Leonard ends 5-year drought

The recipient of Higgins’s largess was Paul Leonard, who won his first tournament on the European Seniors circuit since 1998. Leonard, 58, of Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, started Sunday’s final round tied for 13th place, but was lifting the trophy after a final-round 66 that afforded him a one-stroke victory over Nick Job and Bill Longmuir. Higgins receded to ninth place at Woburn in England.
Leonard began his rally on the fourth hole, the first of three consecutive holes he birdied. A double bogey at seven cost him, but he steeled himself and notched birdies on five of the next seven holes.
“This is so unexpected,” Leonard said. “I haven’t been playing well in recent weeks because I’ve been suffering with a virus, so I didn’t have high expectations coming here.”
Leonard finished eight under par at 208 (72-70-66). He is affiliated with the Fintona Golf Club in Tyrone. Perhaps his greatest achievement in golf was a 12th place finish behind Tom Watson in the 1975 British Open at Carnoustie.
Higgins began Sunday with a three-stroke advantage but fell two behind midway through his round. Birdies on 10 and 11 put him back into a tie for the lead, but bogeys on four of the final seven holes finished him. He shot 212 (70-66-76) for 54 holes.
Christy O?Connor, Jr. shared ninth position with Higgins after shooting a final-round 69 that included two eagles, three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey. His cards read 74, 69 and 69.
Eddie Polland was not far behind in joint 15th place at 214 (73-67-74).
Denis O’Sullivan tied for 35th place at 219 (76-72-71).

WALKER CUP
The combined team of Ireland and Great Britain won the Walker Cup for the third consecutive time by defeating the United States, 12 1/2-11 1/2, at Ganton Golf Club in Ganton, England. The winning team’s two Irish representatives were Noel Fox and Colm Moriarty.
Fox and Moriarty picked up a point in Saturday?s foursomes play with a 4 and 2 victory over Adam Rubinson and Casey Wittenberg. They were less successful that afternoon as each lost his singles match, Fox to Rubinson, 3 and 2, and Moriarty to Chris Nallen, 2 up. Sunday foursomes found them pitted against Brock Mackenzie and Matt Hendrix, who beat them 6 and 5. Moriarty then lost his singles match to Mackenzie, 3 and 1.

CHAMPIONS TOUR
Des Smyth rallied to tie for 11th place in the Kroger Classic at TPC at River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio. At 207 (70-70-67), Smyth finished seven shots behind medalist Gil Morgan and earned $34,500.

EUROPEAN TOUR
Ronan Rafferty tied for 34th place in the Omega European Masters at Crans-Sur-Sierre in Switzerland. He was two under par for 72 holes at 282 (69-71-73-69). Philip Walton was in with 285 (71-69-74-71), which entitled him to a share of 54th place. Ernie Els was a six-stroke victor with his 267. Missing the cut by failing to shoot 142 or better for 36 holes were Peter Lawrie, 145 (73-72), Damien McGrane, 148 (74-74), and Graeme McDowell, 149 (76-73).

EUROPRO TOUR
Padraig Dooley upheld the Irish pride as the sole representative to make the cut in the Glenmuir Classic at Whitekirk Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland. Dooley was knotted in 33rd position at 223 (77-69-77), seven strokes over par and 12 shots behind medalist Mark Pullan. David Jones missed the cut by seven strokes with his 157 (86-71). Unable to do better were Gavin McNeill, 160 (82-78), and Barry Templeton, 164 (84-80).