Home victory for Senior as Norman fails to threaten

PETER SENIOR fended off a strong challenge to win the Australian PGA Championship by one shot in front of his home crowd at Coolum yesterday.

The 44 year-old, whose last tour victory was the 1997 Canon Challenge, took a five-shot lead into the final day after leading the tournament from the outset, only just managing to hang on after a three putt last hole bogey to finish on 64-65-69-73.

Fellow Australian Rod Pampling staged a gritty challenge to take second place on 65-69-69-69.

Craig Parry, with a 67-68-68-70, took third a shot further back when his assault came to a watery end on the treacherous 11th hole after both Senior and Pampling bogeyed in their efforts to avoid the water.

Senior, who only recently returned to the main Tour, failed to break Parry’s record low total for the PGA of 269 set in 1992 but collected $180,000 dollars for his 271 total.

He becomes only the second player in his 40s to win the PGA Championship in its 100-year history.

Senior said he regarded the win as a comeback victory after almost giving golf away in 1997.

“A lot of things run through your mind at a time like this,” Senior said. “It’s a great feeling. It’s been a long time and I’m over the moon.

“I was leaking a bit of oil coming home, I’m glad there wasn’t any more holes to play. When I birdied 16 I knew I had enough gap.”

Greg Norman finished a three-over par 75 to be tied for 20th, never seriously threatening for the title.

The Shark was full of praise for his celebrity caddy Lleyton Hewitt after the tennis player carried his bag throughout the tournament.

“We had a great week,” Norman said. “I think it was as memorable for Lleyton as it was for me. He’s a huge enthusiast for golf. Irrespective of how I played, he had a great time and I’m glad we could do it.”

Hewitt described the week as one of the best experiences of his life.

“It was a great experience and a privilege to be part of it,” he said. “I’ve had a great time.”

Norman now plans to carry Hewitt’s racquets at the Australian Open.

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee recorded the biggest win of his career in the $500,000 Volvo Masters of Asia yesterday .

Thongchai shot a six-under-par 65 to win by one stroke from Taiwan’s Lin Keng-chi, who returned a 67.

In what is the season-ending Tour championship on the Asian PGA Tour, Thongchai finished with a four-round aggregate of 19-under-par 265 and won 90,000 dollars.

Jyoti Randhawa of India came in with a 65 to finish alone in third place, four strokes off the lead at Bangkok Golf Club.

India’s Arjun Atwal was the other big winner this week. He claimed the Order of Merit title ahead of China’s Zhang Lian-wei.

Zhang needed a brilliant last day to catch Atwal, but carded a disappointing 74, which included a triple-bogey on the par-five 18th.

Atwal and Thongchai only arrived in Thailand on Wednesday afternoon after a long flight from the US PGA Tour Qualifying School in Florida.

Atwal made it through the school but Thongchai was unsuccessful. The Thai’s victory in the Volvo Masters of Asia went a long way towards making amends for his disappointment in America.

Atwal closed with a 68 to finish the tournament on four-over-par 288 but it was enough for him to succeed countryman Randhawa as the Asian PGA’s top player.

By claiming the Merit list title Atwal earned a place in next year’s British Open and full playing rights on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.

Next year, however, he will be focusing on keeping his card on the US PGA Tour.