England’s Carl Mason won his 20th European Seniors Tour title when he successfully defended the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland by finishing two clear of Scot Bill Longmuir.

After the record-equalling low round of 61 on Saturday, Mason followed up with a final round of 65 for a 15 under par total of 195, two ahead of Longmuir, who refused to give in against the Mason onslaught and eventually signed for a 66 and aggregate of 197.

Mason’s win made him only the second player to claim 20 European Seniors Tour titles and moved him within three of Tommy Horton’s record of 23 victories.

“Number 20!” said Mason. “When I started out I never imagined anything like this. In my first season in 2003 I won my second event and then played so well at the Senior Open Championship that year, and although I lost a play-off (to Tom Watson), it gave me so much confidence I haven’t looked back.”

Mason, leading by one overnight, birdied three of his first four holes to pull three clear of Longmuir but by the seventh they were on level terms with Longmuir picking up two birdies on the fifth and sixth to a Mason bogey on the fifth.

Twelve months ago Mason’s win in Switzerland started a run which saw him win three events out of four and four out of seven as he stormed to his third Order of Merit title in five years.

“Hopefully I can get on one of those runs now,” he said. “I have been frustrated with my game this year when it has not been going well but I hope this will kick start my year.”

Victory earned Mason €39,000 and lifted him from 34th to 14th on the Order of Merit. Longmuir moved up a place to fourth with Ian Woosnam still topping the list.