Fuente: © PGA European Tour
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GOLF: PGA EUROPEAN TOUR: Torrance Presented With John Jacobs Trophy

/noticias.info/ Although injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament, Sam Torrance left the Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship at Riffa Views, Bahrain, with his hands on the biggest prize of all – the John Jacobs Trophy.

The Waterford crystal bowl, awarded annually to the winner of the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit, was presented to Torrance by European Seniors Tour Managing Director Andy Stubbs during the official opening of the tournament at The Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel.

Four victories, four runner-up finishes and a further four top-tens confirmed the Scotsman as the 2006 Number One ahead of England’s Carl Mason following the conclusion of the Estoril Seniors Open of Portugal, where a share of second place took his earnings to €345,496.

Next was the trip to Bahrain for the season-ending Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship where Torrance was hoping to break the Tour’s earnings record of €354,775, which Mason achieved when topping the Order of Merit for a second time in 2004.

However, it proved a bridge too far as Torrance’s painful index finger flared up and forced him to withdraw after just nine holes of the first round.

It was a disappointing conclusion to a dominant campaign, but the former Ryder Cup Captain was adequately compensated by winning the John Jacobs Trophy for the second consecutive year.

“That was a real bonus,” confirmed the 53 year old. “It would have been pretty depressing to walk in and leave people out on the course that had a chance of beating me to the title.

“Winning back-to-back Order of Merits is a tremendous achievement and it is something I have strived for all year. I have played in nearly every event and showed how much I wanted this.

“Still, it was disappointing to have to withdraw from the final event, but I have had this pain for a few weeks. It might be arthritis or gout.”

While injury prevented Torrance from challenging for the final title of 2006, the Largs golfer can reflect on four excellent victories including a memorable one in his home country of Scotland.

Torrance made up seven shots on the field in 36 holes at Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club’s revamped East Course to capture the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open and the 40th title of his professional career.

It was another notable landmark, but Torrance’s priority was always retaining the Order of Merit, a feat he achieved in style.

He warmed up in the Caribbean with fifth place in the season-opening DGM Barbados Open before winning the second event, the Sharp Italian Seniors Open at Circolo Golf Venezia, by four shots – the largest winning margin of the year and his third victory in Italy following his successes at the Italian Open in 1987 and 1995.

A fortnight later, he captured the AIB Irish Seniors Open in association with Greenstar and Fáilte Ireland, via a four-man play-off at the Sheraton Fota Island Golf Resort and Spa, in Cork.

Having won the Irish Open on The European Tour in both 1981 and 1995, the Scot claimed the seniors version in some style by hitting a glorious 150 yard wedge to within 14 feet of the flag on the second extra hole and then holing the eagle putt to end the challenge of Jerry Bruner, who could only manage a birdie four.

Earlier, Chile’s Guillermo Encina and Australia’s Stewart Ginn had dropped out on the first extra hole after failing to match the birdies carded by the other two.

Torrance then finished tied second at the FIRSTPLUS Wales Seniors Open and the Wentworth Senior Masters before retaining the PGA Seniors Championship with a 20 under par four round aggregate at Stoke By Nayland Golf Club.

Victory a week later at Dalmahoy sent him well clear at the top of the Order of Merit, a position he confirmed with a share of second place at the OKI Castellón Open de España Senior and tied second in Portugal. notas_de_prensa_archivo