Australlian Peter Fowler claimed his seventh Staysture Tour win with victory in the MCB Tour Championship at Constance Lemuria. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

PETER Fowler recorded a final round of 67 to win his seventh Staysure Tour title at the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles at Constance Lemuria.

The Australian, who won last year’s Willow Senior Golf Classic at Hertfordshire’s Hanbury Manor, started the final round four shots adrift of leader James Kingston.

But Fowler carded a three-under par final round, including a bogey-free back nine, to beat the South African by a stroke.

The 2011 Staysure Tour No. 1 began his final 18 holes at the European Tour Destinations venue with impetus.

Fowler birdied the opening two holes to apply pressure on Kingston, reaching the turn in two-under after a gain at the sixth followed by a dropped shot at seven.

The calm approach remained key for the 60-year-old as players struggled in the Seychelles sun, including Kingston who dropped three shots in four holes.

Meanwhile Fowler maintained his advantage over a bunched chasing pack as he carded eight consecutive pars from the eighth to the 15th.

With players jostling for position, Fowler gained another stroke at the par five 16th to set the target at four-under.

And with Kingston unable to finish with a flourish the Australian was crowned champion in the Seychelles as he survived the physcially punishing and picturesque back nine which has serious inclines for the players to negotiate.

“It’s been a fantastic three days of golf,” Fowler said. “I made lots of birdies this week. I was fortunate to only have one bogey on my card today and that paid off.

“I played quite conservatively on the par fives towards the end but managed to get the job done.

“I opened with two birdies and then birdied the sixth and that really settled me down.

“I played quite well and had a lot of birdie chances but didn’t make them until I got to the 16th. But I kept a lot of bogeys off the card and that was important.Ÿ”

Fowleer made light of his latest victory marking 10 years on the European Seniors Tour.

“The golf ball doesn’t know how old you are,” Fowler added. “Since I’ve turned 60, I’ve said that I still need to work hard.

“If you look at Bernhard Langer and the other senior guys who are doing well around the world they continue to work hard on their fitness, which is important for us because our fitness is dropping.

“But I’m trying to keep mine up there. I’ve proved over the last 10 years that your fitness is key to success.”

Kingston signed for a final round of 72 to claim his third runner-up finish of the year.

That moved him into second place on the Staysure Tour Order of Merit.

Welshman Phillip Price, who tops the Order of Merit, extended his advantage following his third place finish in the Seychelles after his 69 on Saturday.

Lancashire’s Paul Eales also carded a round of 69 to join Price and Argentinian Mauricio Molina in a share of third – two strokes behind Fowler.

A group of four players, including Peter Baker, from the West Midlands, and Simon Brown, Spain’s Miguel Angel Martin and Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman, finished three shots adrift on one-under

Haeggman, the first Swede to play in the Ryder Cup carded the joint low round of the day, with a 66.

All the attention moves to Mauritius where the third MCB Tour Championship in a row will bring the curtain down on the 2019 Staysure Tour, with the John Jacobs Trophy going to the No. 1 player on the Order of Merit after the final round.

•For the final scores from the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles, click here.

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James Kingston surged into conention at the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles after a second round 66 at Constance Lemuria. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JAMES Kingston will go in search of his first Staysure Tour title as he takes a one-stroke lead into Saturday’s final round of the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles.

The South African, who carded a four-under par 66, began the second round five strokes adrift of leader Gary Orr.

But Kingston, who has 11 wins on the Sunshine Tour plus four more on the Asian Tour, recorded four consecutive birdies on his final four holes to take the lead, with Surrey-based Orr dropping down the leaderboard.

The Scotsman, who is attached to Helenburgh GC, on his native Clydeside, carded four bogeys and a double in a 76 – 12 shots worse than the two-time European Tour winner, who lives in Weybridge, took on Thursday.

Kingston has claimed four top five results in 2019, including runner-up finishes at the Senior Open Hauts de France and Staysure PGA Seniors Championship at Kent’s London Club.

He is now in prime position to seal his maiden Staysure Tour title – in the second of three MCB Tour Championships which will bring the curtain down on the 2019 season next week, in Mauritius.

Kingston reached the turn at level-par following a birdie at the sixth and a bogey at the ninth. He remained on that score with four holes to play after he gave up the birdie on the 11th with a bogey on the 12th.

Orr defies injury to lead in Seychelles

The two-time European Tour winner then finished with a flurry of birdies to leap to the summit at Constance Lemuria, which boasts one of the most spectacular back nines in the world of golf.

“Whenever you put yourself in the mix coming into the last round you’ve got to give yourself a decent chance,” said James Kingston. “I’ve played pretty solid all season so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

“I felt like I played really solid golf today. We had a nice three-ball and we finished off in style with André Bossert making eagle and myself and Cesar Monasterio making birdies on 18.

“I was quite pleased to finish by birdieing the last four holes. The back nine, especially the last few holes, if you hit some good shots, it’s actually easier to set yourself up with birdie opportunities.

“Even though the elevation plays a big role, I still think there are more opportunities on the back nine,” added Kingston, whose last win came in 2013 at the Investec Royal Swazi Open.

Hot on Kingston’s heels is Kent’s Peter Wilson. The Princes GC member signed for a three-under par 67, having gone out in four-under to move into contention.

A group of three players, including Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin, Argentina’s Mauricio Molina and Welshman Stephen Dodd make up the top five at the European Tour Destinations venue on two-under – three strokes behind James Kingston.

The final round of the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles will get under way at 8.45am local time with Kingston going for glory at 11.30am local time. The Seychelles are four hours ahead of GMT.

•Click here for live scoring in the final round.

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Scotland’s Surrey-based Staysure Tour pro Gary Orr scorched his way to six-under par in the first round of the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles at Constance Lemuria, despite not having played for several weeks because of back problems. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

GARY Orr recorded a six-under par opening round of 64 to dominate the first day at the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles.

The Surrey-based Scotsman stormed to the top of the leaderboard at Constance Lemuria following a bogey-free front nine which saw him pick up six shots.

The Weybridge pro then traded two more birdies with two bogeys on the back nine to lead by four strokes at the European Tour Destinations venue.

Orr, who won back-to-back Staysure Tour events at the Scottish Senior Open and Paris Legends Championship last year, displayed the type of golf that saw him clinch his first titles in 18 years.

He opened his round with five consecutive threes, including birdies at the first, third and fourth holes.

The momentum continued with further gains at the par five fifth before he reached the turn in 28 strokes after picking up shots on the eighth and ninth holes.

“I’m happy with that round,” said Orr, who is attached to his native Helensburgh GC, on Clydside. “I played well, and it puts me in a good position for the next couple of days.

“I wasn’t expecting much going out and I didn’t know what to expect because I haven’t played for a few months. So to start with five threes was a good start.

“It’s that type of course where you need to play well on the front nine as the difficult holes are from 13 to 18.

“They are tricky holes but there are a few tough holes on the front nine as well. If you can get through those difficult ones first, then you can pick up a few birdies on the others.

“The hilly holes, the last six, they are certainly a challenge. A couple of the greens are really difficult, and you need to hit it in the right spots and hope luck is on your side.

“I didn’t drive it that well, which was fortunate because there aren’t many holes where you have to use the driver. I hit my irons really well and putted nicely, which all added up to a good round.

“The view is unbelievable. It’s quite something up on top of the hill and there aren’t many views on a golf course like that anywhere,” added Orr, who echoed the comments of defending champion Roger Champion, after the practice rounds.

As one of the few competitors to play in trousers in the scorching Seychelles heat, the conditions showed no sign of troubling Orr, who was attached to Burhill Golf Club, in Surrey, duirng his 20 years on the European Tour.

And he bounced back from two dropped shots with gains on the par three 15th and 17th.

Having not played for a couple of months due to back pain, Orr was delighted to take the lead at the picturesque Constance Lemuria.

Orr holds a four-shot lead over a group of four players, including Wales’ Stephen Dodd, South Africa’s David Frost, Argentine Rafael Gomez and Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman, who all signed for rounds of 68 to sit on two-under.

The rest of the top 10 is made up of five players on one-under, including Welshman Mark Mouland, who made his 100th start on the Staysure Tour on Thursday.

•The second round of the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles begins at 9am local time on Friday with Gary Orr teeing it up at 11.45am – the Indian Ocean island is four hours ahead of GMT.

For live scoring click here.

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Roger Chapman will defend his MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles title when he returns to Constance Lemuria for the second leg of the Indian Ocean Swing on the Staysure Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ROGER Chapman returns to the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles 12 months after winning the inaugural title at Constance Lemuria.

And the former Kent amateur is relishing the opportunity to reacquaint himself with the stunning Indian Ocean layout.

The two-time Senior Major Champion came from seven shots behind at the start of the final round to lift the trophy in 2018, beating Phillip Price on the first play-off hole after sinking a 30-foot eagle putt.

Chapman, who has four top 10s to his name in 2019, including a share of 10th place at The Senior Open, at St Andrews, is excited to be back on the Indian Ocean island.

“It’s always great to be a defending champion,” said Chapman. “It’s great being in Seychelles and I’m looking forward to defending my title.

“The win meant a lot last year. I was injured at the beginning of the season and had a shoulder operation in the middle of May and did nothing until The Senior Open at St Andrews.”

The Berkshire-based golfer, who was born in Kenya where he lived until he was five, will tee it up in the second staging of the event.

The Seychelles tournament is the second of the three event final series MCB Tour Championship, where the top-performing player will be crowned King of the Swing after the Indian Ocean events.

Chapman, who has five victories worldwide to his name – including the 2012 US Senior Open and US Senior PGA – was crowned both the inaugural King of the Swing and the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles winner.

The 60-year-old who lives in Ascot. will face a tough test, not just from the players battling for the title, but from the picturesque course which hosted the first European Tour-sanctioned event in Seychelles 12 months ago.

“The course is like an examination,” said the three-time Staysure Tour winner, who believes the Constance Lemuria course, which has serious elevation changes, offers one of the most spectacular views in the world of golf according to the defending champion.

“The paper is there in front of you and you’ve got to do your best,” added Chapman.

“You have to plot your way around this course, like a game of chess, and make sure you hit the fairways.

“The first 12 holes are really, really good and then you get to the 13th tee and you go up, and then you get to the 14th tee and you go up again.

“You think you have to come down sooner or later and then you hit 15, which is probably one of the most beautiful holes in the world.

“The hang time on the shot into the green is close to 10 seconds, which is incredible. Then the par five 16th goes back up the hill before you get to 17 which is a little par three.

“You then arrive at the 18th tee and see the fantastic view but the tee shot puts the fear of God into you.

“It’s not an easy tee shot, especially with the wind. Some guys hit driver, but a lot of guys will take an iron off the tee to make sure they hit the fairway – it’s fraught with danger.”

Chapman will tee off at 11.45am local time alongside the MCB Tour Championship – Madagascar winner Barry Lane.

Also in the field is Europe’s victorious 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

The first round at the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles gets under way at 9am local time which is four hours ahead of GMT.

•For live scoring at the MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles click here.

Chapman was part of Kent’s golden era

ROGER Chapman was a member of the last Kent team to win the English County Championship in 1978 before their triumph at Huddersfield in September.

Kent took the title by beating Northumberland 5&4 in the final at Frilford Heath.

Chapman’s team-mates included Walker Cup ace Peter Hedges, Paul Hoad, who went on to play on the European Tour and has taught on the circuit, Toby Shannon, who beat Sandy Lyle 10&8 in The Boys Amateur Championship, in 1974.

Chapman, whose only win in 20 years on the European Tour came in Rio de Janeiro, in 2000, was the first Kent player to win the English Amateur Championship in 1979, at Royal St George’s.

He also claimed the Lytham Trophy in 1981, the year he made his Walker Cup debut, where he beat Hal Sutton, twice on the final day, at Cypress Point, in California.

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