Paul Wesselingh will this week aim to successfully defend a title for the third time in his European Senior Tour career in the fourth edition of the WINSTONgolf Senior Open.
The Englishman, who topped the 2013 Senior Tour Order of Merit, won the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship in back-to-back years from 2012 to notch his first two victories in the over-50s ranks. He also defended the season-ending MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius in December, and after winning his eighth Senior Tour title in the SSE Enterprise Wales Senior Open in May, he will fancy his chances of securing a ninth victory in Vorbeck this week.
For much of a thrilling final day in northern Germany 12 months, the title appeared to be heading to either Phil Golding or home hero Bernhard Langer; but Wesselingh had other ideas, following up a holed chip shot for eagle on the 17th with a birdie at the 18th to force a play-off with the two lead protagonists.
Following a trio of birdies on the first extra hole, Golding dropped out after a bogey at the next, before Wesselingh saw off Langer with another birdie to secure the most unlikely of victories.
Wesselingh returns to the scene of his triumph on the back of a top 20 finish in last week’s Swiss Seniors Open, a tournament won by Gordon Manson.
Manson secured his debut Senior Tour title in nerveless fashion, covering the back nine in 31 shots to beat Golding by two strokes. He will now attempt to emulate the feat of in-form Australian Peter Fowler, who won in successive weeks in Jersey and England.
Fowler notched his fourth top five finish of a spectacular season in Bad Ragaz last week, and will aim to close the gap on Colin Montgomerie at the top of the Senior Tour Order of Merit by taking home the lion’s share of the €300,000 prize fund.
Other notable names in the field include Ryder Cup-winning Captain Sam Torrance, who is making his first appearance on the Senior Tour in almost a month.
China’s Zhang Lian-wei and Australian Peter O’Malley will both bid to build on encouraging displays on their Senior Tour debuts in Switzerland, where they finished tied 23rd and joint 11th respectively.
O’Malley’s compatriot Terry Price won the inaugural WINSTONgolf Senior Open in 2012, and the Australian was succeeded as champion by Scotland’s Gordon Brand Jnr.
Both men return to the WINSTONopen Course, described by Wesselingh as “by far the best we play on all season”, bidding to secure a second victory.
The WINSTONgolf Senior Open is the final tournament before The Senior Open Presented by Rolex, which will be played at Sunningdale Golf Club from July 23-26.
