Oldcorn aims to hang on to his PGA title

DEFENDING champion Andrew Oldcorn spearheads a 19-strong Scottish contingent in the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship starting today at Slaley Hall in Northumberland.

The Edinburgh man’s stunning nine-shot win at the same venue 12 months ago saw him complete a unique double following his success in the PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2001. It was also his first victory on the senior circuit.

“Winning last year was a huge moment in my career, obviously, in terms of getting the PGA double, but also my first win on the Senior Tour,” said Oldcorn. “It’s a nice goal to now try to defend the title.”

Two-times winner Sam Torrance is also in the field for the £250,000 event, as is 2003 champion Bill Longmuir, double Scottish Seniors winner Barry Lane and Gary Wolstenholme, who is bidding for a third successive victory on the European Senior Tour this season.

Meanwhile, on-form Scott Henry leads a ten-strong tartan contingent in this week’s Challenge Tour event, the Kärnten Golf Open in Austria. The 25-year-old closed with a 64 to finish third in the Canary Islands on Sunday, jumping to 21st on the money list

James Byrne and David Law are among those joining Henry in the €160,000 event at the Golf Club Klagenfurt-Seltenheim.