SMETHURST SEEKS FIFTH SENIORS CROWN
 Roy
Smethurst, the defending champion, will be chasing a record
fifth victory when the English Men’s Seniors Championship
is played at Yelverton and Tavistock Golf Clubs in Devon on
7th - 9th June.
The 63 year old from Crewe (pictured left - photo courtesy
of Tom Ward) is the most successful player in English seniors
golf and has an impeccable record in the championship. The
four titles already under his belt have come in the past six
years and this time he will be seeking three-in-a-row.
After his initial victory at Moor Park in 2000, Smethurst
retained the title at Sherwood Forest the following year,
finished runner-up at Heswall in 2002 and third at Frilford
Heath a year later. He regained the coveted title in 2004
by five strokes at John O’Gaunt and r! etained it by
three a year ago at Prestbury.
However, Smethurst, who is also the reigning European Seniors
champion, is playing down his chances. “I don’t
expect to win,” he says. “I’m just looking
forward to a decent performance and to win again would be
most unexpected. There are so many good players reaching the
age of 55 and coming on to the scene while I would expect
my England seniors’ team-mates to provide tough opposition
as usual. I am just happy to compete.”
The two Devon courses are an unknown quantity to the man from
Cheshire. “I’ve not been to either,” he
says. “But I understand they are both are moorland courses
similar to Sherwood Forest where I grew up playing so I’m
looking forward to some tight lies.”
A year ago, Smethurst won the title on 223 by three strokes
from Bob Knott from Devon, who will be among the favourites
in his home! county. The field also includes most of the England
seniors’ international team as well as Philip Jones
and John Whitcutt, both Welsh caps who qualify as members
of English clubs. Six recent English Seniors champions - Smethurst,
Doug Arnold, David Lane, Jon Marks, Gordon Edwards, and Graham
Steel - are also competing in what is becoming an increasingly
competitive event.
Smethurst gets his defence underway at 9.20am on Wednesday
7th June at Tavistock, Knott starts at noon at Yelverton,
while double winner Arnold is off at 10.30am at Yelverton.
Lane, another double winner, starts at Tavistock at 11am.
Two hundred and forty of the best over-55 golfers in the country
will be in action over the two courses on the first two days
after which there will be a cut, the leading 60 players and
ties competing for the final 18 holes at Yelverton on Friday
the 9th. As usual, there are four subsidiary competitions
based on age groups.
The leading players from this championship, along with others
featuring at the top of the new Seniors Order of Merit table,
are likely to be in the forefront of selection for the team
to represent England in the annual Seniors Home Internationals
at Dunbar in Scotland on 3rd - 5th October.
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