Carl Mason claimed his 10th European Seniors Tour title when he carded a closing three-under-par 69 to win the De Vere Northumberland Seniors Classic over the Priestman course at Slaley Hall, Northumberland.

Mason went into the final round holding a five-shot advantage after celebrating his 52nd birthday with a course-record 63 the previous day and he played controlled golf to finish three shots ahead of Ireland's Eamonn Darcy, whose closing 67 saw him claim the fifth second-place finish of his Seniors Tour career.

''I played great. I set out to hit fairways and green and that's exactly what I managed to do,'' said Mason, who has been struggling with a back injury recently.

''Eamonn played superbly but I never really gave him much of a chance. It's amazing how much more freely you can swing when you are not suffering from backache.''

Former Ryder Cup captain Mark James had a hole in one at the 167-yard 11th which helped him to a share of sixth and earned him 167 bottles of Hardys Wines - one for each yard of the hole he aced.

Seniors Tour debutant Howard Clark finished well down the field on 10 over.