GORDON Brand Jnr, the man who just lost a six-hole play-off when Slaley Hall was plagued by foul weather last year, was a sunshine guy on and off the course yesterday.
After the first day of the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship, Brand is one of four players sharing the lead on three-under 69.
Born in Scotland and brought up in Bristol, where he lives, Brand produced four birdies and one bogey – on the 18th. His score matched the clubhouse target set by South African Jeff Hawkes and American John Benda.
Paraguay’s Angel Franco joined the trio at the top of the leaderboard after he three putted the 18th to also finish three under par.
Before going out to play, Brand joined his namesake and defending champion Gordon J Brand and Sam Torrance in giving a golf demonstration to local children.
This was part of De Vere’s support of the Variety Club, its charity of choice, who visited the club to display a Sunshine coach recently presented to a Northumberland school.
In 2008, Gordon Brand Jnr lost a six-hole play-off to Gordon J Brand, their “Grounhog Day” duel being decided at the 17th after they played the 18th five times in a row.
For Gordon Brand Jnr, that was a memorable European Senior Tour debut last year, just five days after turning 50.
Yesterday, he said: “I played very solidly and it is a course to my liking, but there is a long way to go yet. I’ve been struggling with my game and nothing has been consistent.
“I have a bad round and then finish off quite well but today was as good as it has been for a while so I’m very pleased. “The Hunting Course is playing a lot easier than last year. The rough is not as bad and it is in great shaper.
Brand played in the same group as former Open champion Bob Charles, who shot his age, 73, and drove the ball an average of 250 yards.
“That was my real pleasure in this round,” said Brand. “He was only 10 yards behind me and he is 73! You don’t often get to play with class people like that and he was class today.”
Order of Merit leader Ian Woosnam, four off the lead, and his fellow Ryder Cup winning captain, Sam Torrance, a shot further back, are both still in the reckoning with three rounds to play.
Franco is chasing his first Senior Tour victory after finishing runner up on three occasions, including this year’s DGM Barbados Open.
For Hawkes it was an encouraging opening round as he continues his comeback after missing the whole of last season following surgery on both his shoulder and a long term foot problem.
