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After four gruelling days at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, it was Bo Van Pelt who emerged victorious at the Legends Tour’s flagship event, the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship hosted by Colin Montgomerie, after a play-off with South Africa’s Darren Fichardt.
The pair were locked at three under for the week – the only two players under par as strong winds produced extremely challenging playing conditions. Van Pelt had enjoyed a three-shot lead at one point in the middle of the back nine, but the Fichardt kept battling as the American faltered and drew level with three to play. Nothing could separate the two over the closing holes as they both sought a first Legends Tour win and a dramatic play-off ensued.
Both players had superb drives down the par-five 18th. Van Pelt was then first to play, hitting a fairway wood from more than 260 yards to the middle of the green, while Fichardt seemed to injure his wrist as he struck his approach and found a deep fairway bunker. In taking two more to get to the green, his chance was lost and Van Pelt two-putted for birdie and the win.
Having claimed the oldest senior championship in world golf, Van Pelt said: “It means a lot to me, it’s been a long road back and I can’t thank the Legends Tour enough. My first event at Costa Navarino was great and this was too. I’ve been playing pro golf for 27 years and the two I’ve played on this tour have been as good as anything I’ve played.”
“I’ve just been trying to really get into my process, focus on my pre-shot routine. It’s easy to get ahead of yourself, but on this golf course, you really can’t do it. And I probably did as good a job this week as I have ever done in my career. My son was great. It was his first week on the bag, but he said a lot of good things at the right time. It wasn’t looking very good for me on 18 in regulation when Darren’s right there in front of two. But the play-off was a fresh start. I hit a really good drive and there at the end I just tried to focus on the shot at hand and not think about giving up a three-shot lead.
“My other son’s been caddying on the Champions Tour and so I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to win on this continent and win a huge event on the Legends Tour with your son on the bag – you’ve just got to pinch yourself.”
Stephen Gallacher
Elsewhere, home favourite Steven Gallacher mounted a final-day charge and surged into the top five with four birdies in a 69, but a bogey at the last derailed any faint hope of victory and he was forced to settle for a tie for fourth place with Mikael Lundberg who shot a 70. He was joined in the top-10 by former Open champion Paul Lawrie, who battled to a round of 71. “It was okay,” said Gallacher. “I played alright and gave myself a chance. It’s a pity about the bogey at the last. I went for the putt trying to maybe get third place and knocked it past and then missed it coming back. But at least I gave it a go.”
Order of Merit leader Scott Hend also carded a three-under-par 69 to finish the week at one over and leap into third place and cement his position at the top of the money list. The top 10 was rounded out by Simon Khan in fourth, making a third consecutive appearance in the final group on Staysure PGA Seniors Sunday, with Steve Webster and Peter Baker at four over, with Sean Whiffin, Maarten Lafeber and Andrew Marshall joining Lawrie at five over.
The tournament also saw a number of elite junior golfers from the local area competing in the Staysure Future Legends event, played over two rounds during the first two days of the main tournament. Dillon Middleton, who holds a 5.2 handicap at nearby Cruden Bay, won with a 36-hole stableford total of 61 points having played alongside Legends Tour players Santiago Luna and Andre Stolz.
“At Staysure, we’re incredibly proud to be a long-term sponsor of the PGA Seniors Championship and support the next generation of elite amateur golfers by hosting the Staysure Future Legends Competition,” said David Morely, Chief Marketing Officer at Staysure. “Giving young talent the chance to compete alongside golfing legends in true tournament conditions is a privilege – and we’re thrilled to help create these unforgettable opportunities that will ultimately support their development in the game.”
The Legends Tour now moves on to Brocket Hall for the English Legends on August 22nd.
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Main Image: Getty Images / Legends Tour
