MCB Tour Championship Pressbook December 2022

12/16/22, 4:01 PM

Thomas Bjorn wins in Mauritius, James Kingston tops Legends Tour merit list - BBC Sport

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Former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn won the Legends Tour's season fnale in Mauritius as James Kingston claimed the senior circuit's order of merit.

The Dane shot a closing 67 in the MCB Championship at Belle Mare Plage to win by seven strokes from South African Kingston and England's Simon Brown.

He led by four going into the last day afer a course-record 61 on Saturday.

Kingston recovered from an opening 74 to seal the merit title from Brazil's Adilson de Silva, who was tied fourth.

Kingston's frst round had given Da Silva hope of an unlikely victory in the merit race but the leader in the overall standings responded with a 64 and a 65.

Those rounds, combined with his closest challenger bogeying the last, meant Kingston fnished a shot ahead of Da Silva in Mauritius and more than 500 points in front on the order of merit.

""I am quite relieved I must say. To think a whole year's play came down to the last tournament, the last round, the last few holes, unbelievable!" said Kingston.

Wales' Philip Price - who could have claimed the merit title had he won in Mauritius - carded a poor fnal-round 75 to slip down to a share of 25th, although the 2010 Ryder Cup hero remained third in the overall standings.

Paul Lawrie - who did not play in Mauritius - was fourth in the order of merit, with his fellow Scot Euan McIntosh in sixth.

McIntosh's decision to turn professional again three years ago continues to look a good one.

He originally joined the paid ranks in 1990 but, afer regaining his amateur status, he become the oldest player in 35 years to win the Scottish Amateur when he did so aged 49 in 2018.

That victory encouraged him to turn pro again and he earned his Legends Tour card the following year.

Bjorn, whose previous tournament performance was in Madrid in October, began shakily on the Legend course at Belle Mare Plage, making three bogeys in his frst seven holes.

But his bogey on the 7th was the last shot he dropped all week, playing the subsequent 47 holes in 19 under par.

"I had no form as such coming into this event but as soon as I saw the course at Belle Mare Plage I loved it. It just suited my eye," said Bjorn, whose son Oliver caddied for him.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/63933780

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