Nick Job celebrated his 300
th
Staysure Tour appearance in fantastic fashion as he shot his age, a three under par 69, at the first round of the Willow Senior Golf Classic.
Job, who joins Denis O’Sullivan as the only players to make 300 appearances on the European over-50s circuit, made his Staysure Tour debut in 1999 at the Energis Senior Masters, held at Wentworth, and went on to win his first event – the TotalFina Elf Seniors Open - the following season.
At Hanbury Manor, the 69 year old made the turn two under par after eagling the 17thhole, his eight, and then birdieing the 18th, his ninth. He then birdied the eighth hole, his 17th, and finished with a par for a round of 69.
“I played my age which was really nice, and I almost birdied the last which would have meant I would have beaten my age – but it’s been a great day and I hope I can keep it going,” said Job.
“It’s been 19 years on this Tour, it’s incredible really. It’s a milestone I don’t think many guys will get to. I’ve been very lucky, and it’s great to join Denis. It’s been a great 19 years.”
The Weston Homes PGA International Seniors was Job’s last victory on the Staysure Tour, but the Englishman says it’s the one which stands out the most, having beaten the Tour’s record winner, Carl Mason, to the title.
“It has been great to win a few times too, it’s something I didn’t think I’d manage to do when I left the European Tour.
“The first win was very important, but the one that really stands out was when I beat Carl at Stoke-by-Nayland. I led from start to finish and I birdied the last and it was a fantastic feeling to win by two strokes.”
Now turning his attentions to this week’s tournament, Job is keen to build on his performance at the VTB Russian Open Golf Championship (Senior), where he finished tied for 15th.
“I played great today, and I have a fantastic caddie here with my daughter helping me out. I was one over par after three-putting the second hole, but I kept it going.
“I hit two great shots into 17 and holed the putt for eagle and then stiffed it on 18 and tapped in.
“The front nine, my back nine, was a bit tougher, and I just caught one of the bunkers on nine, otherwise I’d have probably shot 68.
“It’s a great course, it’s a tough, competitive course, and you have to hit it in the right places.”
