George Ryall clinches maiden European Senior Tour win

George Ryall edged out Andrew Oldcorn to clinch victory

Bristol golfer George Ryall has won his first European Senior Tour event, the Van Lanschot Open in the Netherlands.

The 51-year-old, from Portishead, shot a closing round 66 to hold off the challenge of Andrew Oldcorn at the Royal Haagsche Golf and Country Club.

Ryall said: "I didn't really expect to win, ever. I didn't look at any leaderboards until the 17th when it frightened me to death."

The victory means he has sealed a two-year Tour exemption.

Ryall finished 63rd on the Senior Tour order of merit last season after gaining a conditional card at the qualifying school but, despite having to rely largely on invites, he has now finished inside the top 20 in all but two of his eight appearances so far in 2010.

The win secured his biggest-ever pay day, 37,000 euros, and he can now look forward to accepting a place in the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie, beginning on 22 July.

Oldcorn had started the final round with a two-stroke lead but, after Ryall birdied the 18th to set the clubhouse target of 10-under-par 206, the Scot's 25-foot birdie putt lipped out on the 17th hole and he could only manage par on the last to sign for a 72 and finish on nine under.

I'd been sending letters to sponsors all year trying to tell them I was quite good

George Ryall

"I'm delighted really," said Ryall, who coaches and plays at The Players Club, in Bristol.

"I get two years exemption now and I don't have to pre-qualify for The Senior Open so it opens up so many doors for me. I'd been sending letters to sponsors all year trying to tell them I was quite good and now they might realise I'm not that bad."

The victory, which came courtesy of six birdies and one bogey in the final round, saw Ryall become the first player not fully exempt on the Senior Tour to win since Spaniard Juan Quiros triumphed in the 2006 Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open.

"It's just such a rollercoaster golf ride," he added. "I'm trying to get used to playing on the Tour so this is a bit of a shock. It's nice to join guys like Gordon Brand junior, Kevin Spurgeon and Glenn Ralph as winners.

"They are all big friends of mine so it's nice to be part of that. I'm going to be here on tour every week now so they'll get sick of the sight of me."