The Australian Men’sSenior Amateur Championship tees off at Yarra Yarra Golf Club this week with one of the best fields ever assembled for the event. Defending champion and three-time winner, Stefan Albinski from Mona Vale Golf Club on Sydney s northern beaches, will be hoping to claim a fourth title, to go with his victories in 2008, 2010 and 2011. Albinski s run of victories was stopped by New Zealand s Rodney Barltrop in 2009, and with Barltrop heading a contingent of players from across the Tasman, including his brother Michael, competition is sure to be fierce. Other international competitors to visit Melbourne for the Championship include the USA s Kemp Richardson and Bill Cvengros. Richardson is a two-time US Senior Amateur Champion, and runner up in the Australian event in 2010. Among the other Australian players sure to be high on the leaderboard are Peter King from Windaroo Lakes Golf Club in Queensland, and Graham Blizard from Twin Creeks Golf Club in outer Sydney. King sits in second place on the Australian Senior Men’sRankings behind Albinski, courtesy of wins in the NSW and Queensland Senior Amateurs earlier this year, while Blizard, father of Australian professional and 2009 Eisenhower Trophy representative Rohan Blizard, is also sure to impress having won three of his four Ranking Events contested this year. 2007 and 2006 Champion, Denis Dale, also from Twin Creeks Golf Club is not to be overlooked, nor should Bill Banks (Royal Canberra, ACT) or Tony Gresham (Pennant Hills, NSW) who have four titles between them. The event is in its 32nd year, having been played since 1981, and with the winner claiming the Kerry Packer Trophy, it is Australia s premier men’s senior event. It is played over 54-holes stroke play, concluding with a Presentation Dinner on Thursday evening.
Author: Golf Australia