Barnes wins play-off with 50-foot eagle

Brian Barnes won the Senior British Open title after a dramatic three-hole play-off with Bob Murphy at Royal Portrush yesterday. The former Ryder Cup player rolled in a 50-foot eagle putt on the par-five 17th to clinch the pounds 58,000 top prize over the course where his father-in-law Max Faulkner won the Open Championship 44 years ago.

The pair had tied on 281 after Barnes, making his European Seniors Tour debut, holed a six-footer for a closing two- under-par 70 to Murphy's 71.

"That was one of the few putts in the last two days I actually hit," said an emotional Barnes. "Ever since I realised my first Senior Open would be at Portrush where Max won his Open, I have dreamed of this win."

The leading pair edged out the former title winner, Bob Charles, and John Morgan, Europe's top senior last year, by one shot. Charles finished with a 66, the best round of the tournament, while Morgan shot his second 68 of the week.

Tommy Horton, who battled back into the reckoning with a superb 67 yesterday, was prevented from advancing further by an unfortunate double-bogey six at the fourth. The Channel Islander had to settle for a share of fourth place with South Africa's John Fourie.

Scores, Sporting Digest, page 23