Journeyman David Diaz claims Queensland PGA

BY Bruce Young | Von Nida Tour | 2003 Queensland PGA | Wrap | 09 Nov 2003

At 35 years old and with thoughts of giving tournament golf away prior to this week, Victorian David Diaz resurrected his golfing career with a first hole playoff win in today’s Emerald Lakes Queensland PGA Championship.

Diaz began the last round tied in the lead with Peter Senior but following a front nine of 31 had opened up a three shot lead. His game started to falter in the middle of back nine with missed greens at the 14th, 15th 16th and 17th. He was able to save par on three of those holes but when he missed the green left on the par three 17th, he was unable to get it up and down and he headed to the last hole tied with 22-year-old Novacastrian Aaron Townsend.

Townsend’s last round 66 had him in the clubhouse with share of the lead and when Diaz missed a five metre birdie putt at the last they headed back down the 18th.

Diaz produced an immaculate wedge from 108 metres to less than a metre at the first playoff hole and the title was his. It was his first significant win since the 1993 Coolum Classic.

“I have been thinking seriously about giving it away” said Diaz later. “With two children it is hard to keep going the way I have been playing so this is a great boost both in terms of confidence and bank balance.”

Townsend said he felt remarkably comfortable out there given that it was his first experience at this level. A trainee at the Charlestown Golf Club near Newcastle until this year, Townsend is new to professional tournament golf at this level. He was 19th at the Queensland Masters and 16th at the Volvo Trucks Golf Klassik in Von Nida Tour events earlier this year.

Peter Senior missed a four metre birdie putt at the final hole which would have given him a place in the playoff and he shared 3rd with Shane Tait who fired a last round 65 and Stephen Jeffress who had 66.

Photo – QLD PGA