BILL LONGMUIR SCORES FIRST SENIORS
TOUR WIN FOR TWO YEARS

By Graeme Hamlett
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Anglo-Scot Bill Longmuir ended Carl Mason’s dominance of the tournament by claiming The Midas English Open by two strokes from his rival at St Mellion – and spoke of how great it felt to be a winner once more after his final round of 69 secured his first victory in two years.
Longmuir, who hails from Thundersleigh, slew his own putting demons and the English dragon Mason, who was chasing a record-setting fourth consecutive English Open win over the course where he holds the record, a 63 shot in 1995.
Trailing Mason by one stroke – he was on five under par to Mason’s six under par after 36 holes – at the start of the final round, Longmuir went out in three under par 33 and back in level par 36.
Holding a three-shot lead down coming down the 18th hole, Longmuir could afford the three-putt on the last green he took as he claimed his first victory since the Scandinavian Seniors Open in 2005. His winning 54 hole total of eight under par, 208, also saw him pick up the first prize of £22,500.
Longmuir said: “It’s a good feeling – it’s a long time since it happened. I thought I’d forgotten how to win. What made it harder was that I was up against Carl. He won last week in Switzerland and has had four great years in this event, so I’m really proud that I held him off.
“I could never relax because I knew he’d put the pressure on. I was fortunate he had a bad day with the putter, but I’m very pleased with the way I putted. I had five birdies. My putting has been my major problem for a long time now, but I’m giving myself more chances and feel like I’m getting nearer to making them.”
With his 16 year old son Callum acting as caddie in Cornwall, father and son Longmuir repeated the partnership that secured the 2004 Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open.
Longmuir said: “It feels even better to win with Callum on the bag. He’s done really well for me this week and a big bonus is coming his way!”
Mason was quick to praise his conqueror and said: “Bill played superb golf and putted great – the best I’ve seen him for ages. He deserves it. He played wonderfully well.
“It was a tough day and I think we both did great. We had 27 holes to play, and as you know, the conditions have been horrible. I thought level par would win this week, with the bad weather we’ve had.”
Two other Scottish players fared well. Martin Gray tied for 14th place after rounds of 73-75-72, while John Chillas was tied 22nd after rounds of 72-75-75.
Henry Arnott was 65th after rounds of 79-87-83, while Steve Martin and Mike Miller both withdrew from the final 18 holes after matching each other’s scores on the first two days, shooting 76-81 respectively.
FINAL TOTALS
208 B Longmuir (Sco) 70 69 69
210 C Mason (Eng) 69 69 72
216 D Merriman (Aus) 71 74 71
217 K Tomori (Jpn) 74 71 72, S Ginn (Aus) 70 75 72
218 D O’Sullivan (Irl) 72 73 73, M Foster (Eng) 74 72 72, D Johnson (USA) 73 72 73, P Dugeny (Fra) 72 72 74, I Mosey (Eng) 72 78 68, J Heggarty (Nir) 70 71 77
219 J Bland (RSA) 70 73 76, S Owen (Nzl) 71 72 76
220 M Gray (Sco) 73 75 72, T Dill (USA) 72 72 76
221 B Cameron (Eng) 74 73 74, G Townhill (Eng) 72 73 76, B Heuchan (Can) 74 75 72, DJ Russell (Eng) 70 72 79, A Fernandez (Chi) 73 74 74, J Mashego (RSA) 74 72 75
222 B Larratt (Eng) 71 77 74, N Job (Eng) 70 80 72, J Chillas (Sco) 72 75 75
223 B Malley (USA) 72 77 74, J Rhodes (Eng) 71 76 76, T Johnstone (Zim) 73 74 76
224 G Ralph (Eng) 71 77 76
225 G Encina (Chi) 73 78 74, J Bruner (USA) 73 78 74, G Levenson (RSA) 74 72 79
226 E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 78 75, B Smit (RSA) 72 77 77, GJ Brand (Eng) 72 80 74, T Rastall (Eng) 73 78 75, D Cambridge (Jam) 72 78 76
227 J Benda (USA) 75 74 78
228 M Bembridge (Eng) 75 74 79, R Stelten (USA) 72 75 81
229 K Spurgeon (Eng) 77 76 76, JP Sallat (Fra) 80 76 73, A Mew (Tri) 70 77 82, M Poxon (Eng) 70 81 78
230 I Palmer (RSA) 73 80 77, T Gale (Aus) 74 80 76, P Teravainen (USA) 73 80 77
231 D Creamer (Eng) 74 78 79, G Cali (Ita) 82 73 76
232 B Lendzion (USA) 74 76 82, R Carrasco (USA) 80 79 73, J Lapsley (Nzl) 75 81 76
233 B Hardwick (Can) 72 80 81, T Horton (Eng) 80 81 72, R Mann (Eng) 78 80 75
234 D Good (Aus) 78 76 80, N Clarke (RSA) 77 78 79
235 G Watine (Fra) 79 76 80
236 T Gideon (Ger) 74 81 81, B Lincoln (RSA) 79 79 78
237 M Ferguson (Aus) 80 75 82
238 P Barber (Eng) 79 83 76
239 J Hall (Eng) 81 80 78, V Garcia (Esp) 78 82 79
244 T Allen (Eng) 88 79 77
249 H Arnott (Sco) 79 87 83, T Charnley (Eng) 89 77 83
254 I Richardson (Eng) 84 89 81
Withdrew: P Dawson (Eng) 79 90, S Martin (Sco) 76 81, M Miller (Sco) 76 81, E Darcy (Irl) 75, G Wintz (USA) 82