur Stefan Albinski has taken the lead after two rounds of the 2011 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship being played at Rosebud Golf Course.
Albinski followed his opening three over par 74 with a one under par score of 70. This round could have been anything with Albinski five under par after ten holes before dropping shots late to finish just the one under. He now has a five stroke lead from ACT senior Bill Banks (73-76) and the round one leader Trevor Box (72-77). It would appear that this trio are the only real chances of claiming the 2011 title.
For Banks this would be a record breaking fourth victory in the championship and the veteran shows little signs of losing the classy game that has seen him win titles around Australia for many years. For Box it would be a breakthrough win and a popular reward for the well travelled Queenslander. However, it is unlikely that Albinski will make many mistakes so the pair will need to produce something special.
In a tie for fourth place are Brian Sams (76-75) and Greg Welsh (77-74). Sams is a three time winner of this championship and it is great to see this wonderful senior playing again after several months out with a broken shoulder. Greg Welsh was all class with an impressive second round and another good round is expected tomorrow.
Australian representative Peter King improved with his rounds of 77-75 to be in equal sixth place with fellow Australian team representative and leading South Australian John Beaumont (74-78). Other noteable second rounds came from Pat Giles (80-73), Alan Bullas (80-74), the 2009 winner Chris Tatt (80-75) and long time competitor Denis Long (81-76).
The demanding North Course at Rosebud did claim a few victims. Tham Chin slipped well back with a round of 87 after opening with 74. Lynton Spencer (73-81), Tony Kennings (74-80), Russell Rogers (74-82), Paul Fink (77-84) and Robert London (76-84) all failed to reproduce their round one form and will need a good final round to climb back up the championship leaderboard.
Leading 36 hole Scores:
144 ALBINSKI Stefan 74 - 70
149 BANKS Bill 73 - 76, BOX Trevor 72 - 77
151 WELSH Gregory 77 - 74, SAMS Brian 76 - 75
152 KING Peter 77 - 75, BEAUMONT John 74 - 78
153 GILES Pat 80 - 73
154 BULLAS Alan 80 - 74, ELLIOTT Chris 78 - 76, O'BRIEN Kevin 78 - 76, JACKSON Michael 78 - 76
HYDE Tony 77 - 77, RICHARDS Andrew 76 - 78, MACDONALD Gra. 76 - 78, HENDRY Don 76 - 78
MASLEN Paul 75 - 79, BOWEN Graham 75 - 79, BRAY Paul 75 - 79, HOLLOWAY Michael 75 - 79
KENNINGS Tony 74 - 80, SPENCER Lynton 73 - 81
NSW has extended their lead in the annual Walking Stick Trophy and now leads by 29 strokes from the Queenslanders who are in a close battle for second place with the home team.
752 NSW: Stefan Albinski 74-70, Greg Corben 82-79, Paul Maslen 75-79, Clark Gibbons 79-81 , Tony Kennings 74-80, Brian Sams 76-75, Russell Rodgers 74-82 781 QLD: Ray Adams 84-83, Trevor Box 72-77, Col Hallam 82-81, Peter King 77-75, Grahame MacDonald 76-78, Norm Way 83-85 784 VIC: Ross Percy 78-81, John Wheeler 78-79, Alan Bullas 80-73, Paul Lulofs 80-81, Michael Jackson 78-76, Guy Krall 79-83, Wayne Aigner 77-82
Round One Report:
Queenslander Trevor Box is the early leader in the 2011 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship being played at Rosebud Golf Course (North Course).
Box opened with a one over par round 72 to take a one stroke lead over a strong field that includes many interstate challengers and well known Victorians. Box always plays well in Victoria and this could be the event for his breakthrough win in an Australian Senior Ranking event.
In second place is previous multiple winner of the event, Bill Banks from the ACT. Banks recorded a round of 73 as did the very talented Victorian Lynton Spencer from the Rossdale club.
Poised just behind the leading three is the defending champion Stefan Albinski from NSW with a score of 74. Albinski has a habit of improving every round and if he repeats this he will certainly go close to claiming another major title. Others to return rounds of 74 were South Australian John Beaumont, NSW senior Russell Rogers, the consistent Victorian Tham Chin and the very experienced NSW player Tony Kennings. All four have the game to go on and win the event.
Leading Round One Scores:
72 BOX Trevor 73 SPENCER Lynton, BANKS Bill
74 KENNINGS Tony, ALBINSKI Stefan
74 BEAUMONT John, CHIN Tham
74 ROGERS Russell 75 MASLEN Paul, BOWEN Graham
75 BRAY Paul, HOLLOWAY Michael
The Walking Stick Trophy is also being played in conjunction with the 2011 Victorian Senior Championship. This is an annual event played between Queensland, NSW and Victoria with each team having up to seven players with the best five scores to count. The defending champions are NSW and they have already opened up a commanding 17 shot lead after round one. It will take something special from the Victorians or Queenlanders to prevent another win for the "Boys in Blue!".
373 NSW: Stefan Albinski 74, Greg Corben 82, Paul Maslen 75, Clark Gibbons 79 , Tony Kennings 74, Brian Sams 76, Russell Rodgers 74
390 QLD: Ray Adams 84, Trevor Box 72, Col Hallam 82, Peter King 77, Grahame MacDonald 76, Norm Way 83
390 VIC: Ross Percy 78, John Wheeler 78, Alan Bullas 80, Paul Lulofs 80, Michael Jackson 78, Guy Krall 79, Wayne Aigner 77
Albinski followed his opening three over par 74 with a one under par score of 70. This round could have been anything with Albinski five under par after ten holes before dropping shots late to finish just the one under. He now has a five stroke lead from ACT senior Bill Banks (73-76) and the round one leader Trevor Box (72-77). It would appear that this trio are the only real chances of claiming the 2011 title. 
Box opened with a one over par round 72 to take a one stroke lead over a strong field that includes many interstate challengers and well known Victorians. Box always plays well in Victoria and this could be the event for his breakthrough win in an Australian Senior Ranking event.
