finished third. ▪ Photo courtesy of Oh Shoot Photography
A field of 61 professional golfers were joined by 35 amateurs on the Cobar golf course over the weekend to contest the MAC Copper CSA Mine Australian Seniors Sand Greens Championships and Open Amateur Pro-Am event.
The Australian PGA Senior Sand Greens Championship title came down to a three-way play off with Queensland’s Brad Burns recording scores of 68-67—135 and winning after a sudden-death play off on the 18th hole.
Burns beat Nigel Weldon (69-66—135) and the tournament favourite, Andre Stolz (69-66—135).
Forced into a Monday finish after rain prevented any play on Saturday, the PGA Legends Tour players extended their stay in Cobar so that the $50,000 tournament could have its full complement of 36 holes.
Trailing Murray Lott by a single shot after Round 1, Burns had to bounce back from a late bogey at the par-3 15th hole with consecutive birdies to shoot 68 and join Stolz and Weldon at 7-under par.
The trio headed back to the par-4 18th hole where Burns was able to secure his third win for the season.
“I thought I threw it away,” Burns told PGA Australia’s Tony Webeck.
“Four holes to go, I bogeyed the par three.
“Just a very ordinary chip.
“Birdied 16 and 17 and a nice little par on the last,” Burns said.
“It took me a while to get used to the sand greens again but just a great day.
“Great people up here, too.
“We’ve had a ball.
“They do a fantastic job of looking after us,” he said.
Burns has now played his way into the $140,000 World Sand Greens Championship at Binalong courtesy of his playoff triumph at the Australian PGA Senior Sand Greens Championship at Cobar.
Among the other top finishers were David Fearns (71-65—136), Lott (67-69—136), Mark Hale (72-66—138), David McKenzie (71-67—138), Adam Henwood (70-68—138) and Carl Smedley (69-69—138).
Among the local amateur golfers, Jay Egan finished as the winner with a score of 38 points ahead of runner-up Travis Buckman on 36 points.
In the ladies division, Narelle Kriz finished as the winner with 36 points and Jenny Stephenson was the runner-up on 35 points.
