With just five events of the season remaining, the race for the John Jacobs Trophy is heating up. Here are the golfers to keep an eye on at this year’s Senior Italian Open Presented by Villaverde Resort…
Clark Dennis
American Clark Dennis, who earned his card at Senior Tour Qualifying School earlier this year, posted his best-ever finish at a Senior Tour event when he finished tied second at last week’s Travis Perkins Masters.
Since earning his card, he has accumulated earnings of more than €100,000 this season and had finished tied fifth, tied fourth, and tied third prior to his second-place finish at Woburn.
Chris Williams
Sitting atop the Order of Merit is South Africa’s Chris Williams who cemented his place at the top of the tree with a fourth place finish at the Travis Perkins Masters. With earnings of nearly €150,000, Williams has won a third of his prize money in the last three events, finishing tied fifth at the Willow Senior Golf Classic and tied third at the Scottish Senior Open.
Starting the season in strong fashion with victory at the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq, Williams hasn’t looked back and leads the race for the John Jacobs Trophy by nearly €20,000 from Magnus P Atlevi
Peter Fowler
Since joining the European Senior Tour in 2009, Peter Fowler has played in 115 events. The Australian has 49 top ten finishes to his name, meaning he has been there or thereabouts in more than 40 per cent of the events he has played.
His season-best finish so far came at the European Tour Properties Senior Classic in Finland, finishing tied fourth, however the 2011 John Jacobs Trophy winner has finished tied fifth in his last two events – the Willow Senior Golf Classic and Travis Perkins Masters.
Gary Orr
It’s turning into a straight shoot-out between Gary Orr and Clark Dennis for the title of Senior Tour Rookie of the Year. Since turning 50, Orr has not finished outside the top 11 in regular events, finishing no lower than tied seventh in his last three outings.
His tied third finish on home soil at the Scottish Senior Open was followed by a runner-up spot at the Willow Senior Golf Classic. He then finished tied seventh at the Travis Perkins Masters at Woburn, continuing his superb start to life on the over-50s circuit.
Magnus P Atlevi
This time last year, Magnus P Atlevi was heading into the Paris Legends Championship after withdrawing from the Travis Perkins Masters with injury. Yet Atlevi went on to win at Le Golf National, host venue of The 2018 Ryder Cup with an eight under par score.
With the Senior Italian Open moving ahead in the calendar, Atlevi’s title defence has moved to the end of September; however, this week corresponds with the 52 year old’s first Senior Tour victory.
The Swede is currently second on the Order of Merit and has finished no lower than tied 14thin his last six events, including The Senior Open Presented by Rolex.
