Woosie suffers play-off agony in Jersey
GORDON Manson secured his second European Senior Tour title as he beat both Gary Wolstenholme and ‘home’ favourite Ian Woosnam in a thrilling play-off at the Acorn Jersey Open.
The Austrian went into the final round at La Moye Golf Club two shots behind leader Woosnam, and level with Wolstenholme on eight under par.
Manson parred the last for a final round 70 to finish on 10-under par, with his playing partner, and former Ryder Cup captain Woosnam, making birdie to draw level after shooting 72. Then Wolstenholme finished with two pars to card a 70 and join them at the summit.
It took three play-off holes to separate them, with Welshman Woosnam, a Jersey resident, narrowly missing a four-foot putt for birdie on the second extra hole which would have clinched the title.
With a superb second shot to the third play-off hole, the 17th, Manson left himself eight feet for birdie, which he duly slotted in for his first Senior Tour victory since the 2015 Swiss Seniors Open.
“It’s amazing, I’m delighted,” he said. “But I’ve worked hard towards this win, it doesn’t happen for nothing. I put in a lot of work and got my game up to a standard where I can play alongside the top players and match them.
“I thought when Ian stepped up for that putt on 18 that it was over and that he was going to hole it. They aren’t easy though and Ian gave us a chance.
“My drive on the 17th was terrific and it left me with a nine iron into the wind. I hit a great shot and got it to eight feet. I lined the putt up, saw it was straight and thought ‘there’s a chance here’, and it was my moment.”
In regulation play, Manson made the turn in level par after carding two bogeys and two birdies, before carding three more birdies and a bogey for a two under back nine to remain in contention.
After a tricky approach shot on the ninth, Manson believes the turning point of his afternoon was his putt to save bogey.
“A double-bogey can get pretty ugly and that pushed me on to the back nine,” he said. “Then my birdie putt on 12 gave me a real push and I birded the next. I got some good energy and was focused, I was right back in it.
“If you put in a good performance at the beginning of the season, it’s surprising how freely the putter starts to swing and how confidently you can walk across the course.”