Golf: Birthday treat for Sandry

BARRY SANDRY, the Broome Manor club professional, celebrated his 51st birthday with a leading six-under-par 66 in the Schroder Senior Masters at Wentworth yesterday. Sandry extracted seven birdies from the tight layout on the Edinburgh course in a round that required only 28 putts in equal halves of 33.

"That's the best competitive round I've ever played," Sandry said. "I couldn't have wished for a better birthday present."

Sandry leads from the Albanian-born Californian Agim Bardha's 68. But lurking on 69 is the defending champion, Gary Player. "For a man of 69 I have to be pleased with that round on a course that is set up very tough," Player said.

The tournament favourite, Brian Barnes, had to pull out of the event with a damaged right wrist. Barnes injured himself while extricating himself from ferns at the 363-yard 15th. He struck a hidden bank behind his ball.