WESSELINGH BEATS LANE IN SIX-HOLE
PLAY-OFF AT SENIOR TOUR FINALE
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Paul Wesselingh, pictured (by courtesy of Getty Images(c) above with the trophy, successfully defended his
title in the MCB Tour Championship, overcoming Barry Lane in a
record-equalling six-hole play-off, as the 2014 European Senior Tour
season reached a dramatic conclusion in Mauritius today.
Wesselingh, 53, from Liverpool had needed only to par the 18th hole to retain the title in
regulation play, but he left his 20ft birdie putt 4ft short, then
watched his next attempt horseshoe round the cup.
That meant he dropped back to nine under par, signing for a closing
round of 69, to finish level with fellow Englishman Lane, who had
birdied three of the final four holes for a round 67 to set the
clubhouse target.
The pair then produced some superb golf in the play-off to each birdie
the 18th hole five times in a row - Wesselingh somehow getting up and
down after flirting with the water on the left of the green on the third
extra hole - before Lane, who had been struggling with injury and
illness at the start of the week, eventually succumbed on the sixth
return trip, missing a 4ft par putt, allowing Wesselingh to tap in
for victory.
The epic battle equalled the record for the longest play-off in the
history of the Senior Tour, matching Gordon J Brand’s six-hole defeat of
his namesake Gordon Brand Jnr in the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors
Championship in 2008, and Wesselingh admitted it was a gruelling way to
retain the trophy.
“I feel like I’ve been through the ringer,” said Wesselingh. “I’m just
delighted and relieved to win. I was shaking on the 18th green in
regulation play. Nerves just got to me, so to finally finish it off is
fantastic.
“I was disappointed when I came off after normal play. I felt I had done
enough. I needed to be mentally strong and David Frost, who I was
playing with, said some nice words which helped me to focus. I’ve
struggled on the par fives all week and barely had any birdies, so to
have five in a row in the play-off is amazing.
“It’s wonderful to win this title again though and I do feel very proud.”
Twelve months ago, Wesselingh claimed the tournament title at Constance
Belle Mare Plage by five strokes to win the 2013Senior Tour Order of
Merit crown, winning the Senior Tour Shot of the year with his stunning
approach to the final hole.
While runaway leader Colin Montgomerie had
already secured the John Jacobs Trophy this time, Wesselingh ensured it
was a happy return to the scene of his greatest golfing memory, albeit
in a less comfortable fashion than a year ago.
It also meant the finish to the Senior Tour season mirrored the finale
to The European Tour campaign last month, when Rory McIlroy had already
secured the Race to Dubai crown following four victories, including two
Major Championships, and Henrik Stenson successfully defended his title
in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
Wesselingh had already tasted play-off success in the 2014 campaign,
beating Senior Open Champion Bernhard Langer on home soil in the
WINSTONgolf Senior Open, and the long term club professional added the
scalp of another Ryder Cup player in Lane for his seventh Senior Tour
title.
“I’d rather not have to do it through a play-off, but to beat Bernhard
Langer and now Barry Lane, both Ryder Cup players and great players, is
fantastic,” said the 52 year old, who ends the season in sixth place on
the Order of Merit. “I’ve always said I feel really honoured to play
with these guys, I really do mean that. They are legends, so it is very
special.”
Just as Wesselingh had a golden opportunity to win in regulation play,
Lane could conceivably have taken the title before the play-off, having
missed a three foot birdie chance on the 17th and an eight foot eagle
putt on the final hole. Instead, he had to settle for finishing runner
up for the second time in three years.
“He gave me a chance by three-putting the last in normal play, so I
hadn’t expected to be in a play-off, but once I was, it was a great
play-off,” said Lane, who ends the year third on the Order of Merit.
“There were a lot of quality shots in the first five holes, but on the
sixth I just didn’t have a good lie to chip my third shot so left it
short and hit two good putts, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“I felt so bad at the start of the week I nearly didn’t play, and I have
to admit I was feeling tired at the end. When you think I had five
penalty shots this week, going in the water four times, and missed putts
on the last two holes in regulation play, it could easily have been my
week, but congratulations to Paul, who played so well.”
South African David Frost, who took a one shot lead into the final
round, closed with a round of 71 for an eight under par total to
finish in third position, his sixth consecutive top five finish over the
Legend Course, having won twice and finished runner up twice.
Frenchman Jean-François Remesy and Englishman Andrew Sherborne both
posted rounds of 68 to share fourth position on seven under par, while
Montgomerie signed off a superb 2014 with a 68 of his own to finish
sixth for the second year in a row.
That maintained the 2010 Ryder Cup captain’s impressive record of
finishing inside the top ten in every Senior Tour event he has played in
2014, winning four times, including two Major Championships, and
finishing runner up once.
Montgomerie (below) was presented with John Jacobs
Trophy for winning the Senior Tour Order of Merit by a record margin of
€388,739 from second place Rick Gibson, with record earnings of €624,
543.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
207 Paul Wesselingh (England) 69 69 69, Barry Lane (England) 68 72 67: Wesselingh (63,998 euros) beat Lane (42,666 euros) at sixth hole of sudden death play-off
208 David Frost (S Africa)_ 69 68 71 (29,866 euros)
209 Jan-Francois Remesy (France) 72 69 68, Andrew Sherborne (England) 76 71 68 (21,375 euros each)
210 Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 71 71 68 (17,066 euros)
OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
214 Bill Longmuir 71 69 74 (T16) (6,624 euros)
215 Ross Drummond 71 71 73 (T20) (5,291 euros)
216 Gordon Brand junior 76 70 70, Andrew Oldcorn 72 73 71 (T23) (4,181 euros each)
218 Stephen McAllister 75 69 74 (T32) (2,944 euros)
232 Sam Torrance 77 76 79 (57th) (853 euros)
ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
207 P Wesselingh (Eng) 69 69 69, B Lane (Eng) 68 72 67,
208 D Frost (RSA) 69 68 71,
209 J Remesy (Fra) 72 69 68, A Sherborne (Eng) 70 71 68,
210 C Montgomerie (Sco) 71 71 68,
211 G Rusnak (USA) 70 71 70, S Tinning (Den) 71 69 71, R Gibson (Can) 71 70 70, C Monasterio (Arg) 71 69 71,
212 G Manson (Aut) 74 68 70, P Golding (Eng) 75 70 67, A Bossert (Sui) 71 69 72,
213 M Mouland (Wal) 72 77 64, D Smyth (Irl) 72 70 71,
214 B Longmuir (Sco) 71 69 74, J Gould (Eng) 72 71 71, G Ryall (Eng) 71 72 71, W Grant (Eng) 75 71 68,
215 C Williams (RSA) 70 71 74, M Martin (Esp) 73 73 69, R Drummond (Sco) 71 71 73,
216 G Brand Jnr (Sco) 76 70 70, J Berendt (Arg) 69 78 69, G
Wolstenholme (Eng) 75 70 71, A Oldcorn (Sco) 72 73 71, I Woosnam (Wal)
73 71 72, M Davis (Eng) 69 72 75,
217 S Luna (Esp) 73 74 70, J Sallat (Fra) 71 73 73, K Spurgeon (Eng) 71 76 70,
218 N Job (Eng) 73 74 71, P Fowler (Aus) 75 71 72, S McAllister (Sco) 75 69 74,
219 P Walton (Irl) 73 75 71, P Linhart (Esp) 74 71 74, T Thelen (USA) 74 73 72,
220 J Carriles (Esp) 76 71 73, P Eales (Eng) 76 71 73, J Quiros (Esp) 74 72 74,
221 R Rafferty (Nir) 74 71 76, A Murray (Eng) 76 71 74,
222 M Farry (Fra) 79 70 73, B Conser (USA) 73 74 75, D Russell (Eng) 74 71 77, B Cameron (Eng) 73 75 74,
223 M Cunning (USA) 73 74 76, J Smith (USA) 73 74 76, S Brown (Eng) 74 76 73,
224 G Bell (Eng) 77 73 74,
225 D Hospital (Esp) 77 71 77, M Mackenzie (Eng) 74 74 77, A Franco (Par) 77 72 76,
227 J Rivero (Esp) 80 73 74, S Cipa (Eng) 75 75 77,
228 J Bruner (USA) 74 74 80, M McLean (Eng) 78 76 74,
229 V Seeneevassen (am) (Mus) 83 76 70,
232 S Torrance (Sco) 77 76 79,
238 D O'Sullivan (Irl) 78 79 81,
240 G Emerson (Eng) 86 82 72,
Labels: SENIOR PROS