The former Ryder Cup player’s only other win came in the 2019 MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius. He started the final day in the final group, but one shot behind his playing partners – Andrew Marshall and Adilson Da Silva.
Marshall, who had to play with a borrowed set of clubs in the opening round, would have a steady Sunday front nine, making it to the turn in one-under-par. Just three weeks ago Adilson Da Silva won the OFX Irish Legends, but he would endure a torrid start to his campaign for a second win of the season. The Brazilian would make three consecutive bogeys from the 4th to 6th holes and leave himself with an uphill task to remain in contention.
Sandelin was having a dream Sunday in comparison. The Swede made birdies at two of the opening three holes, before a run of three in a row around the turn would see him step onto the 11th tee with a three-shot lead.
Elsewhere, Clark Dennis was putting together one of the rounds of the day. He would sign for a 65 giving him a 7th place finish – another result which boosts the confidence for the winner of last month’s Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy.
Peter Baker was level par at the halfway stage of his final round, but the winner of last year’s MCB Road to Mauritius title impressive on the way back in. He’d made four birdies for a second successive round of 66 after his opening day 70, leaving him on -8 and in third place.
Bradley Dredge was one-under-par through 15 holes, but would then eagle the par-five 16th to get to -9, a score which was good enough to finish in second place.
Adilson Da Silva ended the week 10th after a disappointing final round of 73, while Andrew Marshall would have to settle for 4th with his Sunday 71.
Three straight pars from the 11th to 13th holes had ensured Sandelin steadied the ship and with a run of pars until the 16th when he would make bogey. Now the pressure fell on the leader to get over the line, a two-shot lead with two holes to play.
He would par 17 and bogey 18, to sign for a 67 and take the title by a single shot on -10, his second Legends Tour title coming more than four-and-a-half years after his first: “It means a lot, I’m back on track and playing good. It’s very nice, my older son Luke has caddied for me in Mauritius when I won in 2019, so it’s nice – very good!
“I’ve been working really hard on my game the last two months, so I’m very happy to be able to get this win. It’s a sign that you are doing the right thing. I have a few things I have been working on, to try to get more distance because most of the guys hit it so much further than me.
“When we play a course like this, we need to find the fairways and putt well – it suits my game really well.
“I think at one stage I was four up and I started to make pars. I was thinking, if I just make my par’s, I will be fine. I had a three putt on the 16th and made bogey, then missed a short birdie on 17. So when I got to 18, my caddie was worried. He said ‘I think you should lay up’, make sure you have a good shot to make a par.
“The confidence boost is great – I think more good things will happen in the future.
The MCB Road to Mauritius rankings now sees Sandelin move up to 9th after this win, while Peter Baker’s strong finish ensures that he leapfrog’s Richard Green to sit in second place just 49.1 points behind Scott Hend who leads the rankings list.
The Legends Tour players, including Sandelin, are next at Carnoustie for the Senior Open presented by Rolex in ten days, a week before the Tour’s flagship event – the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship at Trump International Golf Links.
See the highlights from the final round here:
