As the 2014 season draws to a triumphant close for those playing in Mauritius on the European Senior Tour, the main European Tour begins its 2015 season in haste with the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek in South Africa all during last week.
Gary Wolstenholme MBE competed in his final event for the 2014 European Senior Tour season at the magnificent Belle Mare Plage estate in Mauritius alongside John Jacobs trophy winner Colin Montgomerie and a whole host of other top name professionals. Heading into the week inside the top 30 on the Order of Merit, Gary had to maintain this position to gain entry into some of the biggest tournament in the 2015 calendar, which he comfortably achieved with a 23rd place finish in the tournament overall.
Despite a three over par first round Gary battled back and fired rounds of 70 and 71, two and one under par respectively, to finish the week level and claim 26th position in official Order of Merit. An uncharacteristically difficult year for Gary on the course but with a good winter practice regime and a focus on the 2015 season expect to see him back next year stronger and up for the challenge once again.
Also in action this weekend was Champions of Golf's latest golfing sensation - Jason Palmer. Having gained his full European Tour card through his final Challenge Tour ranking in 2014, Jason headed to the Leopard Creek golf course in South Africa to tee it up against some of Europe's biggest names including Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Francesco Mollinari to name but a few.
In spite of 'playing awful' by his own admission, Jason still managed to get the job done on his first European Tour outing as he made the cut shooting rounds of 70 and 73. However the weekend was a little less successful for Jason as he eventually finished in 74th place. However after a long season and having travelled to China, Oman, Dubai and South Africa in the last few weeks, a hangover was inevitable but Jason can now relax over Christmas with his name and some money already on the European Tour Order of Merit board!
The final Champions of Golf competitor in action this week was Gareth Wright. Gareth helped his Scottish PGA team become European Champions for the second time in three years in Turkey. Gareth, joined by Graham Fox and Graeme Brown in the Scottish team, recorded an aggregate score of 25 under par to win the event by 10 shots with Gareth's five under par 67 on the final day the stand out performance, closing out his final round three birdies, one par and a final hole tap in eagle.
Congratulations to all of the Champions of Golf stable and here's to an even more successful 2015 season, happy golfing!