Played over 54 holes, the trophy appeared to be drifting from Hend’s reach late on Sunday after the Queenslander made the turn in even par, his two birdies discounted by two bogeys.

With a packed leaderboard and five back of the lead, Hend, a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour, knew he needed birdies and those came in quick time once he reached the par-5 12th. The 50-year-old making six in a row to reach 10-under-par and a one shot lead.

“I didn’t look at the leaderboards until the 12th tee and I said to my caddie, ‘We’ve got to pretty much birdie in to have a chance here’,” Hend said. “Fortunately enough, we came close to that and it was good enough to get over the line.

“For the first 45 holes or so I really didn’t hole any putts and the last seven holes I hit it inside 12 feet and made the putts.”

Still in a battle with playing partner Phillip Archer standing on the 18th tee, Hend found a bad lie but still gave himself a birdie look that would pull him two clear of Archer, who himself had a birdie chance.

Hend’s putt slid by, leaving Archer with an eight foot try to force a play-off for the second straight year after he was part of five-man sudden death in 2022, when Aussie Richard Green emerged victorious.

Archer couldn’t convert, leaving him on nine-under alongside fellow Englishman Peter Baker and Hend victorious following his final round 66, making for a perfect start to his senior golf career.

“To win on any Tour is great. I had some pretty high expectations coming out here and I knew the guys were very solid players,” Hend said.

“Unfortunate for Phillip to miss that putt on the last green not to have a play-off, but it feels great to get a win under the belt.

“It’s a new start to the career at 50.”