King retains his crown in a dramatic final climax

MICK KING (pictured) won the last three holes to retain his crown in a dramatic climax to the senior island final at La Grande Mare.

Hedley Ablitt had looked the favourite to take the match having established a three-hole lead at the turn, but the defending champion's persistence finally paid off in an extraordinary finish.

Ablitt played well from tee to green and, after exchanging the first two holes, won three of the next five with King looking out of sorts off the tee. He somehow recovered well to save the other two of those holes.

A three-putt on the ninth from Ablitt meant that he stayed three up at halfway, but it was to prove his undoing.

A two-hole lead with three to play was lost as King capitalised on his opponent's minor mistakes to edge victory in a well-contested final.

In the previous afternoon's semi-finals, King played too steadily for a slightly erratic Laurence Graham.