Mason Strolls To Third PGA Championship Title
Carl Mason captured his third PGA Seniors Championship title on Sunday with a superb three shot victory at De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland.
The 56-year-old Englishman, who has 21 European Senior’s Tour titles to his name, shot rounds of 73, 70, 67 and 69 to finish with a nine-under par total of 279 and bag the €47,115.20 prize fund.
He finished three shots clear of Paraguayan Angel Franco and South African Christopher Williams on six-under par and moved up 25 places to sixth in the Order of Merit standings.
Speaking to the Senior European Tour, Mason said: “It was a sweet victory.
“I was very pleased with the way I played — I played great.
“I putted a lot better this week and my game gets better when I do that.”
The 21-time European Senior Tour winner, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Thursday, held the overnight lead after shooting the low-round of the week.
A superb Saturday 67 put him in a prime position to take the title, but an early double bogey at the 382-yard par 4 fifth, after finding the water from the tee, blew the tournament back open again.
Mason doubled up again at the 463-yard 18th, but seven birdies cancelled this out and put the Englishman within two victories of becoming the European Senior Tour’s most successful player.
He said: “I hit two bad shots all day and took double bogeys on them but apart from that I was steady as a rock.
“I knew I was playing well so when I knocked it into the water on the fifth I wasn’t that bothered as I knew I was hitting the ball well.
“I was pleased with the way I kept going.”
“It was a sweet victory… I was very pleased with the way I played — I played great.” - Carl Mason
Mason, who notched up his 21st win since joining the Tour in 2003, will be hoping to make it two in a row, and move within one of the record win count, when the Tour makes its next stop in Sunnigdale for the prestigious Senior Open Championship on July 23.
For more information on the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship, or the European Seniors Tour, visit www.europeantour.com
About Slaley Hall
The venue of this prestigious tournament was the stunning Hunting course at De Vere Slaley Hall — regarded as one of the finest and most aesthetically-pleasing courses in the North of England.
At 7,000 yards, and with plenty of hazards to catch any careless golfer, this par 72 track can test the best — and it proved a real hit with the star-packed field this weekend.
None more so than the eventual winner.
Mason said: “The Hunting course was in tremendous shape this week and presented a stiff challenge yet again.
“We have been extremely well looked after this year at Slaley, and I am already looking forward to coming back to defend my title next year.”
The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship will return to Slaley Hall in 2010. For more information on this classy course, visit www.devere-hotels.com or call 0845 375 2808.
Tags: Carl Mason, Course, De Vere Slaley Hall, European Senior's Tour, News, PGA Seniors Championship
