Sam Torrance's solid start

Published on Sunday 13 December 2009 23:14

SAM Torrance made a satisfying start to the 2010 European Seniors Tour campaign by securing third place in the Mauritius Commercial Bank Open.

The Scot, who had left himself with a mountain to climb after an opening 74, closed with rounds of 71 and 67 to finish just two shots behind the winner, Englishman Kevin Spurgeon.

"I played beautifully, absolutely beautifully," said Torrance, last season's No1 . "I bogeyed the 17th and that was the only weak shot I played all day. I had chances all the way in but anyway, it's not a bad start. The form continues. I had a poor back nine on the first day when I shot 40 and that was my tournament gone then. It's another good start to the year though."

Spurgeon staged a brave final- round fightback to capture an emotional maiden victory by one stroke from former Ryder Cup player Gordon J Brand.

"This is huge for me," said Spurgeon. "This is the start of my sixth season on the Senior Tour and I finished last year really badly so to start the 2010 season off by winning is massive."

FINAL SCORES

271 Pablo Martin (Spa) 68 63 71 69

272 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 67 69 68 68

274 Anders Hansen (Den) 68 70 68 68

276 Robert Rock 69 68 70 69, Gareth Maybin 68 70 67 71, Dale Whitnell 70 68 72 66, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 72 66 72 66

277 Damien McGrane 67 70 68 72, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 71 69 66 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 71 68 70

278 Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 72 71 65 70

279 Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 64 72 71 72, Garth Mulroy (Rsa) 68 73 72 66, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 67 70 72 70

280 Pelle Edberg (Swe) 65 71 72 72, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 66 69 72 73

281 James Kingston (Rsa) 68 70 72 71, Sion Bebb 67 70 69 75, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 70 70 74 67, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 68 70 69 74, Michiel Bothma (Rsa) 72 70 67 72, Shane Lowry 67 71 74 69, Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 67 69 77, James Kamte (Rsa) 69 71 68 73

282 Jamie Elson 71 70 72 69, Warren Abery (Rsa) 72 71 72 67, Andrew Coltart 70 72 70 70, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 67 72 67 76