Rumford ends the agony as final round of 67 enough to collect St Omer title

AUSTRALIAN Brett Rumford ended more than two years of misery with a commanding victory in the St Omer Open in France yesterday.

Rumford carded a final round 67 for a 15 under par total of 269 and a five-shot winning margin over England’s Ben Mason, with Italy’s Federico Bisazza four shots further back in third.

The 25-year-old from Perth, who lost his card last year and missed out on regaining it by one shot at the qualifying school, collected the winner’s cheque for £46,901 and an even more valuable one-year tour exemption.

It also means he can fulfil his best-man duties at his elder brother and former caddie Mitch’s wedding in November, which would have clashed with the qualifying school.

Most significantly however, it also finally wiped out the bitter memories of the last time he had led a tournament going into the final round.

In the Ericsson Masters in February 2001, Rumford led by three shots only to shoot a final round 76 and hand victory to Colin Montgomerie.

“My game went on a bit of a slide since that tournament,” admitted Rumford. “I put myself in the same predicament again here and I’m so happy I was able to trust my game and play the golf I know I can play.

“I’m very proud of myself. Ben was coming at me early so I had to dig deep and play the golf I had done all week.

“Now I want to enjoy this because I’ve waited so long for it. The exemption is of huge significance and was what we were all playing for this week because the prize money alone was not enough to get your card.

“It’s great to be able to plan for the next 18 months and now I might be able to go home after the Open and enjoy the win with my family. They know what I’ve gone through, the heartache and tears. They feel it as much as I do.”

Rumford led from start to finish after a course record 64 in the first round and began the final day three shots clear.