SMETHURST WITHDRAWS FROM SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP
Roy Smethurst will not be defending the English Men’s
Seniors Championship at Yelverton and Tavistock Golf Clubs
in Devon on 7th - 9th June after undergoing surgery.
The 63 year old from Crewe has withdrawn from the championship
while he recovers from an abdominal operation. He is likely
to be out for several months so will also be unable to defend
his European Seniors title.
Smethurst is the most successful player in English seniors
golf and has an impeccable record in the championship. In
Devon, he would have been chasing his fifth English title
and his third in a row.
The four titles already under his belt have come in the past
six years. 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 fiv! e strokes at John O’Gaunt and retained it by
three a year ago at Prestbury.
Smethurst’s absence means the title could prove a battle
among his England seniors’ international team-mates
as well as Philip Jones and John Whitcutt, both Welsh caps,
who qualify as members of English clubs. The other five recent
English Seniors champions - Doug Arnold, David Lane, Jon Marks,
Gordon Edwards, and Graham Steel - are also competing in what
is becoming an increasingly competitive event.
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 are likely to be
in the forefront of selection for the team to r! epresent
England in the annual Seniors Home Internationals at Dunbar
in Scotland on 3rd - 5th October.
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