Surrey PGA professional Gary Marks is looking forward to teeing it up on the European Senior Tour after finishing second in final qualifying for the over-50s circuit in Portugal.
The 50-year-old from the World of Golf Centre in New Malden missed out on playing for much of last season due to a wrist injury, but looked in fine form over Pestana Resort’s Vale da Pinta course, shooting rounds of 75, 70, 69 and 71 to finish tied second, seven shots behind runaway winner Ken Tarling from Canada.
Marks said: “It’s very pleasing to be able to compete after missing so much of last season. I turned 50 last year, and like a lot of golfer we all get excited in our late 40s, because the Senior Tour represents second chance, and you don’t get many second chances at a career.”
He added: “We are all fierce competitors, relatively fit and no different to the young golfers – it is just that we are a bit older.”
Only the top 16 players in the field earned their cards for the 2015 season, and some big name players from yesteryear weren’t quite so lucky, including the Kent pairing of Stephen Bennett and Mike McLean, who finished down the field.
The European Seniors Tour starts at the Jersey Open at La Moye from June 4-6.