Extra holes were needed to determine some of this morning’s pool winners in round three of the Australian Men’s Senior Match Play Championship at Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club. With either player winning to progress to the afternoon’s quarter finals, 21st seed Roy Vandersluis (NSW) defeated 28th seed David Gleeson (NSW) on the 20th hole, an unlikely result given neither players were top seeds in their pool.
2nd seed Ian Frost (Vic) cruised through to the quarter finals after a flawless run thus far, winning his third straight match against 15th seed Keith Thornley (NSW) 5&4, meanwhile local member and 14th seed Phil Towle (Qld) upset his pool with a win over 3rd seed Peter Hannah (Qld) 1up and also progressed through to the quarter final undefeated. Other quarter finalists were 1st seed Gordon Claney (Vic), 8th seed Mick Streit (Vic), 13th seed Alan Bullas (Vic), 23rd seed Lester Peterson (NSW) and 6th seed Michael Barltrop (NZL).
Tuesday afternoon marked the start of the quarter finals with eight pool winners meeting for the first time. First blood went to Barltrop ending Towle’s great run with a 4&2 victory, while extra holes were needed for Peterson to continue his David and Goliath run, defeating Frost on the 19th which was his fourth consecutive win against a higher seed.
Vandersluis' run at the title was put to a stop with Bullas prevailing 1up, while top seed and favourite Claney defeated Streit 3&2.
Semi Finals will be played Wednesday morning with Claney v Bullas and Peterson v Barltrop to determine Thursday’s finalists.