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**truebluefan** · 05-26-2008, 04:33 AM

Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club, Moscow, Russia

**truebluefan** · 07-06-2008, 08:57 PM

Ian Woosnam looks set to consolidate his place at the top of the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit after a five under par 67 gave him in a share of the lead after the first round of the Pestovo Russian Seniors Open at Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club near Moscow.

Former Ryder Cup Captain, Woosnam, goes into the second round tied with England’s Jeff Hall and Scotland’s Bill Longmuir and one shot ahead of England’s Nick Job.

John Chillas, Angel Franco, David Merriman, Peter Owen, Bertus Smit and Simon Owen all share fifth place after recording two under par rounds of 70.

Woosnam came to Moscow with a meagre €45 lead over Bernhard Langer at the top of the money list but now has a great chance to extend that considerably after a fine round that included six birdies and just one three-putt bogey on the 457-yard par four 16th.

The Welshman started strongly with birdies at the first and third. He gained another shot with a 25-foot putt for birdie on the 441 yard par four seventh before briefly topping the leaderboard all on his own with further birdies on the ninth and 14th.

“It was a good solid round,” he said. “I started pretty strongly but lost a bit of concentration when the pace of play slowed up coming home. I’m in great shape to make a move tomorrow.”

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**truebluefan** · 07-06-2008, 08:57 PM

Ian Woosnam will have high hopes of landing an eastern European double after carding a second successive five under par 67 to move into a two shot lead over Scotland’s Bill Longmuir in the Pestovo Russian Seniors Open.

The former Ryder Cup Captain won his first European Seniors Tour title at the recent Parkridge Polish Seniors Open in Krakow and is now favourite to win for a second time after another superb round at the Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club near Moscow.

“It is remarkable how similar the two rounds have been,” said the Welshman who finished on ten under par 134. “Both days I’ve had six birdies and one bogey and both days I’ve felt as if I’ve played really well. I just hope I can keep it going tomorrow.”

Woosnam goes into the final round two shots ahead of Longmuir, who posted a 69 for 136, and three in front of another former Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance, who charged through the field with a scintillating eight under par 64 to finish the day on seven under par 137.

One shot further back, the third first round leader, Jeff Hall, dropped back to fourth place on 138 after carding a one under par 71 while America’s Jerry Bruner, Paraguay’s Angel Franco and Australia’s David Merriman all shared fifth place on five under par 139.

Second placed Longmuir’s day started in disastrous fashion when he missed from a couple of feet at the first. However he regrouped well and birdied the second and seventh to go out in 34 and then carded three birdies and two bogeys coming home.

Torrance started the day in a tie for 28th place after an opening 73 but forced himself into contention with a round 64 which included nine birdies and just one dropped shot at the 14th where he drove into the left rough and then failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker.

The Scot holed a 12 footer for his first birdie of the day on the second and also birdied the fifth, seventh and eighth to go out in 32. He gained another shot when two putted from 20 feet on the par five tenth and also claimed three other birdies at the 13th, 15th and 17th with putts ranging from six to 18 feet.

“It might sound strange but I probably hit the ball better yesterday,” said the Scot. “The difference was that today I got the putts. I didn’t hole everything but I certainly got my share.”

Seventy two year old former Open Champion Bob Charles beat his age for the seventh time on this season’s European Seniors Tour with a one under par 71. It moved him up into a share of 20th place on level par 144.

**truebluefan** · 07-06-2008, 08:58 PM

Ian Woosnam captured the second title of his rookie European Seniors Tour season after securing a three shot victory over Paraguay’s Angel Franco at the Pestovo Russian Seniors Open at Pestovo Golf and Yacht Club near Moscow.

Woosnam braved persistent rain to card a closing two under par round of 70 for a winning total of 204, 12 under par. It was the Welshman’s second title in eastern Europe following his maiden success at last month’s Parkridge Polish Seniors Championship in Krakow and the €71,432 first prize consolidated his top spot on the Seniors Tour’s Order of Merit with earnings of €210,018 (£165,893).

Woosnam started the day two shots ahead of Bill Longmuir but lost that advantage when the Scot birdied two of the first three holes.

The former Ryder Cup Captain staged a recovery with birdies on the sixth ninth and 12th but dropped a shot on the 14th before sealing the 46th victory of his long and illustrious career with a birdie two on the par 3 17th.

“I feel as if I’ve been drowned,” joked a drenched Woosnam at the end. “It’s great to get a win so soon after the last one but at the moment what I want most is to change into some dry clothes.

“It rained from start to finish and it’s so difficult to control the ball when it gets as wet as that,” he added. “It was so wet I’m surprised we managed to finish but I am delighted we did and it is great to win the first Russian Seniors title.”

Franco started the day in a share of fifth place but moved up to second with a best-of-the-day 68 that included a stunning birdie on the 382 yard closing hole where he holed out from 18 feet. That was enough to pip Longmuir for second place and to earn a cheque for €47,621 (£37,616).

It turned out to be a hugely disappointing day for Sam Torrance who started out just three shot s behind Woosnam but dropped six shots in an untidy 78. That left him languishing in a share of eighth place eleven shots behind the winner.

“It was just one of those days,” said Torrance. “I got off to a bad start when I dropped two shots on the fifth and I just couldn’t get going after that.”