TORRANCE PRAISES RECORD-BREAKING MASON

By GRAEME HAMLETT
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour
Sam Torrance paid tribute to Carl Mason after the record-breaking Englishman confirmed his status as the most prolific winner in European golf during 2007 after he claimed his fifth victory of an outstanding European Seniors Tour season in capturing the OKI Castellόn Open de Espana Senior today.
Mason carded a brilliant final round of seven-under-par 65 at the Club de Golf del Mediterraneo to finish on 17-under-par 199, ensuring a four-shot triumph over Argentina’s Luis Carbonetti, with Australia’s David Good in third place, two strokes further back.
Torrance, who shot a final round 68 (-4) to finish in a tie for fourth on 10-under-par 206, alongside fellow Scot Ross Drummond (70-70-66), said: “Carl’s had a wonderful year. He’s been playing golf from another planet and has been the man to catch all year really – not that many of us have managed it! I know how hard it is to win the Order of Merit, and was hoping to make it three in a row this year, but Carl’s walked it. He deserves it too.”
Mason’s incredible year and success rate takes his total number of victories in under five years on the over-50s circuit to a staggering 19.
The top prize of €48,750 takes his current haul of €401,547 with one event left in the tournament calendar – and it ensured Mason has set record earnings for the season, having surpassed the €354,775 he won in 2004 when he finished as European Senior Tour No 1 for a second consecutive time.
He can enjoy that status once more, as his third Order of Merit crown, already confirmed, was emphatically sealed in style in Spain. “I can’t quite believe this year myself,” said the modest 54 year old. “It’s been incredible – to win five times this year and 19 in total. I never thought I’d do that when I started out. I just wish I’d felt this confident and comfortable on the golf course when I was on the main Tour. It’s having the confidence to win that makes all the difference.”
Essex-based Scot Bill Longmuir tied for seventh spot on nine under par 207, while John Chillas and Mike Miller tied for 24th on two under par 214.
Martin Gray tied for 45th spot on two over par 218, while former Walker Cup player Steve Martin shot his best score of the tournament, a 71, for a six over par 222 total in the penultimate event of the European Seniors Tour season.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
199 C Mason (Eng) 66 68 65.
203 L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 64 70.
205 D Merriman (Aus) 71 66 70.
206 R Drummond (Sco) 70 70 66, S Torrance (Sco) 70 68 68, G Encina (Chl) 67 70 69.
207 B Longmuir (Sco) 71 68 68, S Ginn (Aus) 69 68 70.
208 B Heuchan (Can) 69 71 68, C Rocca (Ita) 71 67 70.
209 B Cameron (Eng) 72 66 71.
210 H Carbonetti (Arg) 71 70 69, D Good (Aus) 68 72 70, G Ralph (Eng) 69 69 72.
211 E Darcy (Irl) 72 68 71, N Job (Eng) 73 68 70, J Quiros (Esp) 68 71 72, E Rodriguez (Esp) 67 74 70.
212 G J Brand (Eng) 72 73 67, T Johnstone (Zim) 72 72 68, A Murray (Eng) 71 71 70, B Smit (RSA) 73 66 73.
213 JM Canizares (Esp) 75 72 66;
214 J Anglada (Esp) 71 72 71, J Chillas (Sco) 74 71 69, B Larratt (Eng) 72 69 73, J Mashego (RSA) 70 70 74, M Miller (Sco) 70 70 74, M Pinero (Esp) 75 70 69, J Rivero (Esp) 71 72 71;
215 T Allen (Eng) 71 72 72, M Bembridge (Eng) 73 72 70, J Benda (USA) 71 70 74, P Oakley (USA) 71 74 70, G Watine (Fra) 68 75 72;
216 D Durnian (Eng) 71 74 71, D O’Sullivan (Irl) 73 74 69, A Sowa (Arg) 73 74 68;
217 J Bruner (USA) 72 73 72, G Cali (Ita) 71 74 72, D Cambridge (Jam) 69 74 74, P Dugeny (Fra) 73 73 71, A Fernandez (Chl) 69 75 73, J Hall (Eng) 77 69 71;
218 T Gale (Aus) 72 75 71, M Poxon (Eng) 72 73 73, JP Sallat (Fra) 73 73 72, R Stelten (USA) 73 74 71, H Woodrome (USA) 74 73 71;
219 T Dill (USA) 73 74 72, A Garrido (Esp) 75 70 74, D Johnson (USA) 72 73 74, B Lincoln (RSA) 74 72 73, I Mosey (Eng) 73 74 72, DJ Russell (Eng) 72 71 76, G Townhill (Eng) 69 77 73;
221 J Heggarty (NIr) 73 76 72, K Spurgeon (Eng) 70 74 77;
222 N Clarke (RSA) 77 69 76, B Hardwick (Can) 74 78 70, J Lapsley (Nzl) 78 72 72, S Martin (Sco) 75 76 71, T Rastall (Eng) 74 74 74;
223 T Charnley (Eng) 75 72 76;
224 J Rhodes (Eng) 70 75 79;
225 V Garcia (Esp) 74 71 80, R Mann (Eng) 77 76 72;
226 T Gideon (Ger) 80 75 71;
227 E Polland (NIr) 75 78 74;
233 G Hopkins (USA) 76 85 72.