Scotland’s Bill Longmuir, with his 13 year old son Callum as caddy, claimed the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open by a stroke from compatriot John Chillas and England’s Carl Mason.
Longmuir recorded his second victory of the year on the European Seniors Tour after closing with a four under par 68 for a three round total of six under par at The Roxburghe.
Chillas, who appeared on course to complete a wire-to-wire victory before he bogeyed the 15th and 16th, closed with a 72 while Mason shot 68.
“Callum said to me on the last hole that he was feeling nervous and I said to him ‘don’t worry son so am 1’. All my wins are sweet but this one is special because I had Callum on my bag for the first time,” said Longmuir, who finished second on last year’s Seniors Tour Order of Merit list in his rookie senior season.
The 51 year old was paired with Mason a couple of groups ahead of Chillas and made a crucial birdie on 17 to reach six under for the tournament.
He parred the last and then had an anxious wait to see if Chillas could catch him.
Longmuir had watched Mason miss a 15 foot birdie putt on the 18th to tie him and shortly after saw Chillas face a putt of a similar length to force a play-off. Chillas’ effort lipped out handing the £22,500 winners’ cheque to Longmuir.
Longmuir is only the second Scot to win the title after David Huish in 1998.
“It’s fantastic. It was a pretty blustery day but it just felt great especially playing with Carl (Mason). We were both nip and tuck all day. I managed to hole a couple of putts at the right time. It’s fantastic to win in Scotland. I just wish my father was here to witness it,” added Longmuir, who has lived in Essex all his life but was raised as a Scot by his Glaswegian parents.
It was a particularly disappointing result for Chillas who had birdied the 14th to get to seven under before two costly bogeys. On the 15th he over clubbed and failed to get up and down and on the next hole his ball plugged in a green side bunker.
“I had a great chance. I really thought that last putt was in,” said Chillas, who also finished runner up this year in Jersey.
Mason, chasing his fourth victory of the year, hauled himself into contention with four birdies on the back nine.
“I putted so badly on the front nine it was frightening. I had some nice chances and did not make anything. I could not make myself hit them hard enough but then I managed to get it right on the back nine and holed some great ones coming in,” said Mason.
Australian David Good finished in fourth place two strokes behind Longmuir after returning a 73. Defending champion Terry Gale from Australia finished a stroke further back.
England’s Tommy Horton finished it a tie for 21st place to win the Hardys Super Seniors Prize, which goes to the leading player aged over 60. Horton, who has won a record five Order of Merit titles on the Seniors Tour, closed with a 73.
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