Greg Rhodes from Coomealla has extended his lead and has won the 2016 Royal Melbourne Senior Classic following the final round of the 54-hole Championship over the famed Composite Course at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club on Wednesday 20 January.
In stereotypical Melbourne weather conditions, the sunny and hot afternoon yesterday was almost all but gone today, in its place was a cool and wet morning that kept the temperature from reaching the mid 20’s, improving just as the players were making their way back to the clubhouse.
Rhodes, who was runner-up in this event last year, returned rounds of 73, 75 and 74 for a 54-hole total of 222 to win by nine strokes from Runner-up Roy Vandersluis (The Lakes, New South Wales). Daryl Whitehead (Royal Canberra, ACT) finished in third place, one stroke behind Vandersluis with a total of 232, and only one ahead of John Kelly from The Metropolitan. Kelly however had more luck in the nett event, taking out the overall handicap title with a three-round total of 224 from a GA Handicap of three.
Royal Melbourne’s own Alan Evans, who was one of the creators of the Royal Melbourne Classic, finished in second place overall in the nett category, posting rounds of 76-73-76, finishing on a total of 225, three shots clear of a familiar face to the Golf Victoria Senior Event Calendar, Graeme Altmann (The Sands Torquay).
First played in 2013, the Royal Melbourne Senior Classic is one of three National Ranking Senior Events played in Victoria each year. The Championship offers players aged 55 and over with the unique opportunity to play the West Course, East Course and then Composite Course as part of the 54-hole format. In 2016, the 108 players in the starting field originated from 68 different clubs from all over Australia and overseas.
Golf Victoria extends sincere thanks to Royal Melbourne Golf Club for staging. All three courses were presented in superb condition with all players and officials greatly appreciating the commitment of the members, the committee & the club & ground staff.
Royal Melbourne’s commitment to senior golf sees the club hosting the Royal Melbourne Senior Amateur over 18-holes on Friday 16 August as part of the week-long Melbourne ‘Sandbelt Swing” of senior events. Entry forms will be available in June for 18-hole events at Yarra Yarra, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Royal Melbourne, Metropolitan and Commonwealth commencing on Monday 8 August.
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