Late birdie blitz earns Wesselingh victory

EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR: Paul Wesselingh produced a stunning stretch of four consecutive birdies to claim his maiden title in the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship as Andrew Oldcorn’s battling defence came up just short.

Englishman Wesselingh, who gained his Senior Tour card by finishing second at Qualifying School in February, started the day four shots behind second-round leader Mark James at De Vere Slaley Hall, but produced a superb back nine en route to a closing five-under 67 to finish on 210. With former Ryder Cup captain James only managing a 74 to finish three shots back in fourth place, Wesselingh’s main threat came from defending champion Oldcorn, who won by nine shots last year, and Swede Anders Forsbrand.

While Forsbrand briefly joined Wesselingh at the top of the leaderboard with a birdie on the 16th, he immediately surrendered that shot on the next hole before both Forsbrand and Oldcorn missed birdie chances on the last to finish one shot short on 211.

Oldcorn fought back from bogeys on the second and third holes with four birdies in a closing 70. “It was a very good defence all in all,” he said. “The start I had put me a little bit behind the eight ball but I played pretty well.”