Victorian Senior Open - News

Craig Owen Wins 2010 Peninsula Springs Victorian Senior Open

27/03/2010

Craig Owen - 2010 Vic Senior Open Champion

2010 Victorian Senior Open Champion - Craig Owen

New Zealand’s Craig Owen has won the 2010 Peninsula Springs Victorian Senior Open played at The Dunes over 54-holes from Wednesday 24^th to Friday 26^th March.

In a field of Australia’s best senior professional and amateur golfers, the 57-year-old closed with a final round of 70 for a three round total of nine-under par 207, to win by three strokes from three players tied on six-under. European Senior Tour player Noel Ratcliffe from New South Wales, Queenslander Ossie Moore and Western Australian Lyndsay Stephen, who closed with the final day’s best round of five-under 67, all shared the runners-up position at 210

Tournament favourite and 1986 Australian Open Champion Rodger Davis finished in joint fifth position with New Zealand’s James Lapsley at four-under 212 after closing with a final round of even par 72 in the cold, windy and occasionally showery final day conditions. To complete a Kiwi quinella, Reg Fleet took out leading amateur honours with a total of eight-over 224.

The brother of former British Open runner-up Simon, Owen has spent the majority of his professional life as a club professional in New Zealand. Beginning the day with a three shot lead, he was never headed throughout the final round. With birdies on the second, sixth and seventh and a solitary bogey at the short par four fourth, Owen went out in two-under 34. A closing nine of even-par was enough to secure his maiden senior golf victory.

Owen commented at the presentation that, ‘I’m really thrilled to have won today, especially in such prestigious company playing with Rodger and Noel in the last round. It’s proves I can mix it in the highest company.”

Offering prize money of $35,000 for the professionals and prizes for the best performed amateurs in both the stroke and handicap categories around the magnificently presented Dunes links layout, the Victorian Senior Open is further evidence of the growing interest in senior golf both within Victoria and around the country.

The brainchild of Dunes owner and tournament host Duncan Andrews, a field of 103 players aged 50 and over contested the Championship, with these numbers set to increase in future years as more golfers turn their attention to the growing competition opportunities for this age bracket.

Earlier in the week Rodger Davis, partnered by New South Wales amateur Gerry Power won the Dunes “Big Pot” and a cheque for $40, 000. The Four Ball Best Ball event saw 26 pairs of professionals and amateurs tee-up in the knock-out format.

With a total prize pool of $70, 000 on offer to the professionals only, each match was played over nine holes until seasoned Victorian professional David Good and The National’s Paul Lulofs met the eventual winners in the final. Davis and Power won the final two up in a high standard finale of sub-par golf.

For more information on the Peninsula Springs Victorian Seniors Open click on the following link http://www.pga.org.au/default.aspx?s=event-display&id=6534 .

Click here...> for 2010 Final Results.

Click here...> for 2010 Amateur Scores and Doug Bachli points allocations.