Multiple winner of the SCT Logistics Parkes Open golf tournament, Robert Payne, faces another tough field in Sunday’s Parkes Open.
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The Duntryleague golfer won his first 27 hole scratch title back in 1997 and has been the most dominant force in the Western area for the past decade and a half.
Payne has claimed numerous open tournament victories as well as a NSW amateur title in 2001.
Following his victory in the State titles, Payne gained selection in the NSW senior side for the interstate championships which NSW subsequently won with Payne one of the dominant players.
Last year Payne was selected in the Australian seniors side for players over 50 years of age, despite the fact that he hadn’t achieved the age of qualification.
It was a selection that was richly deserved as he turned the appropriate age only a fortnight later.
In the subsequent Australian Seniors Championships, Payne finished a creditable fifth against some of Australia and New Zealand’s best senior golfers.
Apart from Payne, the field also includes former NSW State Country representative John Betland who now plays his representative golf out of the strong Moore Park Club in Sydney. He, like Payne, is a prolific winner of events in the Western area.
Defending titleholder Paul Bright of Bathurst is returning to defend his title and despite a long absence from the fairways due to illness, he is back to his best.
Bright is looking forward to the challenge of winning back to back titles.
In the prelude event, the Atlas Copco Australia Fourball Best Ball in both scratch and handicap divisions, reigning titleholders John and Steve Betland of Forbes face a daunting task from one of the strongest fields ever to contest the event.
The major threats appear to be Duntryleague players Robert Payne and Wayne Carpenter, Mal Gregor and Rob Parfett, the Condobolin pairing of Zac Mitchell and Brad Hurley, and locals Mitch McGlashan and Allan Jewell.
In the handicap section many threats appear but renowned local Fourball kings Brian Hogan and Peter Magill lead a strong local challenge that also includes brothers Myles and Blake Smith, Peter Boschman and Tony Evans, and Sam Turner and Ken Cobcroft.
