Mason warms to task

Record money and title winner Carl Mason warmed up for his bid to claim a fourth PGA Seniors Championship crown with a top 25 finish in the US equivalent.

Mason, the most successful player in the history of the European Senior Tour, secured a share of 25^th at Harbour Shores in Michigan in the Senior PGA Championship where Colin Montgomerie ended his major drought with a superb victory over Tom Watson.

Englishman Mason, who has 24 senior titles to his name including three PGA Senior wins in 2004, 07 & 09, is one of a number of big names in action in the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship at Stoke by Nayland from June 5-8.

Another pair of past PGA Seniors Champions, DJ Russell and Andrew Oldcorn, also made the cut in America, as did former European Tour No.1 Ronan Raffferty and all three will be among a strong field competing for the £235,000 title in Suffolk next week.

Defending champion Paul Wesselingh missed out so will be eager to bounce back and build on the fairytale start to his seniors’ career which has seen him win Rookie of the Year in 2012 and then the John Jacobs Trophy Order of Merit in 2013.

Meanwhile family fun and spectator participation are set to be the buzzwords at Stoke by Nayland with a packed schedule of activities planned in and around the tented village enabling golf fans of all ages and abilities to not only enjoy lapping up the cream of European senior golf but to also give their own games a boost too.

Saturday has been designed ‘family fun day’ with face painting, Tri Golf, balloon artists, ice creams and games aimed at giving children a memorable visit while parents relax and enjoy a drink in the beautiful surroundings of the Suffolk resort.

In addition throughout the week, Stoke by Nayland head PGA Professional Roly Hitchcock and his team will be overseeing free lessons in a PGA swing zone with the opportunity for both beginners and experienced golfers to put their swings under the expert eye of PGA trained professionals.  

Another exciting dimension to this year’s PGA Seniors Championship comes in the shape of a special swing zone aimed at giving disabled people the chance to try golf.

Anyone with a disability who fancies a crack at golf is encouraged to come along and receive skilled tuition from PGA pro Craig Thomas, who is lead coach coordinator for the ISPS Handa PGA Academy programme.

Buy tickets here.