Gordon Claney (Kingston Heath) has won the 2014 Victorian Senior Amateur in fascinating style. Gordon started the day three shots back from front runner Gary Easte, but a few unforced errors by Gary closed that gap. However, in his first event appearance Senior Greg Rhodes was the one preventing Claney from seizing the title. Greg impressively birdied holes 14, 15, 16 & 18 to post seven over in the clubhouse. Gordon, standing eight over on the last tee, managed to hit his approach shot to three feet forcing a playoff.
The 18th hole was the designated sudden-death playoff hole with both players, feeling a few nerves, recording bogeys. Back to the tee they went. This time Greg looked in trouble after hitting in right off the tee, however a great recovery shot saw him hit the green. Unfortunately a disappointing three-putt saw Claney claim the 2014 Victorian Senior Amateur.
Claney, the current number one ranked Australian Senior, adds this championship to a long list of achievements. Rounds of 73, 73 & 74 makes this his 9th Doug Bachli title for the year.
In the nett, Ignatius Duivenvoorden claimed this year’s title with three nett scores of 65, 68 & 71. Three solid rounds of golf from the Paul Lulofs leader.
This year Victoria was also host to the 2014 Interstate Senior Teams Challenge, contested between teams from Victoria and New South Wales. The lowest five stroke scores from each team of 7 players count towards a team total, with the lowest overall score taking back the Walking Stick Trophy to their state. Victoria recorded a total score of 1146 to claim the win leading New South Wales by 18 shots on 1164.
The 2014 Championship makes it four consecutive years down at the Rosebud Country Golf Club before it moves to the country side in 2015. 119 players began on Monday for round one ranging from 77 different clubs including 17 from interstate. The one exemption is talented New Zealander Michael Barltrop who finished in the top 10.
Sunny but windy weather persisted throughout the tournament which tested the field. 85.39 was the average gross score across the three days, with 77.51 the average nett score.
The seniors will have a small break before continuing at Spring Valley & Woodlands for the Melbourne Senior Classic on Monday 10 & Tuesday 11 November.
Click here for final results