Carus Green Golf Club resident and European Senior Tour winner, Gary Wolstenholme MBE, is heading into the New Year with an extra spring in his step, following confirmation of his 2019 tour card.
Following a seventh-place finish at last month’s MCB tour championship at Constance Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius, and 22nd place at Constance Lemuria in the Seychelles, Gary has been guaranteed complete playing privileges for next year and finished in 28th place overall on the Order of Merit. He will also be able to play at the British Senior Open, to be held in 2019 at Royal Lytham.
“I am delighted to have ended the season in this way. Having been in a very precarious position on the order of merit, I came into the final three events (in Spain, Mauritius and the Seychelles) of the tournament under pressure and knowing that I needed strong finishes,” explains Gary. “I was placed in 27th place before I played in Benidorm and knew there were eight or nine guys who could easily have finished above me.”
Finishing 10 under par on the final round in Mauritius undoubtedly enabled Gary to manoeuvre himself into a more solid position, although it is a course that suits his game.
“I played well in Mauritius. The course is tight and tricky which suits my play. A good finish enabled me to create a bit of a buffer ahead of the competition in the Seychelles,” he says.
Gary is looking ahead to the 2019 season with enthusiasm, although as he attests, it doesn’t get any easier!
“I’m pleased to have finished the year with a certain degree of certainty and to have achieved what I have throughout the year, but I’m going to have to continue to deliver to compete. We’re now seeing a fresh wave of talent coming into the Staysure Tour and the standard is getting higher each year. You have to be on your toes to be able to compete effectively against these top players.
“This year, my equipment from Ping has helped improve my game, as has the continued support received from the team at Carus Green, particularly Graham Curtin. I thank them all and look forward to the forthcoming year.”
