Golf:Marc Farry became the fifth first time winner on the European Senior Tour this year when he held off the spirited challenge of Ross Drummond to win the Handa Irish Senior Open at Carton House.
The Frenchman fired a final round 69 to finish two strokes clear of Scotsman Drummond, who had to settle for being runner up for the fourth time in four seasons on the Senior Tour.
Farry, who held a one shot overnight lead from Scottish pair Drummond and Sandy Lyle, settled any nerves immediately when he drained a 20ft birdie putt on the first hole after both Drummond and two-time Major Champion Lyle began with poor tee shots.
Drummond hit back with consecutive birdies on the second and third holes for a brief share of the lead but Farry picked up shots on the fourth and eighth holes to move to ten under par, one stroke clear heading into the back nine after Drummond birdied the ninth hole.
Both players then bogeyed the tenth hole before play was suspended for an hour due to the threat of thunder and lightning and Drummond dropped another shot on the 12th hole immediately after the re-start .
The Scot applied some pressure with a birdie on the 15th and shaved the cup with another birdie putt on the 16th but Farry, who had posted steady run of six consecutive pars after his bogey, produced a vital birdie on the 17th to seal the victory.
Eamonn D’Arcy, who shared 20th place on one over, was the top Irish player over the three days in Co Kildare.