Golf: Musselburgh pro Fraser Mann to travel the world on 'golden oldies' tour

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 10:15

FRASER MANN, the long-serving Musselburgh professional, will be heading off to China, South Africa and Thailand next year after winning his card for the European Senior Tour at the first attempt.

Mann, who becomes eligible for the circuit when he turns 50 in February, was the sole Scot to graduate from this week's Qualifying School in Portugal, closing with two superb rounds of 66 and 67 to finish in a tie for fifth on eight-par after 72 holes.

"That's the most pressure I've played under for a few years," he said afterwards.

"I had come through the pre-qualifying to make it to the final stage and there were a lot of very good players in the field.

"I'm delighted. I thought I had blown it when I dropped six shots in four holes – very unusual for me – in the second round.

"But I played really well in the final two rounds and to come from nowhere to secure the fifth-place card is fantastic."

Mann, who admitted that his run had been sparked when he holed a 7-iron for an eagle at the second hole in the third round, has been the club pro at Monktonhall for the past 17 years.

He's been building up for this attempt to join the "golden-oldies" circuit for the past couple of seasons and is thrilled at the prospect of playing alongside the likes of Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam next year.

"I've been working my way up to this for the last couple of seasons, trying to get my game in shape," he added. "I've also done a lot of work on my back, which is a lot better these days, having been a problem in the past.

"I spoke to John Chillas earlier in the year about the Senior Tour and he told me: 'Get yourself on it because it is good fun'.

"The fact I've got such a good card means I've got a good chance to have a real go at it and, although I'll miss the first event in Mauritius due to the fact my 50th birhday isn't until February, I believe that there are events planned in China, South Africa and Thailand."

Mann, who won the Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles in 2002, says he'll sit down with club officials at Monktonhall when he returns from Portugal to discuss what effect this success will have on his role there.

"To be honest, I haven't thought any further ahead than getting my card," he said.

"However, I believe the tournaments are spread out a bit and, at the moment, all I can say is that I am looking forward to getting out there and playing in them."

As Mann celebrates, a number of other Lothians players were setting out today in a bid to move a step closer to earning cards for next season's European Tour.

The second stage in that process is taking place at four venues in southern Spain, with the lucky ones there moving on to the final qualifying, which starts a week tomorrow in Girona.

Mark Kerr, Raymond Russell and Elliot Saltman are in the field at Sherry Golf in Jerez, while Mark Hillson and Lee Harper are among the hopefuls at Hacienda del Alamo near Murcia.