British Senior Amateur: Pierse ends American run
NAIRN, Scotland, (Aug. 10, 2007)-- Arthur Pierse from Tipperary, a former Walker Cup player, won the Seniors Open Amateur Championship at Nairn in a sudden-death play-off with Canadian Graham Cooke after they had tied on a three-round aggregate of 211, Cooke making up a two-shot deficit with a final round of 71.
Pierse ended a run of American successes in the championship which had stretched to seven victories in the past eight years.
Runner-up in the Irish Seniors last year at Limerick, Pierse was a member of the 1983 Walker Cup team that was narrowly beaten by the USA at Hoylake in 1983. He led from the start with rounds of 67-71-73, but was caught on the final day by Cooke, from Hudson, Quebec, who is listed in one reference book as "a legend in Canadian amateur golf".
In his second round he completed the last 12 holes at Nairn Dunbar in 5-under, including an eagle at the 16th.
Miguel Preysler, a 59-year-old from Malaga in Spain, finished in third place after a final round of 72, one shot ahead of Chris Reynolds of Littlestone.
Defending champion Paul Simson of the USA left himself too much to do, starting the day seven shots behind Pierse, but moved through the field with a round of 70 to take fifth place.
Best round of the final day was a 67 by Gordon Brown of Vale of Leven.
Full results follow:
| Name/Country, Club |
Tot. |
| Arthur Pierse, Tipperary |
211 |
| Graham Cooke, Canada |
211 |
| Miguel Preysler, Spain |
212 |
| Chris Reynolds, Littlestone |
213 |
| Paul Simson, USA |
215 |
| Maurice Kelly, Killeen |
217 |
| Gordon Brown, Vale Of Leven |
218 |
| Bill Leonard, USA |
218 |
| Rick Woulfe, USA |
218 |
| John Baldwin, USA |
218 |
| Patrick Tomisson, Nairn |
219 |
| Erik Myrmo, USA |
219 |
| Kemp Richardson, USA |
220 |
| John Fraser, Royal Burgess |
220 |
| Douglas Arnold, Copthorne |
220 |
| Jay Blumenfeld, USA |
221 |
| Robert Berg, USA |
222 |
| John Jermine, Sunningdale |
223 |
| David Lane, Goring & Streatley |
223 |
| Glyn Rees, Fleetwood |
223 |
| John Johnston, Royal Aberdeen |
223 |
| Ian Hutcheon, Monifieth |
223 |
| Gary Verble, USA |
223 |
| Joel Hirsch, USA |
223 |
| Roy Smethurst, Crewe |
224 |
| Chris Hurst, London |
225 |
| William Jackson, USA |
225 |
| Douglas Crawford, USA |
225 |
| Mike Brummer, USA |
225 |
| Vanni Mandelli, Italy |
225 |
| Ian Taylor, Royal Burgess |
225 |
| Bob Kain, USA |
226 |
| John Whitcutt, Burnham & Berrow |
226 |
| David Perrie, Paisley |
226 |
| Richard Thoms, USA |
226 |
| Peter Saggers, Nairn |
226 |
| Antony Patterson, Sunningdale |
226 |
| Thomas McGraw, USA |
226 |
| Robert Wallace, Crosland Heath |
227 |
| Jonathan Hubbard, Sunningdale |
227 |
| Stephen Ellis, Cowal |
227 |
| Robert Humble, Kilspindie |
227 |
| Brian Mills, Clandeboye |
227 |
| Steven Hakes, USA |
228 |
| George Paterson, Northern |
228 |
| Basil Griffiths, Llanymynech |
229 |
| Barry Reddan, County Louth |
229 |
| Alistair Fiddes, Murcar Links |
229 |
| Vikramjit Singh, India |
229 |
| Robert Gill, Gerrards Cross |
230 |
| Gaius Potton, Berkhamsted |
230 |
| Carlos Salaber, USA |
230 |
| Fred Lukasik, USA |
231 |
| Nuno Pereira Machado, Portugal |
231 |
| James Myers, USA |
231 |
| Bob Edgar, Blackpool North |
232 |
| Ken Benson, USA |
232 |
| John Putt, Sunningdale |
233 |
| Michael Wigley, Hankley Common |
233 |
| Robin Paton, Nairn |
234 |
| Sam Smale, Royal St George's |
235 |
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ABOUT THE British Senior Amateur
The British Senior Amateur, called the "Seniors
Amateur Championship" in the United Kingdom,
was launched by The R&A in 1969 to help select
a Great Britain & Ireland side to play in the
World Senior Amateur Team Championship.
Though the British Senior Amateur, played for the
first time at Formby, was an instant success, the
team event did not survive beyond 1969. Charlie
Green has been the most successful player in
the history of the event, winning six times in
seven years beginning in 1988. Like the U.S.
Senior Amateur, players must be over the age of
55 to play. Notable courses played over the
years include Royal County Down, Royal
Portrush, Royal Aberdeen, and Walton Heath.
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