Steve Sansome Wins Welsh Men’s Open Seniors at Bull Bay in Brutal Winds
Former professional Steve Sansome was the winner of the Welsh Men’s Open Seniors Championship, surviving strong winds in Anglesey to claim the title.
The former Europro Tour player, turned truck driver, claimed his first national open title at Bull Bay Golf Club, 21 years after winning the Logan Trophy, the English Mid-Amateur.
There were strong Welsh performances with three home players in the top six, Langland Bay’s Richard Evans in fourth, Chris Dinsdale, Newport, in fifth and Aled Williams, Holyhead, in sixth.
England’s Peter Jackson, Woking, and Kevin Parkes, Lindrick, were second and third, two and three shots back respectively. Sansome’s final round 74 was four shots better than anyone else in the field.
“It is obviously amazing to win a national trophy, you don’t get much bigger than that so I am delighted,” said the 59-year-old from Rothley Park, Leicestershire.
“I tried to keep the ball low because it was so windy, just trying to limit the mistakes and keep out of the gorse.
It was the windiest conditions I have ever played golf in, gusting up to 50 miles per hour, so tough conditions.
“It was tricky, but it is a fair course, you can see where you are hitting, and it was presented in good condition.”
Sansome was a pro golfer before regaining his amateur status in his thirties, winning the Logan Trophy for Over 35’s in 2004, and going on to represent England Seniors in recent years with the aim of getting back into the team this year.
He works as a truck driver in the winter while concentrating on golf in the summer.
“Congratulations to Steve for finishing so strongly in tricky conditions, a real test of links golf,” said Wales Golf Competitions Manager Dan Fullager.
Although the wind was strong, Bull Bay withstood the conditions to provide a fair test with many of the players praising the condition of the course.
“We could not have done that without the staff and volunteers at the club who played a huge part in making this event a success.”
