In fact, the leading nine players were all from across the Atlantic while the best British and Irish finishers were Keith Stimpson from Wales and Ireland’s Maurice Kelly, both on 228, six strokes back.

Foster, 62, from Syracuse, New York, has won several senior titles back home but nothing as major as the British Championship. "I’m very happy but also relieved. This was a struggle because these courses are quite tight," he said. "I came here thinking I had a chance but I didn’t think it would be mine after I started badly today."

Foster, who started the day sharing the lead on three over with Tarumianz, French and Robert Morris, added: "I bogeyed the first to slip behind but after the first four or five holes I began to hit the ball well."

He managed to birdie the long fifth but dropped shots at the sixth, seventh and eighth to slip back again. His second and only other birdie came at the ninth but with his rivals also spilling shots over the home stretch, the title was wide open again.

It was just a case of who could reel off enough par figures through the avenues of pines on the Duke’s course and although Foster bogeyed the 15th with three putts and the 16th after flirting with the trees, he finished with two pars to stay in front.

"I didn’t make a lot of putts today but I got a couple of good bounces which it what you need," he added. "This has been a great week and means I’ll have to come back next year to defend."

It is the sixth time in seven years that an American has emerged as champion, only Crewe’s Roy Smethurst having broken the chain in 2003.

Smethurst came into the event seeking a unique treble, having won the English and European seniors titles. But he had problems on the Woburn greens and finished on 230 after a closing 78.

Stimpson, a Welsh seniors international from Cardiff, carded a sub-par 71, one of the lowest rounds of the day. "I putted really well and saved the best till last," he said.

He finished in joint tenth on 228 with Federico Lang from Italy and Maurice Kelly, who closed with 76 on his debut in the championship.

The Americans also collected the over 65 award which went to Mills Rendell on 236 after a closing 78.

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