Metherell wins with flawless 69

Australian Ross Metherell shot a near flawless 69 to win the De Vere Hotels Seniors Classic at Ferndown GC near Bournemouth, getting up and down from a bunker on the last to claim his maiden Seniors Tour title.

Metherell, coach to some of Australia's top golfers including regular Tour players Stephen Leaney and Greg Chalmers, picked up three birdies with just the one dropped shot on the 17th to finish with a 13 under par total of 200.

He held off the challenges from American Bill Brask, England's Mike Slater and the defending champion Tommy Horton.

The Perth-based professional is back on the tournament circuit following a 20-year absence after qualifying for the Seniors Tour last year.

"I got up and down from a bunker to win a seniors event in Australia a couple of years ago so when it went in the bunker on the last I knew I could do it," said Metherell.

"To win in my first year is great. I'm more used to teaching than playing."

American Bill Brask, playing his second season on the European Seniors Tour since giving up his club professional's job in Minnesota, started slowly with an outward half of 36, one over, but four birdies on the way home took him to 12 under par for second place, his best finish on the Seniors Tour.

A shot further back was England's Mike Slater who produced the round of the week, an eight birdie 64, to charge through the field into third place on 10 under.

Tommy Horton, looking for a victory to return to the top of the Seniors Tour Order of Merit, had a roller-coaster round which included four birdies and an eagle but also four costly bogeys for a round of 70, to finish four off the pace.

Scotland's David Huish also threatened with two early birdies but three bogeys on the homeward stretch put the title out of reach.

Leading final round scores and totals:
(Gbr & Irl unless stated)

200 R Metherell (Aus) 66 65 69

201 B Brask (USA) 67 66 68

203 M Slater 70 69 64

204 T Horton 66 68 70

205 T Gale (Aus) 65 68 72, D Huish 65 68 72

206 A Tapie (USA) 68 69 69, C Defoy 68 69 69, J Bruner (USA) 66 68 72

207 B Verwey (Rsa) 68 69 70, B Huggett 66 70 71

208 E Polland 72 67 69

209 B Shearer (Aus) 69 75 65, D Jones 71 70 68, J R Delich (USA) 68 73 68, F Gambetta (USA) 67 73 69, G Hunt 68 71 70, A Garrido (Spa) 69 69 71

210 T Persson (Swe) 70 74 66, D Oakley (USA) 73 69 68, D Creamer 72 67 71, B Menne (USA) 69 70 71, I Stanley (Aus) 67 72 71

211 T Price (USA) 71 70 70, A Bardha (USA) 69 71 71, M Gregson 69 68 74