ROSE HALL, St James — American Senior professional Russ Cochrane held off the challenge of Canadian overnight leader Dustin Risdon to retain his title at the 49th Half Moon-sponsored Jamaica Golf Open Golf Tournament at the Half Moon course yesterday.

Cochrane, who led after Thursday’s first round, shot a seven-under-par 65, his best of the three days, for a three-day 13-under-par 203 to beat the 31-year-old Risdon by three shots, with Jamaica’s Peter Horrobin in third place on four-under-par 212.

The left-handed Cochrane took home the impressive trophy and the US$16,000 first prize to join an impressive list of back-to-back winners.

After dropping to third place after Friday’s second round, two shots behind Risdon, Cochrane had told reporters that he planned to be aggressive at the start yesterday.

He did just that birdying the first three holes and was tied with the Canadian at 10-under-par after the first nine holes, as they turned the tournament into a two-man race. Horrobin faltered under the pace set by the other two in the final group.

Both men played their approach shot on the par-five seventh hole into the sand at the front of the green, but made brilliant shots to score birdies, while Horrobin, who had avoided the sand, had to settle for par.

Cochrane turned on the jets on the back nine as he played steadily, if not spectacularly at times, as Risdon, in trying to keep pace, faltered badly on the back nine and failed to keep pace.

Jamaica’s Keith Stein was the top amateur with a nine-over-par 225 (76, 74,75).