Ratcliffe wins Irish Seniors Open

Australia’s Noel Ratcliffe survived a late scare before carding a one-over-par 73 to claim his seventh European tour title at the AIB Irish Seniors Open at Adare Manor Hotel in Co Limerick.

The 58 year-old from Sydney lost a ball off the tee on the 381-yard 17th hole but then secured a regulation par five at the last to finish a single shot ahead of Jamaica’s Delroy Cambridge,

Scotland’s Martin Gray and American Bob Lendzion on five-under-par 211.

“I’m delighted,” said Ratcliffe, who started the final round one shot behind overnight leader Cambridge. “I made it tough on myself when I lost my ball down the 17th but, fortunately, it didn’t matter.”

Japan’s Seiji Ebihara saw his bid to win this title for a third successive season end in disappointment.

He closed with a battling level-par 72 for a three-round aggregate of three-under-par 213, one shot in front of England’s Jim Rhodes and Scotland’s Mike Miller.