After four gruelling days at Trump International it was Bo Van Pelt who emerged victorious at the Legends Tour’s flagship event, the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship hosted by Colin Montgomerie, after a play-off with South Africa’s Darren Fichardt.
The pair were locked at -3 for the week – the only two players under par as strong winds produced extremely challenging playing conditions. Van Pelt had enjoyed a three-shot lead at one point in the middle of the back nine, but the gritty Fichardt kept battling as the American faltered and drew level with three to play. Nothing could separate the two over the closing holes as they both sought a first Legends Tour win and a dramatic play-off ensued.
Both players crashed superb drives down the par-five 18th. Van Pelt was then first to play, hitting a majestic fairway wood from more than 260 yards to the middle of the green, while Fichardt seemed to injure his wrist as he struck his approach and found a deep fairway bunker. In taking two more to get to the green, his chance was lost and Van Pelt two putted for birdie and the win.
Having claimed the oldest senior championship in world golf, Van Pelt said: “It means a lot to me, it’s been a long road back and I can’t thank the Legends Tour enough. My first event at Costa Navarino was great and this was too. I’ve been playing pro golf for 27 years and the two I’ve played on this tour have been as good as anything I’ve played.”
The American was also full of praise for his vanquished opponent, who performed valiantly to force a play-off and even had a chance to win in regulation before three-putting his 72nd hole. “I can’t say enough about Darren,” said Van Pelt. “He’s a world-class player and he played really good today. I knew he wasn’t going to go away. I just played solid all week. I knew my game was in pretty good shape, but there was a lot of good players out here.
“I’ve just been trying to really get into my process, focus on my pre-shot routine. It’s easy to get ahead of yourself, but on this golf course, you really can’t do it. And I probably did as good a job this week as I have ever done in my career. My son was great. It was his first week on the bag, but he said a lot of good things at the right time. It wasn’t looking very good for me on 18 in regulation when Darren’s right there in front of two. But the play-off was a fresh start. I hit a really good drive and there at the end I just tried to focus on the shot at hand and not think about giving up a three-shot lead.
“My other son’s been caddying on the Champions Tour and so I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to win on this continent and win a huge event on the Legends Tour with your son on the bag – you’ve just got to pinch yourself.”
On a day where the wind swirled and momentum fluctuated, enthusiastic crowds at Trump International were treated to a back-nine battle royale as both players traded birdies and bogeys.
Van Pelt had looked to be cruising, with birdies on the 3rd and 4th taking him to -4. When he rifled a stunning 8-iron to five feet at the 13th and then holed for another birdie – as both Fichardt and Khan bogeyed – the lead was stretched to three and one hand was firmly on the trophy.
But Fichardt refused to go quietly and promptly chipped in for birdie at the next while Van Pelt overshot the green and couldn’t get up-and-down from a heavy lie. Once the American drove into a bunker on the 15th and dropped another shot the lead was tied and a grandstand finish set up. Fichardt will undoubtedly reflect on a missed opportunity having got onto the front of the green in two on the final hole of regulation play – but he left his long eagle putt short and then missed for birdie as well, matching Van Pelt’s par.
Elsewhere, home favourite Steven Gallacher mounted a final-day charge and surged into the top five with four birdies in a 69, but a bogey at the last derailed any faint hope of victory and he was forced to settle for a tie for fourth place with Mikael Lundberg who shot a 70. He was joined in the top-10 by former Open champion Paul Lawrie, who battled to a round of 71. “It was okay,” said Gallacher. “I played alright and gave myself a chance. It’s a pity about the bogey at the last. I went for the putt trying to maybe get third place and knocked it past and then missed it coming back. But at least I gave it a go.”
Order of Merit leader Scott Hend also carded a three-under-par 69 to finish the week at +1 and leap into third place and cement his position at the top of the money list. The top 10 was rounded out by Simon Khan in fourth, making a third consecutive appearance in the final group on Staysure PGA Seniors Sunday, with Steve Webster and Peter Baker at +4, with Sean Whiffin, Maarten Lafeber and Andrew Marshall joining Lawrie at +5.
Another one of the best rounds of the day came from another Scot – Greig Hutcheon – who made great use of his local knowledge as a former member at Trump International to get round in 68 blows and claim a share of 24th.
The tournament also saw a number of elite junior golfers from the local area competing in the Staysure Future Legends event, played over two rounds during the first two days of the main tournament. Dillon Middleton, who holds a 5.2 handicap at nearby Cruden Bay, won with a 36-hole stableford total of 61 points having played alongside Legends Tour players Santiago Luna and Andre Stolz.
“At Staysure, we’re incredibly proud to be long term sponsor the PGA Seniors Championship and support the next generation of elite amateur golfers by hosting the Staysure Future Legends Competition,” said David Morely, Chief Marketing Officer at Staysure. “Giving young talent the chance to compete alongside golfing legends in true tournament conditions is a privilege – and we’re thrilled to help create these unforgettable opportunities that will ultimately support their development in the game.”
The Legends Tour now moves on to Brocket Hall for the English Legends on August 22nd.
Visit www.legendstour.com for more details and tickets.
