Lionel Platts, five months short of his 70th birthday, came within an ace of winning a national title.
The ex- Ryder Cup player, who represents Cold Norton's Three Rivers club, fired a final-round 70 in the PGA Senior Club Professional Championship at King's Lynn, losing by a stroke to Sheffield's Geoff Tickell.
Open to club pro's aged 50 plus, the championship was settled only when overnight leader, Gordon Townhill from Brough failed to hole from 15 feet at the last, which would have earned him a play-off with Tickell.
Platts had an inauspicious start, taking three putts on the first green, but three birdies and two further bogeys had him to the turn in a level-par 36.
A bogey and two more birdies -- the last a chip-in from 30 feet at the par-four 17th -- brought him home in 34, and for a while it looked as if he might sneak the title.
Said Lionel: "I've had a great time this week -- and I'm delighted my second place has won me a place in the Scottish Seniors Open at The Roxburghe and the De Vere PGA Seniors Championship at Carden Park."
The cheque for £2,733 will also be very welcome.
Published Thursday May 27, 2004
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