The PGA Super 60s Championship takes place this week (14-15 August) at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, where players will compete for a share of the £10,400 prize fund alongside their amateur playing partner, on a betterball basis over 36 holes.
John Harrison (Northumberland Golf Club) and his playing partner, Viv Hutchinson, go into the tournament as defending champions and the format really suits the pair. Harrison said: “We're looking forward to it. I'm sure we'll put up a good performance, as good as we can. It's a lovely event. When you play casually, you often play better than when you play competitively and this is a bit like that. We want to have a nice time. If we play well, we play well, but we're not too stressed about it.
“This format is way more fun - you don't have the stress of having your own card in your hand on every shot, there's two of you to back each other up and you are out to enjoy it rather than just try and do well, which makes it a little bit easier.”
However, it’s not all about the fun for Harrison and Hutchinson, who are keen to secure back-to-back titles. Harrison said: “We're also here to try and defend our title - it would be great. Viv has played twice now, this is her second year. There's not that many ladies who have played in the past, so I think for a lady to win last year was a really nice step forward - a bit of girl power. It's certainly an added incentive when it's a mixed partnership to try and do well.”
The Super 60s Championship, open to teams of a PGA professional and an amateur, both aged 60 years or over, also gives players the perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends. Harrison elaborated: “It's a great event to catch up with people you haven't seen for quite a while. Being a senior generation, obviously we're here to compete and try and do as best we can, but it’s nice to catch up with everybody. Everybody just has a nice time. I think it gives people the chance to play that competitive tournament in the year when they wouldn’t want to do it with their own card in their hand, basically because of the age factor. It's really nice!”
Follow the scoring from the PGA Super 60s Championship HERE.
