Robert Chapman had threatened carnage

Starting the day with a five shot lead Chapman raced through the opening seven holes to put the issue almost beyond doubt and although he would drop shots over the closing stages his job was done.

“So today or this week, having led from wire to wire, that to me is the greatest thing I’ve ever done. And the guys back home, my wife and, they have all been watching the TV and they said, they cannot believe how good I looked on the golf course, how in control. Whereas, sometimes discount golf clubs in Europe they could see that I was nervous and things were going to maybe go negative. But they just said, just keep doing what you’re doing. You’re doing everything right. So it’s a long learning curve. It took 26 years to learn it.”

Chapman’s only other appearance in 2012 was when 16th at the recent Mallorca Open so to say the least his effort against the game’s over 50 elite has been quite remarkable. He can be forgiven his late stumble but it matters little now as he has earned the right to play the Champions Tour for twelve months.

Chapman, who has yet to win in two seasons on the European Seniors Tour, now has Champions Tour status and the self belief to convert that opportunity into even greater success.

Late on day four Chapman too would yield but such was the margin that he had established that he would win by two Titleist 910 D2 Driver over John Cook with the remarkable Hale Irwin at 66 years of age in third position.

For Senior it was perhaps a case of too little too late but nonetheless he has again displayed his capacity to play the big events and the tough golf courses well and although his first Champions Tour victory still eludes his time must come before long.

“It’s the greatest day of my professional career,” said Chapman. " No question about that. It was hard work in the end, I think I had a nine shot lead, and your mind just starts to wander a bit. And I was thinking of George (Will his former mentor) all the way around. What he would be thinking and just lost my focus a bit. But I hung in there and fortunately I could bogey the last two to still win.

Peter Senior, Sandy Lyle, Joe Daley, Bernhard Langer and David Frost tied for 4th.

Finishing in a share of 5th at the Champions tour School in 2010, Chapman lost a playoff for the coveted 5th position which would have earned him full exemption. He had to rely on starts where he could get them and was unable to retain his status for 2012.

Today the wind disappeared and the Mizuno MP-69 Irons improvement in scoring was marked. Kenny Perry had 62, Peter Senior 63 and there were several 64’s. Compared to the early days of the event, the course was very playable although for Chapman it had seemed that way all week.