Torrance Revisits Happy Hunting Ground

Sam Torrance will return to one of his happiest hunting grounds when he defends his title at the Irvine Whitlock Seniors Classic over the glorious La Moye Golf Club in Jersey from June 9-11.

The Scot claimed last year’s Irvine Whitlock Seniors Classic after a titanic tussle with D.J Russell and will be chasing a unique La Moye “treble” after having also won the Jersey European Airways Open over the same course in 1991. Furthermore, the 2002 European Ryder Cup Captain will also be eyeing a hat-trick of Seniors Tour titles having won the last two events in Europe - the Sharp Italian Seniors Open and the AIB Irish Seniors Open in association with Greenstar and Failte Ireland.

“I have a lot of happy memories of La Moye,” said Torrance. “It’s always nice to go back to a place you’ve won and it’s even better to return as defending champion.

“Last year I played some great golf to get ahead of D.J. (Russell) and then played a solid final round to keep him at bay.

“This year I have also made a good start to the season and will be arriving in Jersey with high hopes of doing well.”

Torrance will start out as favourite to win the title but he will face a stern challenge from Russell and a strong international field that also includes Ireland’s Eamonn Darcy, Spain’s Manuel Piňero, Italy’s Giuseppe Cali, Argentina’s Horacio Carbonetti and Australians, Noel Ratcliffe and Terry Gale.

The field also includes four former champions in addition to Torrance in the shape of Maurice Bembridge, the winner of the inaugural event in 1996, Delroy Cambridge, Malcolm Gregson and Jim Rhodes, who won in 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

Bembridge, 61, still holds the tournament record, having won the 1996 event with a 14 under par aggregate of 202. That gave the nine time European Tour winner his maiden Seniors Tour title and, subsequently, he also won the 1998 Swedish Seniors Open at Fagelbro.

One man who will arrive in Jersey still seeking a first Seniors Tour victory is Ryder Cup veteran, Darcy. Three weeks ago the Irishman, who is one of the Seniors Tour’s most consistent performers, posted his sixth second place finish at the Sharp Italian Seniors Open but he is still anxiously awaiting his breakthrough win.

“Sure, it has been a bit frustrating, but I’m not getting down about it because in each of those weeks somebody just played a little bit better than me.

“The important thing is that I’ve been getting in winning positions. If I can keep doing that, I’m sure that sooner or later I’ll be able to get across the line.”

Last year, Torrance won the Irvine Whitlock Seniors Classic title with an 11 under par aggregate of 205 and then went on to win the De Vere PGA Seniors Championship and the Bendinat London Seniors Masters to claim the Seniors Tour Order of Merit title with earnings of €277,421.

This season, his victory in last week's AIB Irish Seniors Open in association with Greenstar and Failte Ireland, gave him his 37^th professional win.