SAM TORRANCE'S 40TH PRO VICTORY

"IT'S GREAT TO WIN IN MY HOME COUNTRY"

BY STEVEN FRANKLIN
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Sam Torrance celebrated his 40th victory as a professional in front of his home fans in the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open at Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club.
The former Ryder Cup Captain closed with a round of 70 for a winning 54-hole aggregate of three under par 213, beating fellow Scot Bill Longmuir (71) by a shot.
A third Scot, Mike Miller, shared third spot on one under par after closing with a round of 73. Also finishing on that mark were John Bland and Bertus Smit of South Africa, and the English duo of Glenn Ralph and David J Russell.
The €44,373 (£30,000) first prize represented Torrance’s fourth title on the 2006 European Seniors Tour and his third victory on Dalmahoy’s East Course, following triumphs in the Scottish PGA championship in 1993 and 1985.
It also extended his lead over Eduardo Romero at the top of the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit to more than €66,000 with five events of the season remaining.
Torrance said: “It is great to win in my home country. I have great support up here so this is a wee bit more special than my other wins this year.
“I am obviously in a good position with the Order of Merit, but I don’t know how many more events Eduardo is going to play. I would love to win it again, so I am going to keep pushing. We have Woburn next week and that is a course I love.”