Smyth 12th in Mauritius as Frost hangs on

David Frost survived a late scare to win in Mauritius. Picture by Getty ImagesDes Smyth finished 12th behind winner David Frost in the year-ending MCB Tour Championship to take his season’s earnings on the European Senior Tour beyond €150,000.

The 59-year old, who broke the €1m barrier for career earnings as an over-50 this year, closed with a one under 71 in Mauritius to finish eight shots behind the South African on four under par.

Frost survived a major final round scare to win by one stroke from Peter Fowler and Barry Lane, sealing his second victory at Constance Belle Mare Plage on a dramatic final day of the 2012 season.

The South African began the final round with a four shot lead after opening rounds of 64 and 67, but had to birdie the final hole to cling on for victory, after a nervous stretch around the turn gave his rivals hope.

A triple bogey on the sixth hole and a double bogey on the 12th had opened the door for 2011 Order of Merit winner Fowler, who had set the clubhouse target of ten under par 206 after closing with a 68.

Roger Chapman (L) receives the John Jacobs Trophy from Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, for winning the 2012 European Senior Tour Order of Merit. Picture by Getty ImagesHis total score was matched by Lane who chipped in from the fringe on the last hole for an eagle and a final round 70, but after a gutsy four iron approach over the water landed just on the green, Frost pushed his own eagle attempt two feet past the pin before tapping in for a decisive closing birdie.

That mean he finished one shot clear of Australian Fowler and Englishman Lane on 11 under par 205, following a two over par final round of 74.

“That was a bit closer than I was hoping for,” he admitted. “It just shows you in this game, you have never won.

“The human factor came into play today. I hit one bad drive and then after that you feel the emotions. I’d been telling everyone it was a three day golf tournament, not two.

“I played OK in spurts today but I let the guys back into the tournament. Luckily I played a great shot on the last hole and it was a relief to get the win in the end.”

Roger Chapman, winner of the US Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid and the US Senior Open, was presented with the John Jacobs Trophy, becoming the first Englishman to win the Order of Merit since Carl Mason in 2007.

Final round scores from the MCB Tour Championship at Constance Belle Mare Plage (par 72)

205 D Frost (RSA) 64 67 74,

206 P Fowler (Aus) 69 69 68, B Lane (Eng) 70 66 70,

208 C Williams (RSA) 71 68 69,

209 J Bruner (USA) 69 68 72,

210 K Spurgeon (Eng) 71 69 70, P Wesselingh (Eng) 73 65 72, M Farry (Fra) 71 70 69,

211 T Thelen (USA) 68 67 76, B Cameron (Eng) 72 68 71, A Franco (Par) 70 70 71,

212 T Lehman (USA) 71 69 72, Des Smyth (Irl) 71 70 71, G Ryall (Eng) 69 72 71,

213 A Murray (Eng) 71 70 72, R Chapman (Eng) 70 69 74,

214 J Quiros (Esp) 71 71 72, S Tinning (Den) 72 72 70, J Gould (Eng) 69 71 74,

215 G Wolstenholme (Eng) 73 71 71,

216 R Drummond (Sco) 70 75 71, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 67 73 76, M Martin (Esp) 73 72 71, A Sherborne (Eng) 73 72 71,

217 M Mouland (Wal) 71 73 73, S Cipa (Eng) 76 69 72, T Price (Aus) 73 70 74,

218 N Job (Eng) 75 70 73, G Manson (Aut) 75 73 70, A Fernandez (Chi) 74 70 74,

219 G Norquist (USA) 75 77 67, P Golding (Eng) 71 77 71,

220 B Longmuir (Sco) 73 74 73, M Harwood (Aus) 78 72 70, G Ralph (Eng) 75 77 68,

221 G Banister (Aus) 74 73 74, D Russell (Eng) 75 75 71, S McAllister (Sco) 78 75 68, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 75 73 73,

222 A Forsbrand (Swe) 80 70 72,

224 P Smith (Sco) 75 75 74,

225 J Harrison (Eng) 75 77 73,

226 J Sallat (Fra) 79 77 70,

227 D Cambridge (Jam) 77 73 77, J Hall (Eng) 76 76 75, M Cunning (USA) 84 69 74, D Mast (USA) 77 77 73,

233 M Belsham (Eng) 79 76 78,

WD I Espitalier Noel (am) (Mus) 88 WD