The 57 year-old professional from the Summit Golf Club in Toronto earned his first victory in three years on the European Seniors Tour with an astonishing opening five holes over the undulating Welcombe Hotel course at Stratford upon Avon.

He covered them in six under par with an eagle three and four birdies and from four behind overnight he was suddenly in front at seven under.

Hardwick finished on eight under par 202, two better than Italian Renato Campagnoli (68) and England’s David Creamer who birdied the last two holes for his 69 and fourth runners-up cheque since joining the Tour six years ago.

Campagnoli produced his own spectacular move with a hole in one with a six iron at the 164-yard fourth. It gave him a temporary one shot lead at eight under but he failed to hold onto his advantage.

“I’ve never had a burst like that before,” said Hardwick who became a grandfather ten weeks ago. “The eagle three at the second really got me going. I reckon my four iron second from the bank of a bunker to three feet was the best shot I’ve ever hit. It’s been a great Fathers Day for me.”

The final stages watched by a crowd of 4,000 in perfect, sunny conditions at the picturesque setting, was always close. As the turn was approached by the leading groups only two shots separated seven players, with Hardwick holding off the chasing pack at eight under.

South Staff’s Jim Rhodes, overnight leader at five under with Barry Sandry and Creamer, battled gamely on his ‘home from home’ Midland course and earned £4,376 alongside Maurice Bembridge (69) and American Bill Brask (68).

Tony Jacklin, ending a four-tournament visit to Europe, posted a last round 75 to finish in the pack on two over par, before returning to play three tournaments on the US Seniors Tour.

José Maria Cañizares failed to acclimatise to the testing layout following his arrival from America. The former Ryder Cup star, who was playing the first of a planned four tournaments in Europe, closed with a 75.

Winner of Lynx Super Seniors = Neil Coles

1 Bill HARDWICK (Can) 70 69 63 202 16660.00

2 Renato CAMPAGNOLI (It) 68 68 68 204 8680.00

David CREAMER (Eng) 66 69 69 204 8680.00

4 Bill BRASK (USA) 68 70 68 206 4376.67

Maurice BEMBRIDGE (Eng) 67 70 69 206 4376.67

Jim RHODES (Eng) 66 69 71 206 4376.67

7 Joe MCDERMOTT (Ire) 68 72 67 207 3180.00

Barry SANDRY (Eng) 71 64 72 207 3180.00

Eddie POLLAND (N.Ire) 68 71 68 207 3180.00

Iain CLARK (Scot) 69 68 70 207 3180.00

11 Snell LANCASTER (USA) 69 71 69 209 2056.67

Bob SHEARER (Aus) 69 68 72 209 2056.67

Roger STERN (USA) 69 69 71 209 2056.67

Brian WAITES (Eng) 75 69 65 209 2056.67

Bill LOCKIE (Scot) 66 73 70 209 2056.67

Jos‚ CABO (Sp) 69 68 72 209 2056.67

17 Neil COLES (Eng) 70 69 71 210 1282.50

Denis O'SULLIVAN (Ire) 72 69 69 210 1282.50

Michael SLATER (Eng) 71 69 70 210 1282.50

Arnold O'CONNOR (Ire) 72 67 71 210 1282.50

21 Alberto CROCE (It) 70 70 71 211 1052.00

David OAKLEY (USA) 69 71 71 211 1052.00

John GARNER (Eng) 72 71 68 211 1052.00

Hugh INGGS (SA) 70 71 70 211 1052.00

John FOURIE (SA) 72 67 72 211 1052.00

26 Tony JACKLIN (Eng) 69 68 75 212 890.00

Ian RICHARDSON (Eng) 73 67 72 212 890.00

Steve WILD (Eng) 72 72 68 212 890.00

Bob MENNE (USA) 69 73 70 212 890.00

Tommy HORTON (Eng) 68 71 73 212 890.00

31 Antonio GARRIDO (Sp) 71 69 73 213 790.00

Stewart ADWICK (Eng) 74 69 70 213 790.00

Brian HUGGETT (Wal) 74 68 71 213 790.00

34 Peter TOWNSEND (Eng) 69 73 73 215 730.00

Craig DEFOY (Wal) 72 69 74 215 730.00

David SNELL (Eng) 70 69 76 215 730.00

37 Lloyd MONROE (USA) 71 70 75 216 660.00

Gordon PARKHILL (N.Ire) 71 69 76 216 660.00

Mike HOYLE (Eng) 69 75 72 216 660.00

Michael HOOPER (Eng) 73 70 73 216 660.00

41 Bryan CARTER (Eng) 71 71 75 217 610.00

Jay DOLAN III (USA) 72 73 72 217 610.00

Norman WOOD (Scot) 72 71 74 217 610.00

44 Hugh BOYLE (Ire) 72 70 76 218 585.00

Roger FIDLER (Eng) 71 73 74 218 585.00

46 Javier VILADOMIU (Sp) 68 74 77 219 560.00

TR JONES (USA) 74 68 77 219 560.00

Jos‚ Maria CA¥IZARES (Sp) 74 70 75 219 560.00

49 Liam HIGGINS (Ire) 70 72 78 220 540.00

50 Terry KENDALL (NZ) 72 72 78 222 530.00

51 Randall VINES (Aus) 74 72 146

John HUDSON (Eng) 74 72 146

Francisco ABREU (Sp) 71 75 146

J.R. DELICH (USA) 75 71 146

Bobby VERWEY (SA) 74 72 146

Noel RATCLIFFE (Aus) 76 70 146

Don MCCART (Scot) 74 72 146

58 Gordon GRAY (Scot) 71 76 147

Andrew BROOKS (Scot) 77 70 147

60 Graham BURROUGHS (Eng) 71 77 148

Chick EVANS (USA) 76 72 148

Geoffrey KING (Eng) 77 71 148

Kenny STEVENSON (N.Ire) 75 73 148

64 Doug DALZIEL (USA) 75 74 149

Rodger SUTHERLAND (Scot) 76 73 149

Jan BJ™RNSSON (Swe) 75 74 149

Paul LEONARD (N. 75 74 149

Ire)

Tommy HALPIN (Ire) 73 76 149

69 George WILL (Scot) 75 75 150

Hiro TAHARA (Jap) 74 76 150

71 Geoff PARSLOW (Aus) 75 76 151

Peter BUTLER (Eng) 76 75 151

Michael MURPHY (Ire) 74 77 151

Alan HALL (Eng) 75 76 151

Harry FLATMAN (Eng) 77 74 151

76 Dr Arthur SPRING (Ire) 77 75 152

Ross WHITEHEAD (Eng) 77 75 152

Glenn MACDONALD (Can) 74 78 152

Derek CRAIK (Scot) 73 79 152

80 DeRay SIMON (USA) 78 75 153

Sid DENHAM (Eng) 75 78 153

82 Harry BANNERMAN (Scot) 73 81 154

Tienie BRITZ (SA) 77 77 154

84 Peter WARD (Eng) 80 75 155

85 Hugh JACKSON (N.Ire) 75 81 156

86 Geoff POOK (Eng) 81 76 157

87 David SUTHERLAND (Eng) 80 80 160

88 Malcolm GREGSON (Eng) 78 W/D

Hedley MUSCROFT (Eng) 77 W/D

Skip PRATT (USA) RETD

1 Tommy HORTON (Eng) 46512.66 (7)

• 2 Bob LENDZION (USA) 33991.33 (6)

• 3 Joe MCDERMOTT (Ire) 27528.50 (7)

4 David JONES (N.Ire) 25103.65 (6)

5 Noel RATCLIFFE (Aus) 24937.33 (7)

6 Antonio GARRIDO (Sp) 20816.33 (7)

7 David CREAMER (Eng) 19187.35 (7)

8 Bill HARDWICK (Can) 19095.81 (7)

9 Neil COLES (Eng) 18407.50 (4)

10 Jim RHODES (Eng) 17259.82 (7)

11 Brian WAITES (Eng) 16955.16 (7)

12 Renato CAMPAGNOLI (It) 16449.01 (7)

• 13 Barry SANDRY (Eng) 15776.11 (7)

14 Bobby VERWEY (SA) 15408.18 (6)

15 John GARNER (Eng) 15006.15 (7)

16 Ian RICHARDSON (Eng) 14587.94 (7)

• 17 Michael SLATER (Eng) 14232.54 (7)

18 Bob SHEARER (Aus) 13698.34 (4)

19 Malcolm GREGSON (Eng) 13005.63 (7)

20 Tony JACKLIN (Eng) 12642.78 (4)

21 John FOURIE (SA) 12441.55 (7)

22 Eddie POLLAND (N.Ire) 12265.28 (7)

23 Craig DEFOY (Wal) 12214.07 (7)

24 Terry GALE (Aus) 11747.06 (3)

25 David OAKLEY (USA) 10170.18 (7)

26 Brian HUGGETT (Wal) 9347.95 (5)

• 27 Denis O'SULLIVAN (Ire) 9110.32 (6)

28 Bill BRASK (USA) 9004.77 (3)

29 Maurice BEMBRIDGE (Eng) 8897.74 (7)

30 Norman WOOD (Scot) 7715.70 (7)

• 31 Geoff PARSLOW (Aus) 7380.89 (7)

32 Bob MENNE (USA) 7192.50 (7)

• 33 Jose CABO (Sp) 7017.18 (5)

34 Doug DALZIEL (USA) 6623.54 (7)

• 35 Jay DOLAN III (USA) 6602.26 (7)

36 Alberto CROCE (It) 6380.06 (6)

37 Bernard HUNT (Eng) 5787.50 (3)

38 Paul LEONARD (N. Ire) 5775.50 (7)

39 J.R. DELICH (USA) 5676.69 (7)

• 40 Bill LOCKIE (Scot) 5628.10 (4)

41 Roger STERN (USA) 5239.85 (5)

42 Peter TOWNSEND (Eng) 5229.23 (7)

43 Liam HIGGINS (Ire) 5153.81 (6)

44 Hugh INGGS (SA) 4968.87 (7)

45 Gordon PARKHILL (N.Ire) 4670.50 (7)

46 Steve WILD (Eng) 4575.00 (7)

47 Roger FIDLER (Eng) 4440.00 (6)

48 Joe CARR (USA) 4275.00 (6)

49 David HUISH (Scot) 4060.68 (4)

50 Iain CLARK (Scot) 3980.00 (2)

51 Snell LANCASTER (USA) 3861.67 (7)

52 Harry FLATMAN (Eng) 3579.62 (7)

53 David SNELL (Eng) 3512.50 (5)

54 Arnold O'CONNOR (Ire) 3463.12 (7)

55 Stewart ADWICK (Eng) 3328.07 (5)

56 Guy HUNT (Eng) 3287.50 (6)

57 Lloyd MONROE (USA) 3120.00 (7)

58 Randall VINES (Aus) 3080.00 (7)

59 Chick EVANS (USA) 2957.20 (7)

60 TR JONES (USA) 2949.06 (7)

• 61 Dr Arthur SPRING (Ire) 2695.00 (6)

62 Tienie BRITZ (SA) 2568.18 (6)

63 Brian BARNES (Scot) 2441.69 (1)

64 DeRay SIMON (USA) 2247.50 (7)

65 Bryan CARTER (Eng) 2200.00 (6)

66 Kenny STEVENSON (N.Ire) 2170.00 (6)

67 Jan BJORNSSON (Swe) 2115.25 (7)

68 Peter BUTLER (Eng) 2015.14 (4)

69 Don MCCART (Scot) 1974.07 (6)

• 70 Ossie GARTENMAIER (Aut) 1895.25 (3)

Jose Maria ROCA (Sp) 1895.25 (2)

72 John MORGAN (Eng) 1850.00 (1)

73 Graham BURROUGHS (Eng) 1812.50 (5)

• 74 Andrew BROOKS (Scot) 1703.33 (5)

• 75 Javier VILADOMIU (Sp) 1530.00 (5)

76 Matt MCCRORIE (Scot) 1512.62 (4)

• 77 Francisco ABREU (Sp) 1410.00 (4)

• 78 John HUDSON (Eng) 1173.33 (7)

79 Michael MURPHY (Ire) 1146.00 (7)

80 Terry KENDALL (NZ) 1140.00 (2)

• 81 Jan DORRESTEIN (Hol) 1120.00 (5)

82 Tommy HALPIN (Ire) 1111.65 (6)

83 Skip PRATT (USA) 970.00 (4)

• 84 Mike HOYLE (Eng) 935.00 (6)

85 Jose Luis MANGAS (Sp) 780.00 (1)

86 Hugh JACKSON (N.Ire) 765.00 (7)

87 Michael HOOPER (Eng) 660.00 (2)

88 Hiro TAHARA (Jap) 610.00 (5)

89 Hugh BOYLE (Ire) 585.00 (2)

90 Jose Maria CA¥IZARES (Sp) 560.00 (1)

91 Glenn MACDONALD (Can) 550.00 (5)

• 92 Alan HALL (Eng) 545.00 (4)

93 Christy O'CONNOR (Ire) 498.57 (1)

94 Sherwood STEWART (USA) 460.00 (1)

95 David TALBOT (Eng) 445.00 (1)

96 George WILL (Scot) 300.00 (3)

97 Hedley MUSCROFT (Eng) 283.33 (5)

98 Ross WHITEHEAD (Eng) 275.00 (3)

• Gordon GRAY (Scot) 275.00 (4)

100 Sid DENHAM (Eng) 262.50 (5)

* Total *

696798.80