Mason overhauled Good to win

The victory confirmed Mason will end the season as number one on the Seniors Tour Order of Merit.

His win at Hillside in Southport on Sunday took his earnings for the season to �220,000.

He said: "My goal was to win an event before the end of the season, so to win three is beyond my wildest expectations."

The 50-year-old from Oxfordshire started the day one shot behind Australia's David Good.

But he carded two birdies and just one bogey for a one under par 71 which put him one shot ahead of Scotland's Bill Longmuir and Ireland's Denis O'Sullivan on eight under par 208.

Good faltered to a two over par 74 to finish the tournament alone in fourth place on 210.

Cruising

Mason went in front for the first time when Good dropped shots at the 13th and 15th and found himself with a two-shot cushion when the Australian dropped his third shot in four holes at the 16th.

But just when he seemed to be cruising to victory, Longmuir birdied the 548 yard par five 17th to move to within one shot of the lead.

In the end Mason had to par the last from out of a fairway bunker in order to win the �22,500 prize and confirm his place ahead of Longmuir in the 2003 Seniors Tour Order of Merit.

Mason added: "When I turned 50 in June I hadn't played much competitive golf for quite a few years so I thought it would take me a while to get going.

"I still can't really believe it's true."