Horton wins seasons opener

Tommy Horton launched the 1999 European Seniors Tour with victory in the Beko Classic at the Klassis Golf and Country Club, Turkey.

Horton, 58 next month, captured the title for the second time in three years and took his total of senior victories to 21 by finishing one stroke ahead of American rookie Alan Tapie.

Horton, winner of the Seniors Order of Merit for the past three seasons, fired a closing three-under-par 69 to edge out Californian Tapie in a dramatic climax.

Tapie, playing in his first event since turning 50 in March, was one ahead with two holes to play. But he lost a ball at the par five 17th, where he had grabbed two eagles in the previous two rounds.

This time he made a bogey six while Horton two putted for a birdie four to convert a one-stroke deficit into a one-stroke lead.

Horton said: "At the start of any new season you wonder if you still have it in you to win, especially in my case as I'm not getting any younger. But it was there today and it's a lovely feeling to be a winner again."

Collated final round scores and totals

211 T Horton (Eng) 72 70 69

212 A Tapie (USA) 69 74 69

214 R Carrasco (USA) 73 76 65

215 B Gallacher (Sco) 78 65 72

216 M Gregson (Eng) 73 72 71, N Wood (Sco) 69 74 73

218 N Huggett (Wal) 74 76 68, J McDermott (Irl) 77 72 69, A Croce (Ita) 75 73 70, E Polland (NIrl) 73 74 71, B Lendzion (USA) 70 76 72, B Shearer (Aus) 72 74 72, B Waites (Eng) 77 69 72