Darcy's tree iron foils title bid

England's Denis Durnian won the 2002 Estoril Seniors Tour Championship in bizarre circumstances after Ireland's Eamonn Darcy conceded after hitting just one shot on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off at Quinta da Marinha.

The former Irish Ryder Cup star drove into the trees down the right hand side of the first play-off hole and then conceded to his English rival after breaking a branch with his practice swing. That contravened Rule 13-2 and in normal circumstances would have lead to a two-shot penalty. However, Darcy believed it ended his hopes of victory and he immediately approached the Englishman and offered his hand in congratulation.

"It's great to win but I can't think of a worse way to do it," said Durnian after collecting his second title of the 2002 season.

"It's the sort of thing that only happens in your worst nightmare. It was terrible luck. I can't begin to explain how sorry I feel for Eamonn."

"It is just one of those things," said the disconsolate Delgany man, who travels to America on Friday to attempt to win a player's card at the US Senior Tour Qualifying School.

"As soon as I broke the branch I knew it was over. I suppose I could have finished the hole but that would only have prolonged the agony."

Earlier both men came to the last tied for the lead on six under par. Darcy missed the green and then failed to get up and down but Durnian failed to capitalise. He hit two fine shots into the green on the 343 yard par four but then took three putts from about 18 feet below the hole to finish tied with Darcy on five under par 208.

Durnian and Darcy finished one shot ahead of Jamaica's Delroy Cambridge at the end of the regulation 54 holes.

The Jamaican, who has won three times this season, had a chance to draw level but missed a 25-foot birdie putt on the final green. That meant he recorded a level par 71 and finished alone in third place on four under par 209.

Keith MacDonald birdied three out of the last four holes to close with a 68 and finish in a share of fourth place alongside John Chillas, Malcolm Gregson and John Morgan on three under par 210, while England's Steve Wild recorded a four under par 67 to jump into eighth place on two under par 211.

The Englishman required only 10 putts over his closing 10 holes to post his best finish since he tied for sixth at last year's Seniors Tour Championship at the PGA Golf de Catalunya in northern Spain. That performance was enough to save him from a trip to the dreaded Qualifying School but he would have to have won here this week to perform a similar escape.

"That might well be the best putting round I have ever had," said the Englishman. "I don't think I could have putted better. It's just a shame it wasn't quite good enough to mean that I avoid having to go back to the School."

Ireland's Christy O'Connor also made a significant move up the leaderboard. He improved five shots on his second round 74 to move into a share of ninth place alongside four other players on level par 213. England's Neil Coles and Canada's Bill Hardwick shared €2,000 after winning the Hardys Wines Super Seniors prize awarded to the leading competitor aged 60 or over.

Coles started the final round one shot behind Hardwick but a one under par 70 saw him tie the Canadian on three over par 216.