I've been producing this newsletter for a few years now and never had such a wide margin of victory to report. So congratulations goes to Lisa Heywood for her fine performance in the Medal & Hetherington Salver. Lisa shot an excellent nett 66 to win the Silver section by a full ten shots and the Hetherington Salver by nine. The runner up in the Silver was Sandy Charlick with a nett 76. In the Bronze section it was Maria King in top spot and runner-up in the Hetherington with a nett 75 on countback from Rose Yazdani.
Over 50's Club Championship
The Over 50's Club Championship was hotly contested again this year played over 18 holes on the East course. The winner of the Scratch prize with a gross 74 was Paddy O'Connor who won on countback from Andrew James with current Club Champion Mark Peache in third place with a 75 - the Handicap winner was John Slater with a Nett 67, with runner-up Brian Harland shooting a nett 69, pipping George Szekely to third place on countback.
Midweek Medal
It was tight at the top in the midweek medal as Dermot Kenny just got the better of Tom Beaumont and third place Dennis Keeling all having shot nett 70's. Countback was used to separate the three with Steve Gromolya taking fourth place with a nett 71 also on countback.
After the thrills and spills of The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, the regular European Tour resumes this week with the M2M Russian Open at Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club in Moscow.
The Russian Open returned to the European Tour schedule last year when Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey triumphed by four strokes over Alexandre Kaleka of France and England's Matthew Nixon.
Hoey won't be back to defend his title and, a week after the Open Championship at Hoylake, a number of the Tour's top players are enjoying a well-earned break. So, this event provides a great opportunity for a less-established player to take a step-up into the limelight.
A number of British players are on the start sheet, including Scotland's Scott Jamieson, Craig Lee, David Drysdale and Peter Whiteford. David Horsey, Matthew Nixon and Simon Wakefield will represent England in the tournament and Stuart Manley and Bradley Dredge will tee it up for Wales.
Also in the field is former Grand Slam tennis champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov. The Russian is looking to make his first cut on either the European or European Challenge Tour.
The course at Tseleevo is a Jack Nicklaus design with holes lined by mature trees and protected by natural water hazards. It's rated as one of Russia's finest tracks and has received high praise from the professionals.
The weather forecast looks fair for this week, other than the chance of rain on Thursday, there shouldn't be too much to worry about in the way of delays.
Player Watch:
Craig Lee - The Scot performed well in his national open at Royal Aberdeen - ending the week in a tie for 16th. That finish would have been a good deal higher if he'd played a better final round. He's one of the more experienced players in this field and that could be telling.
David Horsey - He hasn't been on his best form over the last month, but he's too good a player for that to last. He has four top-10 finishes to his name on the European Tour this season.
Adrian Otaegui - The 21-year-old Spaniard has been struggling a little in his first full season on the European Tour. But, he played four solid rounds in his last start - the Scottish Open - to finish in a tie for 24th and pick up the biggest cheque of his European Tour career. He's a talented player and this is the sort of event where he could make a breakthrough.
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The Seniors Open Championship
With Sundridge Park favourite Bob Cameron playing this week at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales at Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex, I thought I would preview this Seniors Major too. Mark Wiebe of the USA will defend the title against a field featuring many legends of the game.
This will be the 28th running of The Senior Open Championship and Royal Porthcawl will be the 12th course to welcome the great event.
The inaugural winner, back in 1987 at Turnberry, was England's Neil Coles. Gary Player was a three-time winner from 1988 to 1997 and Tom Watson won three times in five years from 2003 to 2007. Now 64-years-old, Watson will, once again, start this week as one of the favourites, following his strong showing at Hoylake last week.
In last season's Senior Open at Royal Birkdale, Mark Wiebe of the USA came through a thrilling playoff against Germany's Bernhard Langer. The American eventually triumphed at the fifth extra hole.
Already twice a Senior Major winner in 2014, Scotland's Colin Montgomerie will be looking to secure a hat-trick at Royal Porthcawl. A number or the world's best over-50 players will be aiming to stop him from doing that. Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Corey Pavin and Mark Calcavecchia are all on the start sheet.
Royal Porthcawl hosted the Coral Welsh Classic on The European Tour three times between 1980-1982, and the Wales Senior Open in 2009, 2010 and 2013, as well as the 1995 Walker Cup, featuring Tiger Woods, when Great Britain and Ireland beat the USA by 14-10.
It's a testing links layout where the wind is likely to be a factor. With punishing bunkers, treacherous run-offs and encroaching gorse, the course demands a strategic and patient approach.
Player Watch:
Tom Watson - The evergreen American will come into this event brimming with confidence after his excellent showing at Royal Liverpool. He beat Tiger Woods there; can he beat the world's best senior golfers this week?
Colin Montgomerie - The Scot has won the US Senior PGA and the US Senior Open already this season. He's looking to make it three Majors in a row.
Bernhard Langer - Last year's runner-up will be looking to go one better this time. He's won three times on the 2014 Champions Tour.
Miguel Angel Jimenez - The Spaniard has played one Champions Tour event since he turned 50, and he won it! He'll be looking to keep his 100% record this week.
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