Phillip Price won the John Jacobs Trophy for the first time after topping the Staysure Tour Order of Merit at the conclusion of the 2019 season.
The 2002 Ryder Cup hero won the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship in August, one of 12 top tens during the year, to claim the coveted award for the first time.
Price was the most consistent player during the year and held off the challenge from South Africa’s James Kingston at the season-finale, MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius, by finishing tied third to top the Order of Merit on 2,888 points.
The Welshman finished second on the season-long rankings behind two-time John Jacobs Trophy winner Paul Broadhurst last year but went one better in 2019 to win the trophy, 361.6 points ahead of Kingston in second place.
“To be Number One after 19 tournaments is really important to me,” said Price. “I’ve never won an Order of Merit of any type. I wanted to be number one, not number two or three, so I’m delighted.
“I finished second last year to Paul Broadhurst, which was nice, but it didn’t feel great, but to be number one and have the trophy is extra special.
“Coming into the final three weeks I was leading the Staysure Tour Order of Merit but I knew there were a lot of points to play for at the events. Barry Lane won, then Peter Fowler won, and James Kingston was leading after 36 holes this week and he could’ve passed me if I hadn’t finished inside the top ten. It’s a massive relief and I’m delighted to be Staysure Tour Number One.
“I needed to play quite well today. I managed to make quite a few birdies early on and kept a buffer between myself and the players outside the top ten and in the end Jarmo won.
“It was nice to birdie the last and celebrate. It always nice to make a nice putt and punch the air, realising I’m number one.”
David Shacklady, who won twice in September at The Sinclair Invitational and Druh Belts presents Paris Legends Championship by Renault Z.E., finished third on the Order of Merit. Jean-Francios Remesy and Peter Fowler, winners of the Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship hosted by Ian Woosnam and MCB Tour Championship – Seychelles, respectively, claimed fourth and fifth place on the season-long rankings.
