Tom Lehman pulls in a stunning victory at MCB Tour Championship on the European Senior Tour
52-year-old veteran Tom Lehman proved too good to be overpowered at the European Senior Tour season-ending MCB Tour Championship when he clinched a blistering wire-to-wire victory on the final day with a lead of one shot over competitor South African David
Frost. The 1996 Open winner carded a final round of 71 at the scenic Constance Belle Mare Plage at Poste de Flacq, Mauritius to finish for an aggregate of 12-under, 204 and a winner’s prize share of €61,722.
“This is a special win for me,” said Lehman. “When you come somewhere like Mauritius and they make you feel so welcome you feel a sense of urgency to play well to say thank you. I had a great desire to play the best I could to say thank you to everyone."
Lehman had humble beginnings in the final round of the day and remained birdie-less till the 13th. Maintaining a two-shot advantage over Frost, both players fell for a bogey at the third but Frost quickly jumped back in contention with a birdie
on the fourth. The South African lost it again with a bogey on the fifth but birdied the eighth again to close in on Lehman. Frost carded a 14-foot birdie putt on the 14th to finally level the score. While both players were all set for a Playoff,
Frost dropped a disastrous shot at the 15th where Lehman moved in to take full advantage, birdying the next hole to regain his lead.
“David’s been giving me a great battle all year and this was no different,” said Lehman. “We’ve been in a few tournaments together and I’ve just been a fraction better it seems.”
Frost was hoping to bag another title on the Mauritian turf after his victory at the Mauritius Commercial Bank Open 12 months ago. He pulled in rounds of 68, 67 and 70 on the 54-hole event finishing one shot behind Lehman with an aggregate of 11-under, 205.
Lehman, who led the 2006 US Team in the Ryder Cup, has played well throughout the year. He also revealed that this was his 29th appearance on the tour this year and has been on a whirlwind tourneys across the world.
Englishman Job Nick finished as outright third, trailing the leader by a gruesome seven strokes.
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