Staysure PGA Seniors Championship
2018
Philip Golding won the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship as he equalled the course-record with a nine under par round of 63 at London Golf Club.
The Englishman came from six shots behind with a stunning final day charge to card an 18 under par total of 270 to claim his first 2018 Staysure Tour title, and his third victory on the over-50’s circuit in 12 months at the European Tour Destination.
Golding started his surge with four birdies in his first five holes, before he gained another shot on the seventh hole to make the turn in 31 strokes, five under par. The 2017 Travis Perkins Masters winner began the day five groups ahead of the overnight leaders Santiago Luna and Greg Turner, and after the turn he continued to apply the pressure as the duo faltered in the heat.
A further four birdies saw Golding join Luna at the top of the leaderboard, before the Spaniard made three bogeys in four holes on his back nine to leave the Englishman two shots clear.
Even with a dropped shot on the 16th Golding remained in control and gave himself the chance for victory as he birdied the last after his 20 foot eagle putt failed to drop for a new course-record.
With the following groups unable to reach the 18 under par target, Golding was crowned Staysure PGA Seniors Championship champion, and added his name to the illustrious list of Championship winners.
“I never thought I’d win when I teed off this morning as I was six shots behind. I started well by birdieing the first two and then was five under after seven.
“The momentum putt for me and what helped to keep me going was the par on nine. I hit a poor drive into the bunker. It was a good shot out, but I was 20 foot short for par, however, I sank it and that kept me going.
“The only time I looked at the leaderboard was on 16 after I made a mistake there. I made a good par on 17 and then a nice two-putt for birdie on the last. Magnus and Santi were up there but it wasn’t until 30 minutes later that I knew I was the champion.”
It was a disappointing day for overnight leaders Luna and Turner as they failed to improve on their third round scores. While Magnus P Atlevi finished runner-up, two shots behind Golding, as he carded a three under par round of 69.
Paul Broadhurst, the 2018 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship winner, shot the second lowest round of the day, a seven under par round of 65, to finish tied third alongside Luna and South Africa’s Chris Williams.
2019
Phillip Price won the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship at London Golf Club to claim his second Staysure Tour title in three years.
The 2002 Ryder Cup star recorded rounds of 67-66-71 and a final round of 67, five under par, to win the championship by two-shots ahead of Michael Campbell, James Kingston and Peter Lonard.
The Welshman’s first victory on the over-50s circuit came at the 2017 WINSTONgolf Senior Open and after five top tens in 2019 he became a Staysure Tour winner once again with victory at the European Tour Destinations venue.
Price began the final round two strokes behind 54-hole leader David McKenzie but started his surge up the leaderboard with three birdies in his first six holes, including one at the first hole.
A bogey on the seventh saw him make the turn at two under par to apply the pressure on the leaders before he moved swiftly passed them on the back nine. Price shot a blemish-free 33, including an eagle on the 11th and a birdie on the 16th to set the target at 17 under par.
With Kingston and Lonard unable to match the Welshman’s total, Price was crowned champion to become the first player from Wales to win the event since Brian Huggett in 1993.
“This win is a little nicer than the first one,” he said. “I’ve had my wife and two children here with me, and the children haven’t seen me win anything so that made it special. It’s nice to have them both here and nice to see me win something.
“I’ve been playing quite well all year with a lot of top ten finishes but without a win, so this was a huge relief for me.
“The birdie on the first got me off to a nice start. I hit a good tee shot and a nice six iron and then a good chip. I holed a nice putt and that settled me down.
“I had a number in my mind all week. 18 under won last year and I wanted to get to that. I got to 17, which is pretty close, and 18 under would’ve seen them off but 17 under was good enough to get the job done.”
Major Champion Campbell recorded a final round of 67, including an eagle finish, to finish two shots behind Price in second place alongside South Africa’s Kingston and Australian Lonard. While overnight leader McKenzie signed for a final round of 72, level par, to take fifth position.
With his win, Price moves into third place on the Staysure Tour Order of Merit, up from sixth..
2018
Philip Golding won the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship as he equalled the course-record with a nine under par round of 63 at London Golf Club.
The Englishman came from six shots behind with a stunning final day charge to card an 18 under par total of 270 to claim his first 2018 Staysure Tour title, and his third victory on the over-50’s circuit in 12 months at the European Tour Destination.
Golding started his surge with four birdies in his first five holes, before he gained another shot on the seventh hole to make the turn in 31 strokes, five under par. The 2017 Travis Perkins Masters winner began the day five groups ahead of the overnight leaders Santiago Luna and Greg Turner, and after the turn he continued to apply the pressure as the duo faltered in the heat.
A further four birdies saw Golding join Luna at the top of the leaderboard, before the Spaniard made three bogeys in four holes on his back nine to leave the Englishman two shots clear.
Even with a dropped shot on the 16th Golding remained in control and gave himself the chance for victory as he birdied the last after his 20 foot eagle putt failed to drop for a new course-record.
With the following groups unable to reach the 18 under par target, Golding was crowned Staysure PGA Seniors Championship champion, and added his name to the illustrious list of Championship winners.
“I never thought I’d win when I teed off this morning as I was six shots behind. I started well by birdieing the first two and then was five under after seven.
“The momentum putt for me and what helped to keep me going was the par on nine. I hit a poor drive into the bunker. It was a good shot out, but I was 20 foot short for par, however, I sank it and that kept me going.
“The only time I looked at the leaderboard was on 16 after I made a mistake there. I made a good par on 17 and then a nice two-putt for birdie on the last. Magnus and Santi were up there but it wasn’t until 30 minutes later that I knew I was the champion.”
It was a disappointing day for overnight leaders Luna and Turner as they failed to improve on their third round scores. While Magnus P Atlevi finished runner-up, two shots behind Golding, as he carded a three under par round of 69.
Paul Broadhurst, the 2018 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship winner, shot the second lowest round of the day, a seven under par round of 65, to finish tied third alongside Luna and South Africa’s Chris Williams.
2019
Phillip Price won the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship at London Golf Club to claim his second Staysure Tour title in three years.
The 2002 Ryder Cup star recorded rounds of 67-66-71 and a final round of 67, five under par, to win the championship by two-shots ahead of Michael Campbell, James Kingston and Peter Lonard.
The Welshman’s first victory on the over-50s circuit came at the 2017 WINSTONgolf Senior Open and after five top tens in 2019 he became a Staysure Tour winner once again with victory at the European Tour Destinations venue.
Price began the final round two strokes behind 54-hole leader David McKenzie but started his surge up the leaderboard with three birdies in his first six holes, including one at the first hole.
A bogey on the seventh saw him make the turn at two under par to apply the pressure on the leaders before he moved swiftly passed them on the back nine. Price shot a blemish-free 33, including an eagle on the 11th and a birdie on the 16th to set the target at 17 under par.
With Kingston and Lonard unable to match the Welshman’s total, Price was crowned champion to become the first player from Wales to win the event since Brian Huggett in 1993.
“This win is a little nicer than the first one,” he said. “I’ve had my wife and two children here with me, and the children haven’t seen me win anything so that made it special. It’s nice to have them both here and nice to see me win something.
“I’ve been playing quite well all year with a lot of top ten finishes but without a win, so this was a huge relief for me.
“The birdie on the first got me off to a nice start. I hit a good tee shot and a nice six iron and then a good chip. I holed a nice putt and that settled me down.
“I had a number in my mind all week. 18 under won last year and I wanted to get to that. I got to 17, which is pretty close, and 18 under would’ve seen them off but 17 under was good enough to get the job done.”
Major Champion Campbell recorded a final round of 67, including an eagle finish, to finish two shots behind Price in second place alongside South Africa’s Kingston and Australian Lonard. While overnight leader McKenzie signed for a final round of 72, level par, to take fifth position.
With his win, Price moves into third place on the Staysure Tour Order of Merit, up from sixth..