Defending champion Peter Baker secured victory in a dramatic play-off at the Legends Course at Constance Belle Mare Plage, defeating Barry Lane Rookie of the Year Simon Griffiths. Baker shot a final-round 68, finishing birdie-birdie, and then claimed the title with three birdies on the par-5 18th in extra holes.
Starting the day with a one-shot lead after a stunning 62 in round two, Baker made the turn in 35, with birdies at the 4th and 6th, despite a dropped shot at the 5th. He added a birdie at the 10th but then played six pars in a row. Griffiths, starting three shots behind, had four birdies in the first eight holes to draw level with Baker. The European Legends Cup winner birdied the 13th and the last two holes to post a 65 and set the clubhouse target at -16.
Baker matched Griffiths’ birdies on the 17th and 18th to force a play-off. Griffiths kept the pressure on with a 15-foot birdie putt in the first extra hole but missed a 10-footer for eagle on the second. Baker converted short birdie putts on both occasions. The third play-off hole saw both players find the greenside bunker, but when Griffiths failed to get up-and-down, Baker holed out from two feet for victory.
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“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Baker. “It’s been a tough week, but everything came together at the right time. It’s amazing to win here.”
Keith Horne, James Kingston, Greig Hutcheon, and Carl Suneson finished tied for 3rd at -13. Adilson da Silva, who finished tied-7th, claimed the MCB Road to Mauritius title, marking his third attempt to win the John Jacobs Trophy. Da Silva, who had two runner-up finishes in previous years, won the OFX Irish Legends and European Legends Cup this season and is excited for next year’s senior majors.
Baker finished 2nd on the Order of Merit, followed by Scott Hend in 3rd, Griffiths in 4th, and Joakim Haeggman in 5th. All five players earned a share of the MCB Road to Mauritius Bonus Pool, and the top four have qualified for the Champions Tour’s Trophy Hassan II in February.
The top 10 players also secured spots in three senior majors next year: the Senior Open, the US Senior Open, and the Senior PGA Championship. Horne, Kingston, Hutcheon, Coles, and Gögele can look forward to these prestigious events in 2025.
Griffiths, who finished 4th in the Order of Merit, was also named Rookie of the Year after a remarkable late-season run. “It’s a huge honour,” he said. “Getting a run of tournaments was key to my success.”
The Legends Tour breaks for winter now and commences with the 2025 season in May with the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam.
Main Image: Phil Inglis / Legends Tour
