John Morgan claimed his seventh European Seniors Tour title by shooting a one over par 72 in the final round to hold off the challenge from Ireland's Denis O'Sullivan and win the inaugural West of Ireland Seniors Championship at East Clare GC, Bodyke.

Morgan, playing his last tournament on the European Seniors Tour before heading back to America and the US Senior Tour, shot a course record 66 in the second round to take a slender one shot lead over Northern Ireland's David Jones into the final day.

He looked to be throwing the title away, dropping three shots in the first 11 holes but he managed to rally himself and birdied the 12th and 16th for an eight-under-par total of 205 to win by a shot from Ireland's Denis O'Sullivan, who charged through the field with a final round of 67.

Morgan said: "It means a great deal to win here in the first West of Ireland Seniors Championship. I'm not often in contention in the States and it's a great confidence booster to know I can hang on. I struggled early on but then made a birdie on the 12th. Instead of concentrating on the leaderboard I concentrated on myself. I didn't look at the leaderboard again until the 17th and I then knew I needed two pars to win.

"There was a lot of excitement out there. East Clare GC is a great venue and everybody has nothing but praise for the tournament and hospitality. I'm looking forward to coming back here and watching the tournament grow."

Former Irish Amateur Champion O'Sullivan, playing his first season as a professional, started the final round six shots adrift of Morgan. O'Sullivan made a poor start when he three putted the first for a bogey but after eagling the par-five fifth, birdied the next two to go out in 32, three under par.

He picked up two more birdies at the 10th and 14th, his only dropped shot on the back nine coming on the par three 13th hole, and closed with a best of the day 67, four under par.

He said: "I had a lot of chances coming in but the putts wouldn't drop. To play in this company and finish with two 67's is very satisfying. I'm playing well and feeling more confident with my game. I felt nervous over the putts but that was all. It was a good week."

Northern Ireland's David Jones, looking for his first win on the European Seniors Tour, got off to a mixed start with three birdies and three bogeys in the first seven holes, but with Morgan dropping shots, found himself on top of the leaderboard. The 143-yard eighth hole proved his undoing as he pulled his tee-shot with a six-iron into the water and he ended up with a double bogey five. He dropped another on the 11th, this time pulling his shot into a bunker, but bounced back with a birdie at the 12th and 16th to stay in contention. His chance of lifting the trophy ended with three putts at the par three 17th.

Australian Terry Gale threatened to take the title, moving to seven-under-par and joint leader with seven holes to play but he dropped two shots on the 15th and 17th to join American Bill Brask on 208, three under par.

Christy O'Connor, at 73 the oldest player in the field, put on a vintage performance over the first two days, equalling his age in the first round and going one better in the second. Unfortunately, having made his third cut in three tournaments on the European Seniors Tour this season, he had to withdraw from the final round suffering from vertigo.

RESULTS : WEST OF IRELAND SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

1 John MORGAN (Eng) 67 66 72 205 12945.54

2 Denis O'SULLIVAN (Ire) 72 67 67 206 8630.36

3 David JONES (N.Ire) 68 66 73 207 4910.68

4 Bill BRASK (USA) 68 69 71 208 3646.33

Terry GALE (Aus) 67 70 71 208 3646.33

6 Bill HARDWICK (Can) 69 67 73 209 3063.78

Neil COLES (Eng) 70 70 69 209 3063.78

8 Michael SLATER (Eng) 70 69 71 210 2416.50

Liam HIGGINS (Ire) 70 71 69 210 2416.50

David CREAMER (Eng) 70 68 72 210 2416.50

11 J.R. DELICH (USA) 69 74 68 211 1984.98

12 Bob LENDZION (USA) 72 68 72 212 1812.38

13 Bob MENNE (USA) 74 70 69 213 1445.59

Ian RICHARDSON (Eng) 71 72 70 213 1445.59

Andrew BROOKS (Scot) 70 68 75 213 1445.59

Jim RHODES (Eng) 70 71 72 213 1445.59

17 Jay DOLAN III (USA) 69 77 68 214 1021.84

Tommy HORTON (Eng) 73 69 72 214 1021.84

Agim BARDHA (USA) 72 71 71 214 1021.84

John HUDSON (Eng) 72 74 68 214 1021.84

David HUISH (Scot) 70 73 71 214 1021.84

22 John GARNER (Eng) 73 71 71 215 759.47

Geoff PARSLOW (Aus) 69 72 74 215 759.47

Paul LEONARD (N.Ire) 70 70 75 215 759.47

25 Noel RATCLIFFE (Aus) 73 72 71 216 690.43

26 Gordon GRAY (Scot) 72 74 72 218 592.62

Hugh INGGS (SA) 72 74 72 218 592.62

Norman WOOD (Scot) 72 71 75 218 592.62

Bob SHEARER (Aus) 74 73 71 218 592.62

Joe MCDERMOTT (Ire) 75 71 72 218 592.62

Glenn MACDONALD (Can) 73 72 73 218 592.62

Skip PRATT (USA) 74 70 74 218 592.62

Lloyd MONROE (USA) 77 69 72 218 592.62

Chick EVANS (USA) 68 77 73 218 592.62

35 Gerry EGAN (Ire) 71 72 76 219 526.45

John FOURIE (SA) 74 74 71 219 526.45

Brian WAITES (Eng) 74 72 73 219 526.45

38 Jimmy KINSELLA (Ire) 76 69 75 220 504.88

Bobby VERWEY (SA) 71 74 75 220 504.88

40 Tony COVENEY (Ire) 74 74 73 221 470.36

Peter TOWNSEND (Eng) 73 76 72 221 470.36

Sid DENHAM (Eng) 77 69 75 221 470.36

Jan BJÖRNSSON (Swe) 73 72 76 221 470.36

Dr Arthur SPRING (Ire) 71 76 74 221 470.36

Barry SANDRY (Eng) 70 78 73 221 470.36

46 Doug DALZIEL (USA) 72 69 81 222 435.84

Hiro TAHARA (Jap) 74 71 77 222 435.84

48 Tommy HALPIN (Ire) 73 74 76 223 422.89

49 David VAUGHAN (Wal) 76 73 80 229 414.26

50 Christy O'CONNOR (Ire) 73 72 W/D 405.63

51 Geoffrey KING (Eng) 76 74 150 338.02

Kenny STEVENSON (N.Ire) 72 78 150 338.02

Rafe BOTTS (USA) 74 76 150 338.02

Hugh JACKSON (N.Ire) 77 73 150 338.02

Steve WILD (Eng) 74 76 150 338.02

Tienie BRITZ (SA) 75 75 150 338.02

Maurice BEMBRIDGE (Eng) 76 74 150 338.02

Adam WHISTON (Ire) 78 72 150 338.02

Arnold O'CONNOR (Ire) 74 76 150 338.02

60 Snell LANCASTER (USA) 74 77 151 323.64

Gordon PARKHILL (N.Ire) 75 76 151 323.64

62 Bryan MALONE (Ire) 77 75 152 323.64

Stewart ADWICK (Eng) 77 75 152 323.64

64 Don MCCART (Scot) 75 78 153 312.85

Sooky MAHARAJ (T&T) 77 76 153 312.85

66 Howell FRASER (USA) 76 79 155 302.06

Michael MURPHY (Ire) 78 77 155 302.06

68 Norman DREW (N.Ire) 77 80 157 302.06

69 Ernie JONES (Ire) 78 81 159 302.06

70 Alan HALL (Eng) 82 78 160 302.06

Hedley MUSCROFT (Eng) 79 81 160 302.06

PGA EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR ORDER OF MERIT

1 Brian HUGGETT (Wal) 97572.95 (8)

2 Tommy HORTON (Eng) 78646.17 (12)

3 Eddie POLLAND (N.Ire) 68016.95 (13)

4 Bobby VERWEY (SA) 55889.73 (12)

5 Noel RATCLIFFE (Aus) 52834.76 (13)

6 David JONES (N.Ire) 44417.83 (11)

7 Neil COLES (Eng) 41179.61 (8)

8 Jim RHODES (Eng) 39778.74 (13)

• 9 Bob LENDZION (USA) 39698.71 (10)

10 Antonio GARRIDO (Sp) 39654.76 (12)

11 Terry GALE (Aus) 37241.72 (9)

12 Maurice BEMBRIDGE (Eng) 36198.26 (13)

• 13 Joe MCDERMOTT (Ire) 34039.79 (13)

14 Brian WAITES (Eng) 33489.54 (13)

15 Malcolm GREGSON (Eng) 32763.13 (12)

• 16 Denis O'SULLIVAN (Ire) 32687.68 (10)

17 Bill HARDWICK (Can) 30214.59 (13)

18 David CREAMER (Eng) 29530.85 (13)

• 19 Barry SANDRY (Eng) 27078.14 (12)

20 John MORGAN (Eng) 25906.97 (4)

21 Renato CAMPAGNOLI (It) 24974.01 (12)

22 Brian BARNES (Scot) 24441.69 (3)

23 Bill BRASK (USA) 24077.76 (7)

24 Bob SHEARER (Aus) 23729.39 (9)

• 25 Michael SLATER (Eng) 23321.04 (13)

26 Paul LEONARD (N. Ire) 22676.97 (13)

27 Ian RICHARDSON (Eng) 20814.03 (13)

28 Alberto CROCE (It) 19742.06 (11)

29 John GARNER (Eng) 19649.62 (12)

30 John FOURIE (SA) 19474.79 (13)

31 Norman WOOD (Scot) 19008.75 (13)

32 J.R. DELICH (USA) 17580.96 (13)

• 33 Jay DOLAN III (USA) 15762.53 (13)

34 Liam HIGGINS (Ire) 15724.81 (12)

35 Doug DALZIEL (USA) 14579.38 (11)

36 Craig DEFOY (Wal) 14063.07 (11)

37 David OAKLEY (USA) 13900.18 (9)

38 Hugh INGGS (SA) 13838.99 (13)

39 Tony JACKLIN (Eng) 13366.28 (6)

• 40 Geoff PARSLOW (Aus) 12462.36 (13)

• 41 Jos‚ CABO (Sp) 12209.18 (7)

42 Bob MENNE (USA) 11372.09 (12)

43 Gordon PARKHILL (N.Ire) 10974.14 (11)

44 Bob CHARLES (NZ) 9700.00 (1)

45 Peter TOWNSEND (Eng) 9518.59 (12)

46 David HUISH (Scot) 8249.19 (8)

47 Steve WILD (Eng) 7908.35 (13)

48 John HUDSON (Eng) 7790.17 (12)

49 Tienie BRITZ (SA) 7670.49 (12)

50 Iain CLARK (Scot) 7513.33 (3)

51 David SNELL (Eng) 7381.50 (9)

52 Chick EVANS (USA) 7254.82 (12)

53 Guy HUNT (Eng) 7254.50 (9)

54 Snell LANCASTER (USA) 7235.31 (11)

55 Bernard HUNT (Eng) 7177.50 (4)

56 DeRay SIMON (USA) 7029.17 (12)

57 Harry FLATMAN (Eng) 5986.62 (11)

• 58 Bill LOCKIE (Scot) 5928.10 (5)

59 Roger STERN (USA) 5489.85 (7)

60 TR JONES (USA) 5471.56 (11)

61 Joe CARR (USA) 5365.00 (7)

62 Arnold O'CONNOR (Ire) 5329.14 (11)

63 Roger FIDLER (Eng) 5142.50 (9)

64 Don MCCART (Scot) 4906.92 (9)

65 Kenny STEVENSON (N.Ire) 4894.69 (9)

66 Lloyd MONROE (USA) 4745.12 (11)

67 Stewart ADWICK (Eng) 4741.71 (8)

• 68 Andrew BROOKS (Scot) 4517.92 (8)

69 Jan BJÖRNSSON (Swe) 4307.61 (12)

70 Bryan CARTER (Eng) 4135.00 (10)

• 71 Dr Arthur SPRING (Ire) 4024.36 (10)

72 Agim BARDHA (USA) 3915.17 (3)

73 Graham BURROUGHS (Eng) 3556.79 (6)

74 Hiro TAHARA (Jpn) 3535.84 (8)

• 75 Francisco ABREU (Sp) 3382.00 (6)

76 Peter BUTLER (Eng) 3173.64 (6)

77 Michael MURPHY (Ire) 3123.06 (13)

78 Randall VINES (Aus) 3080.00 (9)

79 Christy O'CONNOR (Ire) 2946.70 (3)

80 Jose Maria ROCA (Sp) 2915.25 (3)

81 Glenn MACDONALD (Can) 2797.62 (8)

• 82 Jan DORRESTEIN (Hol) 2464.00 (8)

83 Terry KENDALL (NZ) 2395.00 (4)

84 Frank HILL (Eng) 2386.67 (1)

85 Gerolamo DELFINO (It) 2210.00 (2)

86 Hugh JACKSON (N.Ire) 1935.52 (9)

• 87 Ossie GARTENMAIER (Aut) 1895.25 (3)

88 Tommy HALPIN (Ire) 1832.54 (9)

89 David TALBOT (Eng) 1800.00 (3)

90 Tom O'MAHONEY (Hol) 1595.00 (1)

91 Skip PRATT (USA) 1562.62 (5)

• 92 Javier VILADOMIU (Sp) 1530.00 (6)

93 Hugh BOYLE (Ire) 1515.00 (3)

94 Matt MCCRORIE (Scot) 1512.62 (4)

• 95 Alan HALL (Eng) 1462.06 (7)

96 Hedley MUSCROFT (Eng) 1245.39 (9)

97 Kenneth MAGNUSSON (Swe) 1146.00 (5)

98 John LISTER (NZ) 1132.50 (2)

• 99 Mike HOYLE (Eng) 935.00 (8)

100 Sid DENHAM (Eng) 932.86 (8)

• 101 Gordon GRAY (Scot) 867.62 (7)

102 Roberto BERNARDINI (It) 850.00 (5)

103 Jose Luis MANGAS (Sp) 780.00 (1)

104 Giuseppe PARISI (Ita) 700.00 (1)

• 105 Bobby GRAY (USA) 670.00 (2)

106 Michael HOOPER (Eng) 660.00 (2)

Sherwood STEWART (USA) 660.00 (2)

108 Geoffrey KING (Eng) 638.02 (5)

109 Peter CHAMBERLAIN (Eng) 628.00 (1)

110 Sooky MAHARAJ (T&T) 610.85 (5)

111 Adam WHISTON (Ire) 588.02 (3)

112 Gerry EGAN (Ire) 526.45 (2)

113 Tony COVENEY (Ire) 470.36 (2)

114 David VAUGHAN (Wal) 414.26 (3)

115 Rafe BOTTS (USA) 338.02 (5)

116 Howell FRASER (USA) 302.06 (1)

Norman DREW (N.Ire) 302.06 (2)

118 George WILL (Scot) 300.00 (3)

Siegfried VOLLRATH (Ger) 300.00 (1)

120 Ross WHITEHEAD (Eng) 275.00 (5)

121 Salim MWANYENZA (Tan) 250.00 (1)

Bernard PASCASSIO (Fr) 250.00 (3)

Robert WEBSTER (Scot) 250.00 (1)

German GARRIDO (Sp) 250.00 (1)

• 125 Derek CRAIK (Scot) 200.00 (5)

Fred WHITFIELD (Eng) 200.00 (4)

Gunnar MUELLER (Swe) 200.00 (2)

Jerry ADAMS (USA) 200.00 (2)

Rodger SUTHERLAND (Scot) 200.00 (3)