Defending champion Mark Wiebe made two shop keepers in Porthcawl very happy today when he made a special trip into the town centre ahead of The 2014 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex.
Wiebe spent more than an hour in the sun-kissed holiday town ahead of the first round of his title defence at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, charged with the responsibility of selecting the Best Dressed Shop Window competition.
As part of a superb community initiative, shops in Porthcawl had been challenged to decorate their shop with golf memorabilia to engage with the holiday makers and golfing spectators visiting the area for The Senior Open Championship, which takes place over the next four days.
Wiebe saw at first hand the creativity of the shop keepers in the bustling town centre and was presented with a dilemma. He said: “I thought some of the shops were outstanding but, in the end, it was coincidence that the best two, in my view, were situated right next to each other.
“It was like finishing tied, as I was with Bernhard Langer in this championship last year, but whereas I had to play-off for the title, I thought it was more appropriate for the two shops to be judged as first equal!”
As a result, shop owners Julie Connick of Seren Fach tea room and Sophie Page of Koko jewellers in Well Street shared first place. Both ladies received four season tickets to all four days of the event, courtesy of The Senior Open Championship, and both thoroughly enjoyed the chance to decorate their windows and to meet the defending champion, who brought the trophy along with him.
Wiebe also visited the staff of Tenovus and Age Cymru – the two Official Charities of the Senior Open Championship – who also showed their creative side by providing decorative shop fronts in the main thoroughfare, John Street.
Tickets to the Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex are available on the gate, priced £30 daily and £80 for a season. Parking is free and Under-16s are admitted free of charge.
