Mikael Lundberg ended his wait for a maiden Staysure Legends Tour title as the three-time DP World Tour winner held off Stephen Gallacher to win the Staysure English Legends by two shots at Chart Hills Golf Club in Kent.
The 53-year-old Swede carded a level-par final round 72 to finish on 12-under-par, two clear of Gallacher, who closed with a 71 to finish on ten-under.
Adilson da Silva, Lee Westwood and Simon Griffiths shared third on seven-under, with da Silva firing a six-under 66 and Westwood signing for a 67 on his Staysure Legends Tour debut.
CONSISTENCY REWARDED
Lundberg has been a consistent contender since joining the Staysure Legends Tour, finishing sixth on the 2025 Order of Merit after eight top-ten finishes. He arrived in Kent in similarly strong form following a runner-up finish at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship earlier this month and fifth place at the Portugal Invitational.
The victory adds to a career which already includes three DP World Tour titles, with Lundberg winning the Russian Open in 2005 and 2008 before claiming the Lyoness Open in 2014.
“It was actually more emotional than I thought when I came off the last, when it was finally done,” said Lundberg. “I was hoping, but I wasn’t sure if it was ever going to happen. I’m playing well, I have a bunch of seconds and thirds, so I think now once you take the first one, hopefully there’s going to be more.”
THREE-SHOT LEAD
Lundberg began the final round with a three-shot advantage over Gallacher following his brilliant seven-under 65 on Saturday, but a bogey at the second reduced his lead.
He responded immediately with back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth to regain control, before Gallacher suffered a cruel break at the sixth when his tee shot hit a sprinkler head in the middle of the fairway and bounced into the hazard, resulting in a bogey.
“It just landed on the sprinkler in the middle of the fairway and then went in the water,” said Gallacher. “Maybe that’s when you know it’s not your day.”
Lundberg remained composed as the final group moved through the back nine, with his short game proving crucial as Gallacher attempted to close the gap.
“Mentally I was really, really good and I just kept the ball in play,” said Lundberg. “I had a little bit of a back problem. I don’t know if that actually helped because I could only swing at 90 per cent. My short game and putting have been really good, so that made it a lot easier.”
A six-foot par save at the 15th proved important as Gallacher dropped a shot, before the Scot kept his challenge alive with a superb tee shot to within a foot at the par-three 17th for birdie. Lundberg safely made par before a bogey at the last was enough to complete a level-par 72 and secure the title.
Gallacher was left disappointed despite finishing alone in second.
“I had a couple of chances coming back in, just a couple of poor shots,” he said. “When you’re chasing someone, you’ve got to be perfect. On the whole, I’ll take second, but I’m a bit disappointed.”
Westwood produced a superb final-round charge to climb into a share of third on his Staysure Legends Tour debut. The former world no.1 played a four-hole stretch on the front nine in five-under, including an eagle at the fifth, to surge into contention.
Back-to-back bogeys at ten and 11 halted his momentum and another dropped shot followed at 13, but Westwood responded with birdies at 12, 16 and 18 to sign for a five-under 67. He saved one of his best shots of the week for the last, firing his approach to within inches of the cup for a tap-in birdie.
“I played really nicely,” said Westwood. “A 67 was probably about as many as it could have been. A lot of good putts didn’t go in. It could have easily been a 62 or 61.”
The 53-year-old also hinted his first Staysure Legends Tour appearance may not be his last.
“It’s been fun. I had a great time and really enjoyed myself. It’s been nice to see all the lads again and hopefully I’ll be back out there on the Legends Tour soon. I’m going to have a look at my schedule. I’ve really enjoyed it, so maybe I’ll try and get a couple more in.”
For all the scores and the final leaderboard, click here.
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