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Oakley shows strength in depth of the European Seniors Tour

27 July 2004


The strength in depth on the European Seniors Tour became more evident than ever on Sunday when American Pete Oakley claimed The Senior British Open Championship presented by MasterCard at Royal Portrush Golf Club.

On the Tuesday before the Championship teed off Oakley had to go through the 18 hole qualifier where 132 players competed for 20 spots. A level par round saw him through but having not been able to make an impression on the leaderboard during his first year on the European Seniors Tour this season he did not have high hopes of doing well. Prior to Royal Portrush he had recorded two top ten finishes in ten starts.

However, a wealth of talent exists on the Seniors Tour and when Oakley held off a quality field in the Senior British Open Championship to claim the title it showed just what an untapped pool of talent exists on the circuit.

Never before has a qualifier won the Senior British Open Championship and Oakley was quick to thank his brother David, who also plays on the Seniors Tour, for persuading him to head to the Qualifying School last year.

Said Oakley: “He (David) talked me into qualifying for the European Senior Tour. In the final round of the European Seniors Tour qualifying this past November, if a skulled eight iron had not hit the pin and gone into the hole on the ninth hole, I would not be here right now, probably. So I’ve been very much blessed and fortunate.”

The American’s surprise victory earned him an exemption into this week’s US Senior Open and the 134th Open Golf Championship in 2005.

“Since being over here and having my brother talk me into qualifying, playing on the European Seniors Tour has really helped a lot. I think it’s really helped to kind of mature me into being a whole lot better player mentally than I was,” said Oakley.

Oakley became the fourth first time winner this year following Gavan Levenson (DGM Barbados Open), Bob Cameron (Open de France Seniors) and Luis Carbonetti (Digicel Jamaica Classic).

Victory also meant that along with his brother they became only the second pair of brothers to win on the Seniors Tour along with Horacio and Luis Carbonetti.

David Oakley has won four times on the Seniors Tour and was overjoyed to welcome his brother into the winners’ enclosure.

When asked what he would do with his €237,365 (£157,800) winners’ cheque Oakley said: “Boy, I can get out of debt. I can pay for my kids’ education. A lot of things I can do. You’ve got me thinking now. But I’ll probably call my broker at Morgan Stanley and get some good advice.”

Perhaps the greatest feeling though will come from having his name inscribed on the Senior British Open Championship trophy alongside some of the greats of the game.

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