Tony Johnstone, last year’s winner, tees off in this morning’s Jersey Seniors Classic pro-am

NO fewer than seven former winners of the Jersey Seniors Classic are back on the Island for the 14th edition of the tournament, including defending champion Tony Johnstone of Zimbabwe, who won his maiden Senior Tour title there 12 months ago.

Island resident Ian Woosnam will be hoping to join that list and is in good form after his play-off victory in the Irish Seniors Open last weekend.

He said: ‘With La Moye as my home course, some traditional Jersey weather and local support it should be a great week.

‘I was absolutely thrilled with my win in Ireland. I’d been struggling along since the end of last year, just grinding out on the course, but that win will help me on my way now.’

The 2006 Ryder Cup captain is now second on the Senior Tour Order of Merit and can make some vital ground up on leader Mark James with victory in Jersey as he attempt to retain the John Jacobs Trophy he won as leading Senior Tour player in 2008.