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Venue: Melville Glades Golf Club
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Winner: Brian Sams(NSW)
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Runner Up: Doug Thorp(QLD)
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3rd Place: Denis Dale (NSW)
3rd Place: Alex Cleave (WA)
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| Sams Records 3rd win for the Season |
In a performance that rivals the record breaking performances of Tiger Woods, NSW champion senior golfer Brian Sams has won his third tournament of the season from only 5 starts. Sams fired a one under par 71 in the final round of the 2007 Melville Glades Senior Championship for a one shot win from Queenslander Doug Thorp. This was the inaugural running of the Melville Glades event and a strong field lined up, including many interstate players who had recently competed in the WA Seniors Championship.
Round 1 leader was Denis Dale (NSW) with an even par 72 that saw him hold a 2 stroke lead over Sams, Thorp and WA player Mal Roberts who maintained his good form having finished runner up to Sams at the West Australian Seniors Championship the previous week.
Other players to perform well in Round 1 were Peter Terrace (QLD) who shot a handy 75 that was matched by Melville Glades member, Nigel Goodall. A further shot away was Tony Kennings on 76. Tony is a regular Top 10 finisher in most senior events and his consistency is expected to see him break through for a deserved win soon.
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A group of four recorded opening rounds of 77 that kept them in the championship - Alex Cleave (WA), Tony Mazzone (SA), Ian Read (QLD) and Jack Parker (NSW).
Both Mal Roberts and round one leader Denis Dale struggled a little in the early holes of the second round and heading into the final nine it appeared to be a battle between two of the better performed senior golfers - Brian Sams and Doug Thorp.
Thorp putted exceptionally well under pressure and his par round of 72 on the tough Melville Glades course would normally be enough to record a win. However, Brian Sams is in the best form of his senior career and the perennial place getter Doug Thorp had to settle for second place with a 36 hole total of 146 just one shot behind Sams.
WA player Alex Cleave finished in a blaze of birdies (4 under par for the final 8 holes) to grab a share of third place with Denis Dale who returned a 77 and a total of 149. Dale scored 80 Order of Merit points for his third placing and still leads this event from second placed Doug Thorp although Brian Sams (100 points for this event) has now moved into 4th place and is making a move towards the lead. Third place in the Order of Merit table is currently held by Tony Kennings.
Local WA players Mal Roberts and Nigel Goodall finished equal 5th on a total of 150, one shot ahead of Ian Read (QLD) who returned to form with good rounds of 77-75 for a 152 total. Rounding out the tournament Top 10 were visitors Ross Percy (VIC) and Tony Kennings (NSW) with a total of 153.
For many players this was their first look at the Melville Glades course and the news that the event will be held there again in 2008 was certainly well received. The course presents an excellent challenge for senior golfers and many look forward to returning to examine the proposed renovations to the course.
All players now look towards Commonwealth Golf Club where the prestigious Australian Seniors Championship will be held from May 1 to May 3.
Click here to view the current 2006-07 Order of Merit table. This table includes points earned in AUSOOM events from the 2006-07 season and is based on the best 9 results (allowing some golfers to drop their lowest results).
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| Ian Read (QLD) |
| Peter Terrace (QLD) |
