Leaner golf pro mixes with legends

STU PIDDINGTON/Timaru Herald

IN THE SWING: Timaru Golf Club professional Mark Sandri is to mix it with his peers on the Legends Tour.

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Slimmed-down Timaru professional Mark Sandri is set to rub shoulders with the elder statesmen of Australasian golf.

Having turned 50, Sandri is eligible to play on the 2010 PGA Senior Pro-Am Tour, commonly known as the Legends Tour.

He is excited about the prospect of mixing it with some top senior golfers as well as playing in a New Zealand team to take on Australia, in a four ball, best ball format.

"It's a fantastic opportunity, to play against that field in New Zealand with that sort of prizemoney on offer."

Some big names will line up in events in both the North and South Islands over February and March.

The series will begin with a one day pro-am at the new Pegasus course just north of Christchurch next week, the first professional tournament to be held at the venue. Sir Bob Charles is the notable player in the field, but will be joined by other well-knowns including Australians Rodger Davis and Randall Vines along with Kiwis Jim Lapsley, Simon Owen, Craig Owen and Stuart Reese.

After Pegasus the tour will move to Arrowtown where players will compete in the New Zealand Senior Masters at Millbrook offering $200,000 in prize money

It is expected some highly-ranked players will appear, including USPGA winner Wayne Grady and European Senior Tour Rookie of the Year Mike Harwood. They will then head to Dunedin for the Legends $30,000 Pro-Am over two rounds at the Balmacewan course.

Sandri will also travel to the North Island to play in the final event at Lakes Resort in the Coromandel.

There he will join the 12-strong New Zealand team to take on Australia.

Both team number ones were Major winners in their day – Sir Bob Charles with the British Open and Wayne Gradwith the USPGA Championship.

The tour has grown dramatically this year, with double the number of events from 2009 and with increased prize money.

Sandri is feeling particularly positive. He is the fittest he has been for several years after dropping almost 15 kilograms in weight.

The Timaru Golf Club professional for 13 years, Sandri suffered from a knee problem. His surgeon suggested it would be wise to lose some weight.

"I'm playing a lot more and feeling a lot better."

- © Fairfax NZ News