Golf:Frenchman Marc Farry survived a late scare to capture his second title of the season in the Cannes Mougins Masters where Des Smyth fell away badly in the final round.
Farry, who co-organised the inaugural European Senior Tour event at Cannes, was on course for an easy win when he took a three stroke lead over Gordon Brand Jnr to the 17th.
However his victory parade almost turned into a horror show after he hooked his approach into bushes. The 51-year-old was forced to take an unplayable before scrambling for a double-bogey to reduce his lead to one playing the last hole.
He managed to compose himself and after both players found the green in regulation, Brand Jnr three putted from 25ft to leave Farry, whose first putt stopped three feet short of the hole, with an easy tap in for victory.
Farry’s closing 73, which followed rounds of 69 and 65, was enough for a nine under par total of 207 and a two stroke victory over former Ryder Cup player Brand Jnr, who was also runner up in the previous Senior Tour event, the Casa Serena Open.
It was Farry’s second title of the season following his victory in the Irish Senior Open in June and the €38,287 first prize, moved him up from 17th to ninth in the Order of Merit.
“It feels fantastic to win on home soil because I’ve been chasing a victory in France for more than 20 years on The European Tour and came close on a few occasions so it’s great to finally do it on the Senior Tour,” said Farry.
“I felt a lot of pressure today. The weather wasn’t great so it was very difficult. It had rained all night so the greens were soaked.
“Then on 17 I thought I had a good tee shot but my ball was up against the collar of the rough which was about 3cm high. I normally draw the ball but I told my caddy I didn’t like it because if I hit a little bit behind it the grass will grab the club and it will shut down on it. My crystal ball was right.
“I ended up in the bushes and it was unplayable and I took six, so coming down the last I only had a one shot lead, which was not what I expected as I played well all day. Gordon missed that short putt on the 18th which gave me that extra cushion and it was great to get the win.”
Smyth could only manage a final round of 78 - a stark contrast to his opening 65 - which dropped him back into a tie for 16th on one over (€3,963). Denis O’Sullivan (72) was the next Irish player on four over, while Eddie Polland was nine over (73), four better than Jimmy Heggarty (82).