The Arras Open Senior Hauts de France by Jean van de Velde returns to the Staysure Tour International Schedule in 2020, following a successful debut last season.
The Arras Open Senior Hauts de France by Jean van de Velde returns to the Staysure Tour International Schedule in 2020, following a successful debut last season. Ahead of the second edition of the tournament, we take a look back at all the drama from the inaugural contest.
Baker seals maiden win
The tournament will be best remembered for Peter Baker’s maiden Staysure Tour victory, with the former Ryder Cup player becoming only the 11th player to secure a rare triple by winning on the European Tour, European Challenge Tour and Staysure Tour.
The 51-year-old did so in emphatic style, carding a final round five under par 67, to go wire-to-wire at Arras Golf Club and claim a three-shot victory over South African James Kingston. The triumph means the Englishman has won at least once in every decade since the 1980’s, a trend he will look to continue when he defends his title in Northern France.
Making an introduction
The legacy of The 2018 Ryder Cup was on full display in Arras last season, with the event marking one of seven European Tour-sanctioned events to be hosted in France throughout the year. It was consequently apt that one of the nation’s Ryder Cup legends, van de Velde, assumed hosting duties for the week.
Van de Velde was one of three stars of the over 50s circuit to host a Staysure Tour event in 2019, with Ian Woosnam and the eventual tournament winner Baker also putting their name to events throughout the season.
Lawrie debuts
It was not only the tournament itself celebrating a maiden showing, with Major Champion Paul Lawrie also enjoying his first Staysure Tour start. The Scotsman would show glimpses of the form that was to come later in the season, carding a final round of 66, six under par, to close out his debut in style. The 1999 Open Champion did not wait long to secure his first victory on the circuit, winning the Scottish Senior Open on home soil two months later.
Ian’s ace
🚨HOLE-IN-ONE ALERT🚨
— Staysure Tour (@StaysureTour) June 9, 2019
Scenes on the tenth tee as Ian Woosnam holes-out from 189 yards with a five iron - our second hole-in-one of the week - he's also won a BMW 3 Series! #SeniorOpenHDF pic.twitter.com/snTdfmrn8e
The 1991 Masters Tournament Champion Ian Woosnam drove away from Arras with more than he anticipated after holing out on the 189-yard par three tenth hole with a five iron - the second hole-in-one of the tournament. The Welshman had plenty of reason to celebrate, with the feat ensuring he was handed the keys to a brand-new BMW 3 Series.
