SENIORS TOUR: Fourteen years after his first, John Bland captured his second European Senior Tour title on a day of high drama in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland.

The South African, who won the London Masters in his maiden Senior Tour season in 1995, eventually saw off overnight leader Bob Boyd of America with a birdie on the second hole of a play-off after they had finished the day level.

Bland finished on 11-under-par 199 courtesy of a round of 65 which featured four birdies and an eagle two at the seventh hole, while Boyd reached the same mark with a birdie at the last hole – which was only his second of the day.

In contrast, former Ryder Cup player and captain Sam Torrance closed with a bogey to sign for a round of 65 which saw him finish one shot shy of the duo on 10-under-par 200.

Moments after collecting the trophy and a cheque for €33,000 which lifts him to 14th place in the order of merit, Bland – at 63 the second oldest winner in Senior Tour history behind England’s Neil Coles – dedicated the win to his wife, Sonja, who was on hand with some words of advice earlier in the week.

“She told me to slow down because I was swinging too fast and it seemed to do the trick,” said Bland, who sets the record for the biggest gap between Senior Tour victories of 13 years and 313 days.

He added: “I knew I had to get some early birdies on the board this morning to try to put some pressure on the leaders, and fortunately enough I was able to do it.

“If I’m being honest I probably thought I was too far back to win the tournament, but maybe that allowed me to relax more and just play my natural game. Though obviously the mindset changed and the pressure came back when I reached 11 under par and saw I was winning the tournament.

“I watched Bob playing the last hole, and he hit a great putt to take it to a play-off. When we were on our way to the 18th tee he apologised to me because he said he’d hardly made a putt all day. That was really good of him, and just shows the sort of camaraderie that exists on the Senior Tour.”

Bland will now head to Fife for the Scottish Senior Open, where he will hope to close the gap further on the players at the top of the order of merit.

He said: “I’m not really thinking of winning the order of merit, but it’d be nice to give the likes of Woosie and Sam a bit of a scare.”

Boyd climbed six places to 12th in the order of merit, while Torrance closed the gap on second-placed Ian Woosnam of Wales courtesy of his cheque for €15,400.

Boyd’s compatriot Doug Johnson finished behind Torrance in fourth place after closing with a round of 69.

Eamonn Darcy and Denis O’Sullivan finished in a share of ninth place on six-under-par 204. Darcy closed with a 67 while O’Sullivan shot 69.

Jimmy Heggarty shot an eight-under-par 62 for a two-over-par total of 212 having started the day at 10 over par.

CHALLENGE TOUR:Nicolas Colsaerts denied Rhys Davies a second play-off victory in the space of three weeks as he made amends for a recent sudden-death defeat of his own by capturing the SK Golf Challenge in Finland.

The 26-year-old from Brussels produced a stunning finish at Linna Golf, birdieing the last two holes in regulation time for a closing 66 then delivering the rapier thrust with another birdie three on the 18th – the second play-off hole – to edge out Davies and Frenchman Julien Guerrier.

Colsaerts celebrated his first professional success since turning professional on his 18th birthday in 2000, just three days before going on to earn his card at the European Tour Qualifying School.

“It’s taken me nine years for this first professional event and it feels really good,” said a relieved Colsaerts, who becomes the third Belgian golfer to win on the Challenge Tour following Nicolas Vanhootegem and Didier De Vooght.

Colm Moriarty finished on one-over-par 289 after a final round of level par 72.