McGovern ties up European Senior Tour card
Thaworn Wiratchant
Brendan McGovern secured a full European Senior Tour for 2018 when he finished tied 19th behind runaway winner Thaworn Wiratchant in the season-ending MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius.
The Headfort professional (52) closed with a two-under 70 at Constance Belle Mare Plage to claim a career-best 20th spot in the money list with €89,591, earning him a spot in next year’s US Senior PGA at Harbor Shores in Michigan and the Senior Open at St Andrews.
Tied for the lead with Australia's Peter Fowler after 36 holes, Wiratchant (50) fired a sensational 10-under-par 62 to win his maiden European Senior Tour title by eight strokes from Irish passport holder Mark McNulty, who shot 67, on 23-under-par.
McGovern finished on five-under to secure one of just 20 full cards with Paul McGinley two shots further back in joint 26th after a 74.
Des Smyth was tied 34th on one-under after a 72 while Philip Walton carded a 75 to take 47th place on eight-over.
American Clark Dennis tied for fifth and was awarded the John Jacobs Trophy for finishing at the top of the Senior Tour Order of Merit as well as the 2017 Rookie of the Year Award.
Wiratchant raced clear after carding six birdies on the front nine.
He then made consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, before another gain on the 17th.
Thaworn Wiratchant with the MCB Tour Championship trophy
The two-time Asian Tour Number One then eagled the last to finish eight strokes ahead of former Zimbabwean McNulty, who took out Irish citizenship 14 years ago.
“I’m so happy to win,” said Wiratchant. “To win on my first year in the Senior Tour is fantastic, there are so many good players here.
“My tee shots were great all week that really helped me win here. I felt really comfortable on this golf course, it reminded me of playing in Thailand.”
Wiratchant’s final score of 23 under par is the lowest ever at the MCB Tour Championship, and his final round 62 is also the lowest carded at this event, matched by Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin earlier in the round.
The Thai carded 24 birdies and an eagle during his rounds of 66-65-62.
Senior Major winner McNulty carded a final round of 67, five under par, to take solo second place, his second runner-up finish on the Senior Tour this season.
Peter Fowler and Miguel Angel Martín shared third place on 11 under par, one stroke ahead of Clark Dennis and Esteban Toledo in fifth place.
Clark Dennis
At the prize-giving ceremony, Dennis was awarded the John Jacobs Trophy for finishing at the top of the Senior Tour Order of Merit.
The American recorded his seventh top-five finish in just 14 starts during his rookie year on the Senior Tour – he will also receive the 2017 Rookie of the Year Award.
“This year couldn’t have ended any better,” said Dennis. “To be the first American to win the John Jacobs Trophy feels fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
“Mauritius is an incredible place, anybody who has an opportunity to come here really should. This is a wonderful resort and I feel so fortunate to have had the chance to play this event.”
MCB Tour Championship, Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius (Par 72)
193 T Wiratchant (Tha) 66 65 62,
201 Mark McNulty (Irl) 66 68 67,
205 M Martin (Esp) 69 67 69, P Fowler (Aus) 65 66 74,
206 C Dennis (USA) 68 71 67, E Toledo (Mex) 69 72 65,
207 J Sandelin (Swe) 71 74 62, A Bossert (Sui) 68 70 69, J Kingston (RSA) 69 71 67, C Williams (RSA) 71 67 69, P Broadhurst (Eng) 73 67 67,
208 G Rusnak (USA) 71 70 67, B Lane (Eng) 66 74 68,
209 T Thelen (USA) 71 68 70, R Chapman (Eng) 69 70 70,
210 M Atlevi (Swe) 70 68 72, P Linhart (Esp) 71 68 71, P Golding (Eng) 69 73 68,
211 T Lehman (USA) 73 70 68, S Luna (Esp) 72 70 69, Brendan McGovern (Irl) 72 69 70, C Monasterio (Arg) 71 74 66, P Wesselingh (Eng) 73 71 67,
212 J Remesy (Fra) 69 71 72, J Carriles (Esp) 71 71 70,
213 D Frost (RSA) 70 72 71, Paul McGinley (Irl) 70 69 74, G Brand (Eng) 71 69 73, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 72 71 70,
214 S Brown (Eng) 70 74 70, G Marks (Eng) 70 69 75, I Woosnam (Wal) 75 71 68, M Mouland (Wal) 74 71 69,
215 Des Smyth (Irl) 71 72 72, S Tinning (Den) 71 72 72, A Oldcorn (Sco) 73 71 71, P Wilson (Eng) 75 71 69,
217 B Conser (USA) 71 72 74, P Eales (Eng) 74 72 71, P Price (Wal) 71 73 73,
218 S Dodd (Wal) 75 73 70, M Farry (Fra) 74 73 71,
220 P Baker (Eng) 71 78 71,
221 A Sherborne (Eng) 73 74 74, R Drummond (Sco) 73 75 73, J Sallat (Fra) 73 75 73,
224 Philip Walton (Irl) 76 73 75,
226 C Suneson (Esp) 76 76 74, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 72 74 80,
228 M Mackenzie (Eng) 77 79 72
