Harwood wins as Torrance tops order of merit

Golf:Australian Mike Harwood captured his maiden European Senior Tour title in the OKI Castellόn Senior Tour Championship as Sam Torrance edged past Ian Woosnam to win the Order of Merit for a third time.

Harwood carded a superb final round of 66 in windy conditions at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo to finish three strokes clear of overnight leader Angel Franco and add the season ending Championship to the Volvo Masters he won on the European Tour in 1990 – becoming the first player to win both titles.

His victory meant he also moved from 28th to ninth in the standings, past Roger Chapman to win the European Senior Tour Rookie of the Year award.

It capped a magnificent fortnight for the 50-year-old who won the Australian Senior Open two weeks ago and rounded off a seamless return to competitive golf in 2009 after more than a decade out of the game.

“It was an amazing day, emotional too,” said Harwood. “When the wind was as bad as it was this morning I just didn’t want to make an idiot of myself.

“It’s been a great week. I had a few lucky breaks and I’ve made a lot of putts this week. I came in thinking this could be my week but I played well and putted so well.

“I hoped I would win this year but thought it might be unrealistic after so long out of the game. There must be something about Spain and the wind because my Volvo Masters win came in exactly the same conditions.”

Harwood had started the day two strokes behind Franco at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo but five birdies on his front nine saw him move into a share of the lead.

Another birdie on the 11th took him one clear as Franco bogeyed the same hole on the start of a run which saw the South American drop three shots in three consecutive holes.

Harwood had also bogeyed the 12th but a run of pars until the 17th, which both players birdied, meant he finished on 13 under par 203, with Franco dropping a shot on the last to finish on ten under par, and Torrance a further stroke back.

“My short game today was unbelievable on the front nine,” said Harwood. “I played pretty well on the back nine – I didn’t hit the ball that great but my short game was electric.

“I holed some fantastic four or five footers on the back nine. Confidence played a big part after winning in Australia. I played well the first day and struggled with my swing yesterday. I played smart today in the wind and kept it in play and with the way I putted that’s all I needed to do.”

Franco’s level par closing round of 72 meant he finished runner up for the sixth time in his Senior Tour career and for the third time this season. There was some consolation for him as he moved into fifth place in the final order of merit.

Top spot in the end of season standings belonged to Torrance following a nail-biting finale to the campaign as the €30,068 he won for finishing third saw him overhaul fellow Ryder Cup winning captain Woosnam to capture the John Jacobs Trophy.

In the closest order of merit finish since 2000, Torrance ended the year on €170,695 – just €3,380 ahead of 2008 winner Woosnam, whose closing round of 71 was only good enough for a share of 18th place in Spain on one-under-par.

It was Torrance’s third order of merit victory following 2005 and 2006, meaning he equals Carl Mason’s total and is now just two behind Tommy Horton’s benchmark of five.

“It means the world to me,” said the 55-year-old Scot. “I’m delighted. I’m the best Senior player in Europe this year. That feels fantastic. I played so well for the last two days and holed nothing.

“This week was so important and I managed to do it. It means more to me than anything else.”

Des Smyth (68) and Denis O’Sullivan (75) both ended the tournament tied ninth on five-under, while Eamonn Darcy (75) finished three-over.

It means Smyth ended the season as leading Irishman in 15th on the senior circuit with earnings of €93,453 from 12 events. Darcy was 23rd (€71,112) with Northern Ireland's Jimmy Heggarty next in 27th (€63,476). O'Sullivan was 34th (€53,913).