Two-day Leeds Senior Masters battle gets underway today

AFTER fun in the sun during yesterday's pro-am, the serious matter of the 36-hole Leeds Senior Masters will get underway today at Leeds Golf Centre, England Golf's Club of the Year for 2017.
Mark Booth, centre, winner of the inaugural Leeds Seniors Masters last year, receives the trophy from Nigel Sweet.Mark Booth, centre, winner of the inaugural Leeds Seniors Masters last year, receives the trophy from Nigel Sweet.
Mark Booth, centre, winner of the inaugural Leeds Seniors Masters last year, receives the trophy from Nigel Sweet.

Former Ryder Cup star Gordon Brand, European Tour winners Andrew Sherborne and Paul Affleck and Senior Tour veteran Brendan McGovern were among the players fronting the pro-am teams.

Celebrities involved included former football stars David Seaman, Arsenal and England goalkeeper; Lee Sharpe, former Leeds United and England winger; ex-Manchester United and Wales utility man Clayton Blackmore, and former Manchester United full-back Lee Martin, whose goal in the 1990 FA Cup final replay against Crystal Palace won the Red Devils’ first trophy under Sir Alex Ferguson.

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Among the new faces competing for the Leeds Senior Masters crown are Paul Streeter, Gary Wolstenholme, Gary Emerson and David Shacklady, the latter marking himself as a man to watch over the next two days after shooting 62 in the pro-am.

The Senior Masters Tour is the veterans’ equivalent of the Challenge Tour and helps promote the senior professional circuit outside of the European Senior Tour.

Nigel Sweet, the Operations Manager at Leeds Golf Centre, joined the Senior circuit for the first time in 2016 after playing the game for 38 years and set up the Senior Masters at Leeds Golf Centre in 2017.

Sweet said: “Last year was a huge success and the standard of competition was fantastic.

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“The Senior Masters was a platform to welcome golfing legends, including Mark Booth, Andrew Oldcorn and Peter Baker on to the course at Leeds Golf Centre.

“We’re thrilled to be hosting this incredible tournament for the second year running.”

Spectators are welcome throughout the event and admission is free.