Wesselingh wins marathon play-off, Smyth 14th
Paul Wesselingh with the MCB Tour Championship. Picture © Getty Images.
Des Smyth tied for 14th as Paul Wesselingh successfully defended his title in the MCB Tour Championship by overcoming Barry Lane in a record-equalling six-hole play-off in Mauritius.
Wesselingh had needed on ly to par the 18th hole to retain the title in regulation play, but he left his 20ft birdie putt four foot 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 four foot par putt, allowing Wesselingh to tap in for victory.
Smyth, 61, birdied his last two holes for a one under 71 that left him tied for 14th on three under.
He earned €7,893 to finish 28th on the money list with €55,302 from 11 starts and is now 13th on the European Senior Tour career money list with €1,183,181.
Philip Walton (71) was tied 35th on three over with Ronan Rafferty (76) 41st on five over and Denis O'Sullivan (81) 60th on 22 over.
Colin Montgomerie finished sixth at at Constance Belle Mare Plage and was officially crowned the European Senior Tour’s Number One player.
Colin Montgomerie with the John Jacobs Trophy for winning the European Senior Tour's Order of Merit. Picture © Getty Images.
Montgomerie claimed four Senior Tour titles, including two Senior Major Championships, during a record-breaking 2014 campaign, winning the Order of Merit with earnings of €624,543 - the highest in the history of the Senior Tour, comfortably beating Carl Mason’s previous 2007 benchmark of €412,376.
“This is great,” said Montgomerie. “To think I have eight of these Order of Merit trophies from The European Tour, which take pride of place, and now the John Jacobs Trophy from the Senior Tour to go alongside them is fantastic.
“This will most certainly join them, because this is very special. To win an Order of Merit again, and make it nine, really does mean a lot, and I look forward to trying to retain it next year. It has been a very special year, winning two Majors in America and twice back in Europe, and now capping it off with this.”
Final European Senior Tour Order of Merit 2014
1 Colin Montgomerie €624,543 6
28 Des Smyth €55,302
39 Denis O'Sullivan €43,712
45 Philip Walton €35,131
46 Ronan Rafferty €34,702
Career Money
1 Carl MASON ENG €2,580,597
2 Nick JOB ENG €1,593,562
3 Sam TORRANCE SCO €1,541,101
4 Tommy HORTON ENG €1,527,506
5 Tom WATSON USA €1,496,305
6 Bernhard LANGER GER €1,412,024
7 Bill LONGMUIR SCO €1,396,408
8 Noel RATCLIFFE AUS €1,383,978
9 Denis O'SULLIVAN IRL €1,356,568
10 Jerry BRUNER USA €1,351,658
13 Des SMYTH IRL €1,183,181
44 Eamonn DARCY IRL €702,786
50 Eddie POLLAND NIR €651,872
81 Liam HIGGINS IRL €469,088
92 Christy O'CONNOR JNR IRL €424,118
95 Paul LEONARD NIR €414,918
99 David JONES IRL €374,369
