Mann reclaims Bernard Hunt Trophy
19/05/2017
The Silversea Senior PGA Championship is fast becoming a golfing game of pass the parcel involving two Scotsmen.
Having won the Bernard Hunt trophy at Foxhills Club and Resort two years ago, Fraser Mann reclaimed it from compatriot Robert Arnott, the defending champion
However, he was made to work hard for his reunion with the silverware and £6,000 first prize and had to prevail via a sudden death play-off.
In a tournament sponsored by cruise liner specialists Silversea it looked like a case of Mann overboard when he double bogeyed the 16th and scuppered his two shot advantage.
Thereafter, by contrast, it was very much Mann alive, not least when he drained an 18 foot putt at the last to join Paul Streeter and Roger Tuddenham in the play-off.
All finished on level par scores of 218 after two circuits of the Bernard Hunt course and one of the Longcross at the Surrey resort.
ABOVE - Phil Streeter took Fraser Mann all the way.
In terms of their final 18 holes, Streeter, the overnight leader from Lincoln Golf Centre, was one over; Mann, who is attached to Carnoustie Golf Links was one-under; and Tuddenham, representing the PGA in Hampshire, posted a round of three-under.
It was the joint best round of the day, a distinction he shared with Arnott, but he failed to maintain the momentum in the play-off.
Staged on the par four 18th on the Bernard Hunt course, he was first to depart after dumping his approach in a greenside bunker en route to a bogey.
Having posted pars, Streeter and Mann followed suit on the second negotiation of the hole and then landed their approaches within 10 feet of the flag on their third.
Faced with an eight foot birdie putt to win after Streeter missed from a not dissimilar distance, Fraser did not hold back.
“I was really trying to hole it instead of two putt,” he said. “I thought I’ve got a great chance here and I went for it. I struck it beautifully and it went in at the back of the hole.
“In fact, I was really pleased with my putting today. I hadn’t putted that well all week. I had to hole those putts on the last – one to get into the play-off, the other to win. They had to go in.”
Mann conceded he thought he had ruined his hopes of a second victory in three years after his double bogey at the 16th but more than made amends in the play-off.
“I played great in the play-off,” added the Scot who clearly likes this tournament and its current venue.
“I was second last year as well and have played in it five times now and finished in the top 10 every time.
“So I was fairly confident coming here, especially as I love the course. It suits me. You’ve got to hit the ball straight and I do that. I’d like to play here every week.”
