After winning on the European Seniors Tour earlier this year, Michael Harwood has taken out the 2010 QLD Senior PGA Championship at Redland Bay Golf Club with a two round total of four under par, winning by one shot from Larry Canning.
After carding a six under par round of 66 in the first round, Harwood started his second round with three birdies in the first nine holes, but a back nine slide and a bogey, double bogey finish saw Harwood record a second round of 74. That being said though, conditions were tough for all players with showers staying around for most of the day, enabling Harwood to sneak home for a one shot victory.
“Winning in Europe earlier this year has helped me get the bug back because the feeling of winning is very infectious, and it only makes you even more eager to win again” said Harwood.
For Canning it was a case of, so close but yet so far away and still chasing that illusive victory on the 2010 EZ-GO Legends Tour. Defending champion Rodger Davis couldn’t live up to the hype of winning three QLD PGA Championships in a row carding a two round total of 5 over par, finishing in a tie for 17th.
While there are areas in his game that aren’t what they used to be, all things relative Rodger Davis still remains as dominant as he was during the late 80s and early 90s. Despite his sub-par performance this week, Davis’ recent victories still see Davis leading the EZ-GO Order Merit on $39,291.00, but now just over $3,000 in front of Harwood.
“Harwood, Good, Ferguson, Merrick, Clifford, Woodland and Jones are right behind me so I know I am going to have my work cut out for the second half of the year to maintain my advantage.”
Coordinating the QLD Swing of the Legends Tour, Broc Greenhalgh talks about the way the Legends promote the game of golf “If you wanted to go and run on the field in an official match with Wally Lewis or Leigh Matthews, you wouldn’t be able to, but in this great game you get to play with some of the greats of our game, all while they are still competing – and that is something that no other sport can offer”
With just 1 event remaining on the Qld swing being the inaugural Fraser Coast Legends Classic at Hervey Bay Golf Club, the attention will shortly focus on our two major Senior titles – Fiducian Legends Australian PGA Senior Championship and Handa Australian Senior Open to be played in November.
The PGA Senior Championship will be held at Killara Golf Club, Sydney the first year of a two year agreement from the 11 – 13 November and has increased to $100,000 in prizemoney.
Running from November 19 – 21, the Handa Australian Senior Open will also from part of the European Senior Tour. In an extremely exciting development not only sees an increase to $400,000 in the total prize money but also promises to provide the best field of senior professionals in Australian tournament history.
The tournament presents an excellent opportunity for local players to earn some well deserved recognition, while at the same time it could potentially propel a PGA Legends Tour campaigner to greater glory.
“The Handa Australian Senior Open provides a fantastic opportunity for our members given that the winner will get a two year exemption on the European Senior Tour and a spot in the 2011 Senior Open Championship, so there is a big incentive to playing well” said Sam Hartrick, PGA of Australia explained.
The Legends Tour now has a six day rest before the inaugural $25,000 Fraser Coast Legends Classic which starts on Friday.