Club Pelican touring professional and Team Titanium leader Mike Ferguson has defeated Brian Jones in a sudden death playoff to be named 2004 Titanium Enterprises Australian PGA Seniors Champion.
The finish could not have been more dramatic in the $150,000 tournament at Club Pelican, Pelican Waters, with Brian Jones leading from day one and Mike Ferguson staging an amazing comeback in Round 4, making up eight shots on Jones with a four under par 68. After 72 holes the pair were tied on 291 (three over) as darkness set in last night, with Jones shooting 68-76-71-76 and Ferguson on 80-71-72-68.
The playoff was decided in light rain at 8am this morning on the Par 4 first hole.
Jones’ tee shot found a fairway bunker and he eventually bogeyed the hole, while Ferguson finished on par following a straight drive and a superb second shot landing just 2m from the hole.
“I’m very happy to have won,” said Ferguson.
“I was eight over on my first nine holes and out on 44 on day one, which is the worst nine holes I can remember. But I’ve been playing in Europe all year and in this game it is a matter of fighting to get the shots back.”
“I didn’t actually win it, because yesterday I thought I was playing for second, Brian lost it and I just tried to play my best.”
Ferguson said the victory was up there with his 2002 Australian PGA Seniors Championship at Penrith.
“It ranks up there. I haven’t played on a full golf tour for 10 years so to win, especially at my own club and representing Club Pelican, was fantastic.”
The result means Ferguson gains automatic entry into the 2004 Australian PGA Championship at Hyatt Coolum in December and he will be invited to join the Seniors tour in Japan in 2005.
He flies with Jones to Portugal today to continue competition on the European PGA Seniors Tour and will compete on the US Champions Tour later this year.
Brian Jones said he was disappointed with the loss, referring to his bogey on 16th and 17th holes and a triple bogey on the 18th.
“I was a bit disappointed the way I finished last night, especially on the last hole,” he said.
“But it’s a match play situation and naturally you have to have a winner. I’ve been in a few situations like that before and you’ve just got to be lucky with it.”
Third placing went to New Zealand’s Barry Vivian who finished on 295.
Ferguson collected a winner’s cheque for $21,375, presented by PGA Australia president Geoff Scott.
The Titanium Enterprises Australian PGA Seniors Championship will be held at Club Pelican for the next two years, with next year’s tournament to be held in May.
Mike placed 6th at the 2003 Asian Senior Masters staged last November in Singapore, and hopes to fair better at the 2005 ASM Singapore.
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