Gordon Brand Jnr produced a steady level par final round 72 to complete a fine wire-to-wire victory in the Matrix Jersey Classic and seal his maiden European Senior Tour title by five strokes.
On the same weekend that some of Europe’s Ryder Cup hopefuls were taking on this year’s host venue The Celtic Manor Resort, Bristol-based Brand Jnr rekindled the form that took him to two Ryder Cups in the 1980s as he completed a remarkable return to La Moye Golf Club.
In the 1986 Jersey Open the Scot set a European Tour record of four eagles in a round en route to the La Moye course record of 62 and opening rounds of 63 and 66 had brought memories of that performance flooding back.
Windier conditions made scoring less spectacular on the final day but the 51 year old, who has twice lost in a play-off on the Senior Tour, held his nerve to finish on 15 under par 201 – five strokes clear of South African Bobby Lincoln and England’s Carl Mason.
“I was quite emotional there today,” said Brand Jnr. “I was very nervous this morning. I played great the first two days but because I had such a lead it was mine to lose.
“I kept my emotions together though and I’m holding the trophy so I obviously player better than everyone else!
“This course just sets up to my game. I can see the shots and bump it along the ground. I do like links courses and I’m lucky that I came here this week and played well and the two came together. “
Brand Jnr began his final round with a six stroke advantage but a nervous tee shot on the first hole saw him drop a shot immediately. However he quickly steadied himself and posted nine consecutive pars before his only birdie of the day on the 11th hole.
A run of seven straight pars on the way in ensured Brand Jnr ended a 17 year gap without a win dating back to his 1993 European Open victory - the last of his eight European Tour titles.
“I was just trying to keep myself together as it was hard work today but luckily no-one got that close to me so I just had to keep making pars,” he said. “It’s a nice feeling and I managed to keep my emotions in check on the course.
“I had a six shot lead and a lot goes through your head and you are looking for a solid start but I didn’t get that. I was maybe a little fortunate that there was wind today as that made it difficult for the others.
“I hit a couple of bad shots – a shank on the first and the seventh – but there’s no pictures on the score card and I won by five so I’m delighted.”
Brand Jnr had taken some time out from competitive golf after leaving The European Tour in 2006 during which period he concentrated on coaching, including taking the England Under 16 and 18 teams.
That hiatus reinvigorated his love for the game and he joined the Senior Tour in 2008, losing in a six-hole play-off to namesake Gordon J Brand on his debut in The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship before also losing to Carl Mason in a play-off at the Benahavis Senior Masters last season.
It was Mason who had to settle for a share of second place this time and his cheque for €13, 816 means he is now just €2,718 short of becoming the first player to pass the €2million mark in career earnings on the Senior Tour – a feat he looks likely to now achieve in next week’s Handa Irish Seniors Open presented by Fáilte Ireland.
He signed for a 68 to finish level on ten under par 206 with 2007 champion Lincoln, who posted a 70 to finish joint runner up for the second time this season following the Berenberg Bank Masters.
American Bob Boyd and Australian David Merriman shared fourth place on nine under par while former PGA Championship winner Andrew Oldcorn continued his strong start to life on the Senior Tour by finishing a shot further back in a share of sixth place with Graham Banister and Mike Cunning.
