LEEDHAM MAKES IT A TASSIE DOUBLE
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Michael Leedham showed why he is considered one of Australia's best senior amateur golfers with a resounding 8 shot victory in the 2007 Tasmanian Senior Amateur Championship held at Mowbray Golf Club from Feb 21-23. On his home course Leedham was unstoppable and his winning score of one under par 212 was eight shots in front of runner up Denis Dale (NSW). Leedham's victory meant he had won both the Tasmanian Order of Merit events for 2007.
Surprisingly the Round one leader was not Leedham but another Tasmanian - Duncan Grant, with the 69 year old shooting his age for the first time. He chose the right time to achieve this memorable feat and will have the honour of being the very first golfer to shoot his age in an Australian Senior Order of Merit event.
Round 2 honours were with Queensland's Vern Scott who burst into contention with the equal best round of the day - a par round of 71. Scott's 36 hole total of 148 had him in 4th place. Scott also showed he will be a major force in subsequent Order of Merit events. Leedham shot a steady 71 to open a 4 shot break over Duncan Grant who returned a 76. Denis Dale (NSW) followed an opening 73 with a 74 to hold down third place on 147.
The final round was never a worry for Leedham and he again posted the best round of the day with a "never in trouble" 71. Denis Dale continued his consistent play with another 73 to take second place on a 54 total of 220. This allowed Dale to maintain his lead on the
2006-07 Australian Senior Order of Merit Table.
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Queenslander Doug Thorp closed with a 73 to share 3rd place with Vern Scott on 222. Thorp moved into second place on the Order of Merit. Recent Australian represenative Tony Kennings (NSW) recorded yet another Top 5 finish with steady rounds of 74, 75 and 75. Kennings now holds third place on the Order of Merit table.
Fifth place was shared between Kennings and long time Tasmanian star Bill "Whippy" Wellington. This was Wellington's best placing in an Order of Merit event and was a welcome return to form. Whippy's high placing was a very popular one for this very talented and friendly golfer (apparently he is also a great bar-b-que cook!)
Wyong veteran Jack Parker returned a great 72 in the second round and eventually finished in 8th position on 227. The points gained from this tournament moved him into 9th place on the Order of Merit but this high finish has also placed Parker on top in the separate 2006-07 Australian Senior Order of Merit 65+ Table..
Victorian golfer Denis Long made a welcome return to Order of Merit golf and after 3 steady rounds and an overall total of 229 was alone in 9th place. Long's consistent play also won him the 54 hole nett trophy.
Tenth place was shared between regular Order of Merit competitors Alan Evans (Vic) and Peter King (Qld) along with Graeme Ponting from Tasmania (yes Ricky is his son) and Order of Merit newcomer Peter Terrace from Rydges Capricorn in Queensland. This group of players earned 110 valuable Order of Merit points.
Unfortunately Tasmanian Max Robison was forced to withdraw very early in the third round through ill health. This was bad luck for Robison who had opened with two rounds of 74 and was in 4th place going into the final round. It was reported that Robison has recovered and we all look forward to watching his classy swing in another event soon.
A number of well known interstate golfers missed out on the Top 10. These included Alex Cleave (WA), Ross Bockman (NSW), Tony Mazzone (SA), Norm Way (Qld), Chris Coasts (Qld), Geoff Burke (Qld), Ian Read (Qld), Les Browne (NSW), Paul Day (NSW), Ray Adams (Qld) and Bob Macafee (Vic). This again highlights the increasing strength and depth of the Order of Merit fields.
The next event is the NSW Senior Championship to be held at Yowani Golf Club where local champion Bill Banks is the early favourite. The field will be a strong one with Banks joined by many of the prominent players from the Tasmanian field and other oustanding golfers including Tony Gresham (NSW), Brian Sams (NSW), Michael Jackson (Vic), Ross Percy (Vic), Frank Musgrave (NSW), Geoff Everett (NSW) and the defending champion Jim Malkus (NSW).
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