Our final series looking at the 2004 Seniors Qualifying School Graduates introduces the final nine players who earned their cards for the 2005 Seniors Tour season as they look forward to a new year of seniors golf.
11. Tony Allen
Turned professional when he was 48 in order to prepare for playing senior golf. Remarkably, finished in joint 24th place at the European Seniors Tour Qualifying School for three years on the trot from 2001 but improved on that in 2004 where his 11th place finish gave him a conditional card for the 2005 season. In 2004 he produced his best finish on the Seniors Tour when he was tied fifth in the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open. A successful amateur for 26 years, he played for Warwickshire and won almost every title in the county. Has owned his own business since 1979 which is involved in golf, including club assembly work. The Englishman currently acts as an agent for PowerCaddy. He was an assistant professional in his early 20s but regained his amateur status in 1973. Has been based at Maxstoke Park since the late 1960s.
12. John Benda
Peaked at the end of the 2004 season finishing in joint third place in the Estoril Seniors Tour Championship, his best finish to date on the European Seniors Tour. Finished the year in 51st place on the Order of Merit after a season which also saw him finish equal 13th in the Tobago Plantations Seniors Classic and tied 12th in the Open de France Seniors. Earned a conditional card at the 2002 Qualifying School, gained full status after claiming the sixth card in the 2003 Finals, but had to return to the School at the end of 2004, where he finished 12th for another conditional card for the 2005 season. Spent much of his career playing in Asia and went on to become an administrator on the Asian Tour, before focusing on playing senior golf.
13. Donald Stirling
First trip to the European Seniors Tour Qualifying School Finals in 2004 saw the Vienna-based Stirling claim a conditional card after finishing ranked 13th. The Englishman has been teaching in Austria since 1996 and was formerly the professional at Harrogate Golf Club from 1979 to 1985. Made a brief appearance on The European Tour in the late 1980s and the early 1990s. Won the Leeds Cup on three occasions, which is one of the oldest tournaments in the country and was first won by Harry Vardon. Has played in the PGA Championship at Wentworth Club five times and also worked for TaylorMade in the late 1980s.
14. John Curtis
Was a farmer in Zimbabwe but left the country as a result of the policies introduced by Robert Mugabe's regime and, like Mark McNulty, has taken up Irish citizenship to go along with his new home in Dublin. The 2004 season was his first on the European Seniors Tour and he competed in 12 events playing his best golf in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open where he finished joint 25th. At the end of the season he returned to the Qualifying School in Portugal where for the second year in succession he attained conditional status after securing the 14th card. Won the Zimbabwe Match Play Championship in 2001 and played in the Eisenhower Trophy for Zimbabwe in 1986.
15. Dragon Taki
Yasushi, or 'Dragon' as he prefers to be called, triumphed in his first year on the European Seniors Tour in 2002. That year he became the third 2001 Qualifying School graduate to win when he defeated Ireland's Denis O'Sullivan in a three-hole play-off in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland. The victory made him the third Japanese golfer, after Seiji Ebihara and Noboru Sugai, to win on the 2002 Seniors Tour. In 2003 he finished joint second in the season-ending Estoril Seniors Tour Championship behind Carl Mason. In 2004 he picked up three top ten finishes but had to return to the Qualifying School where he was ranked 15th to receive conditional status for 2005. Turned professional in 1979 and subsequently became known as one of his country's biggest hitters, having won the JPGA Long Driving Championship on four occasions. He is a huge fan of Elvis Presley and is a familiar sight on Tour with his hair slicked back in the style of his hero.
16. Neville Clarke
The strapping South African turned professional in 2002 after an outstanding amateur career which saw him win the South African Amateur Championship in 1985 and 1988. In the latter event he beat none other than Ernie Els in the final. Also represented his country on several occasions and made his living as an electrical engineer. Since joining the paid ranks he has played on the European Seniors Tour for the past two years finishing 59th and 74th on the Order of Merit. His best finish to date was a joint sixth placing in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland in 2003 while in 2004 his highest finish was a tie for 12th in the Digicel Jamaica Classic, in association with Sony Ericsson. Returned to the Qualifying School at the end of 2004 and secured a conditional card when he finished in 16th place.
17. Chuck Milne
The American made his maiden appearance at the European Seniors Tour Qualifying School Finals in 2004 and secured a conditional card in 17th place after finishing with a one over par total following rounds of 74-70-71-70 at the Pestana Golf Resort. The towering golfer hails from Vancouver, Washington, where he coaches at the Vanco Driving Range. An accomplished teacher, he has also won tournaments in the Washington area and competed in the Senior British Open Championship, presented by MasterCard, the US Senior Open and the US Senior PGA Championship on numerous occasions.
18. Victor Garcia
A respected professional in Spain for many years, has been the main driving force and coach behind his son Sergio’s highly successful career. Enjoyed a truly marvellous family occasion at The Ryder Cup in September 2004 when both he and his daughter Mar were at Oakland Hills to witness Sergio play a big part in helping Europe to their record winning margin. Turned 50 at the end of 2000 and attempted the European Seniors Tour Qualifying School in both 2001 and 2003 but was unsuccessful. Put that right in 2004 however when he claimed the 18th card which will give him conditional status for the 2005 season. Has played in numerous European Seniors Tour events since 2001 with his best finish being when he tied 30th in The Mobile Cup in 2002.
19. Taheru Shibata
The diminutive and bespectacled Japanese player enjoyed a 27 year career on the Japan Tour and last year claimed two titles on the Japan Seniors Tour. Later in the year he turned his attention to the European Seniors Tours Qualifying School Finals where he secured the 19th card which gave him conditional status. He will hoping to follow in the footsteps of Seiji Ebihara, Noboru Sugai and Dragon Taki by winning Senior events in Europe.
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