Monday, December 13, 2010

Australian Senior Claims First OneAsia Title

Sunshine Coast, December 13, 2010 - Peter Senior has today claimed his third Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola title, in a thrilling finish at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. The victory is his first-ever on OneAsia, Asia Pacific's professional tournament destination for elite golfers.

Senior triumphed in a two-hole playoff over 2008 Australian PGA Championship winner Geoff Ogilvy who missed a putt on the second playoff hole to hand Senior the win.

Playing in the final group Senior chased down clubhouse leader Ogilvy and Andre Stolz who had birdied the 17th to join Ogilvy at the top on 12-under with one hole to play.

Faltering under the pressure Stolz drove his tee shot into the water on 18 and bogeyed his final hole of the tournament to finish at 11-under.

In what was one of the closest finishes in recent years, a number of other players also missed their chances to join the playoff, including Nick O’Hern and Peter Fowler who both missed long birdie putts to finish in equal second position.

But for Senior, it was one of his sweetest victories coming an incredible 21 years after his first Australian PGA Championship title.

"What a great way to finish the year off. I didn’t really play well the first few holes and the two best shots I hit all day were the two down 18, so to finish birdie on the last and to get into the playoffs was just fantastic," said Senior.

Senior, the oldest winner of Australia's oldest professional title, was impressed with the performance of the Asian contingent this week and hopes the event will see an influx of even more Asian talent to give the tournament fresh.

"It definitely injects a different element into the tournament every time when they come to play here and I am hoping to see more of them in the future."

At the 18th green presentation, the inaugural OneAsia Order of Merit trophy was also awarded to China’s number 1 player Liang Wenchong who finished equal 12th in this week’s event co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Runner-up Geoff Ogilvy also claimed the 2010 PGA Tour of Australasia Norman Von Nida Order of Merit title at the ceremony.

OneAsia will stage a total of 15 to 17 elite tournaments across the Asia Pacific for the 2011 season. 13 events have already been confirmed on OneAsia's preliminary schedule for 2011, with further additions to be made in the coming weeks and months.

Australian PGA Championship, OneAsia

Leading final round scores – par 72

276 - Peter Senior (AUS) 70-67-68-71
276 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 70-69-71-66
277 - Nick O'Hern (AUS) 70-70-68-69, Peter Fowler (AUS) 66-70-70-71, Andre Stolz (AUS) 67-69-70-71
278 - Matthew Griffin (AUS) 68-70-72-68, Richard Green (AUS) 72-68-70-68, Aaron Townsend (AUS) 68-67-70-73, Bobby Gates (USA) 64-69-71-74
279 - Akio Sadakata (JPN) 67-72-67-73, John Senden (AUS) 69-65-74-71
280 - Liang Wenchong (CHN) 66-68-75-71, Robert Allenby (AUS) 70-68-72-70

Selected Scores:
285 - Hiroshi Iwata (JPN) 70-70-75-70
285 - Jung Hi-ho (KOR) 71-67-71-76
286 - Simon Yates (SCO) 71-73-73-69, Tetsuya Haraguchi (JPN) 69-74-74-69
287 - Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 70-71-71-75

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