Golf: Spurgeon claims maiden title (From Bournemouth Echo)

Golf: Spurgeon claims maiden title

7:00am Monday 14th December 2009 in

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VICTORIOUS Kevin Spurgeon held his nerve to survive a topsy-turvy final round and claim his maiden European Senior Tour title yesterday.

The 54-year-old Ferndown professional staved off a late challenge from former Ryder Cup stars Gordon J Brand and Sam Torrance to win the Mauritius Commercial Bank Open.

Spurgeon took a two-shot lead into the final day after rounds of 71 and 67, but dropped shots at the third, fifth, seventh and ninth holes as he slipped down the leader board.

And after 11 holes he was trailing the new leader and fellow Englishman Nick Job by four shots.

But a dramatic turnaround came at the next hole as Job rattled up a quadruple bogey, before Spurgeon wiped out the deficit in one fell swoop with a birdie three.

Further birdies at the 13th and 16th holes saw Spurgeon come home in 72 for a six-under-par total and a one-shot victory over Brand who carded a 69.

Torrance, meanwhile, went two shots better for a 67 and a share of third place with Angel Franco.

“I’m over the moon,” said an ecstatic Spurgeon who picked up a cheque for 34,500 Euros.

“This is massive for me. It gives me a two-year exemption and the confidence to go on and win again,” he added.

Spurgeon, however, must wait until March 5-7 for the second scheduled European Senior Tour event of the 2010 season.

In the meantime, Spurgeon will fly back to South Africa where he has been on a two-month break with wife Ellie.

Spurgeon’s highest finish before this weekend was joint second in the 2007 Irish Masters.