Mark Mouland often ventures to Mauritius for a spot of deep-sea angling but this December, when he travels to the European Senior Tour’s season-ending MCB Tour Championship, the Welshman will have bigger fish to fry.
Mouland claimed his maiden Senior Tour victory at the Belas Clube de Campo Senior Open de Portugal in October, his first win in 23 years, and has emerged as one of the players to watch.
Having turned 50 and gained eligibility for the Senior Tour just last April, he had a superb debut in his career in senior golf, securing a respectable tied 22ndfinish in the US Senior PGA Championship.
A third place finish in just his second outing at the ISPS Handa Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum signalled that he was not just there to make up the numbers and his first win duly arrived last month in Portugal.
Now, his focus turns to Mauritius and having won twice there, at the non-European Tour sanctioned Mauritius Open in both 2002 and 2003, Mouland knows exactly what to expect when he visits Constance Belle Mare Plage in Poste de Flacq.
“I'm looking forward to going back as Mauritius is a lovely place. Constance Belle Mare Plage is the same course where I won both times, it’s tricky but always good fun,” said the two-time European Tour winner.
“But it’s the Tour Championship this time and whenever you play on a beach resort it’s always a great atmosphere so it promises to be a really good week.”
The Kenilworth-based player, who is currently 15thin the Order of Merit, has tended to remain in Mauritius for a holiday and has one particular source of local knowledge on the island nation, which is located in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa.
“I have a friend out there and he caddies locally so I'm hoping he’s still out there,” he said, “if he’s not still caddieing I’ll have to make sure he gets a few days off work!
“I've been there 13 times and he’s caddied for me most times, he’s probably the boss out there now or something, but he’s a great guy.
“The last time I was out there I was deep-sea fishing, which I love, and I caught a little marlin, 147 pounds, so now I'm looking to get a bigger one this year!”
David Frost will return to Mauritius in December after he sealed a spectacular win at the Mauritius Commercial Bank Open last year, holing an eagle on the final hole to force a play-off with Roger Chapman before defeating the Englishman on the second play-off hole.
Chapman will also return this year hoping to atone for the bitter disappointment of missing out last time out.
The star-studded field also includes former European Ryder Cup Captains Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam.
Peter Fowler and Barry Lane’s battle for the John Jacobs Trophy, meanwhile, will reach what is sure to be a dramatic conclusion as the Australian leads the Senior Tour Order of Merit by just €25,570.
With €400,000 on offer at the MCB Tour Championship, it is all to play for going into the Senior Tour season finale.
Carl Mason is also in the field, having captured his 25thSenior Tour victory at the Benahavis Senior Masters in Spain recently, while last year’s John Jacobs Trophy winner Boonchu Ruangkit will also play.
