In what was a remarkable performance, elder statesman Peter Senior has upstaged the young guns to capture the UNIQLO Masters at Huntingdale - 24 years since his first victory at this iconic event and 20 years since he last donned the canary yellow jacket.
Peter Senior has shown that age is no barrier winning the UNIQLO Masters at Huntingdale Golf Club and has once again emerged victorious winning by two shots with a tournament total 8-under 276.
Playing solid golf all week, Senior entered the final day tied third alongside Michael Sim, John Senden and Matthew Guyatt.
Right from his first tee shot Senior looked the man to beat, opening his final round with back-to-back birdies.
A couple of early bogeys on the 4th and 5th didn’t sway the Queenslander, holding his nerve he reignited the pace with two back-to-back birdies on the 6th and 7th.
With three holes to play Senior held a three shot lead, however a birdie from Andrew Evans on the 16 and a dropped shot from Senior on 17 saw the pair tied as he teed off on 18.
Finding the greenside bunker on the 18th, Senior played a beautiful bunker shot and got up and down for par.
A nervous wait ensued for Senior as he watched on to see Evans, 27 years his junior, bogey his final two holes.
With this win, Senior has completed the Triple Crown of victories in his 50’s. He won the 2010 Australian PGA Championship aged 51 and the Emirates Australian Open two years later.
At 56 years of age Senior also becomes the oldest winner of the Australian Masters surpassing Gene Littler who won as a 50 year old in 1980.
While Senior rejoiced it was heartbreak for Andrew Evans who bogeyed his final two holes to fall out of contention.
A tied runner-up finish is still a great result for Evans who pre-qualified for his place in the UNIQLO Masters.
Joining Evans, tied second on 6-under 278 was leading Amateur Bryson DeChambeau and John Senden.
Tomorrow Evans will head to Liverpool Golf Club in Sydney to try and pre-qualify for a space in the Emirates Australian Open. He tees off at 9.21am with just eight spaces available.
Adam Scott ended his UNIQLO Masters campaign outright fifth on 4-under the card.
Rounding out the top-10, a shot further back, were Richard Green, Brett Rumford, Alistair Presnell, Matthew Guyatt, Michael Sim and Matthew Millar.
For the final scores from the UNIQLO Masters please visit pga.org.au.
The PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit can also be found at pga.org.au.
The PGA Tour of Australasia will now head to The Australian Golf Club in Sydney for the Emirates Australian Open from 26-29 November.
A full PGA Tour of Australasia schedule can be found at pga.org.au.
Quotes:
Peter Senior, 70, 70, 68, 68, 8-under 276, Champion
“To win this tournament, the Aussie Open a few years ago and the PGA a couple of years before that, all of them over 50 years of age, I think that's a big thing for me.”
“Nearly every hole on the back nine everyone was cheering me, even my poor shots. It was just great. I have not had that sort of following for a very, very long time. It sort of encouraged me.”
“It's just amazing. I'm still blown over winning this tournament. The guys played pretty well.”
Andrew Evans, 68, 69, 70, 71, 6-under 278, T2
“I just kept pressing, trying to hit the middle of the green, trying to give myself putts. But I was so proud of those two birdies coming in, I hit perfect shots.”
“It’s awesome, I’m curious to know how much money I’ll make, to know if I hold onto my card because I finished 54th or 55th at Q-School. Which means your money counts but you don’t get any status in tournaments. Top-60 get their card next year. I’m thinking more about that than money in my bank account.”
Bryson DeChambeau, 69, 70, 72, 67, 6-under 278, T2 and leading amateur
“Any time you get to be up near the leaderboard and have an opportunity coming into the last nine, it's special.”
“I'm trying to play my best every week, no matter the field, no matter the situation, you're just trying to do your best. If that encompasses you winning, then that's a part of it.”
Adam Scott, 64, 70, 77, 69, 4-under 280, 5th
“Yesterday's left my head spinning a little bit because I just played so poorly. Some of the worst golf I've played this year and that was really disappointing.”
“It was a big ask to be able to go low today. I don't know if there's any real low scores out there, and it's pretty nice conditions, but played tough today.”
“I thought if I could at least post something. But again, the last three holes are no snack at all, especially with the greens a bit firmer. And even though I did try to go at pins coming in, just hard to get it close and convert.”
SOURCE PGA of Australia
IMAGE - Matthew Hinck (PGA of Aust)