Andrew Johnston scores first European Tour
win in Valderrama Open de Espana
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Londoner Andrew Johnston won his first European Tour title as he held off the challenge of Joost Luiten to claim the Real Club Valderrama Open de España today.
The 27-year-old Englishman came into the final day alongside Luiten at two over and signed for a one under par 70, after earlier rounds of 67, 74 and 74, to take the title and $433,329 first prize by one shot with an aggregate of one-over-par 285 and become the first man to win a European International Tour event with an over par score since Justin Rose won the US Open at Merion in 2013.
It had been 20 years since a regular event had been won over par, Ian Woosnam shooting the same score to win the Scottish Open at Carnoustie in 1996, showing just how difficult a test Valderrama had been over the four days.
Rain had softened the greens, with lighter winds making birdies more
possible in the final round, and Johnston made what proved to be the
vital gain on the 16th.
"I drove the ball well all week, chipped and putted well all week, I struggled a bit with my irons the first three days but I just kept going and kept digging in and then on the fourth I found something," he said.
"I came off the course and I just started crying with the emotion of it. It's just very surreal and I don't think it will hit me for a few days.
"You see them winning these tournaments, and the history of it and all these names, so to put mine on there feels pretty ridiculous, really. It really does.
"Hopefully I can be one of those guys who has an incredible career like that and people are sitting here in the future going, 'oh, Beef's on there'. It's pretty incredible."
Tournament host Sergio Garcia made six birdies in his round of 67 to finish at three over, a shot ahead of defending champion James Morrison and Søren Kjeldsen.
The win completes a long journey for 27 year old Johnston, who first made it onto The European Tour via the Challenge Tour in 2012 before a loss of form and fitness saw him lose his card.
"I drove the ball well all week, chipped and putted well all week, I struggled a bit with my irons the first three days but I just kept going and kept digging in and then on the fourth I found something," he said.
"I came off the course and I just started crying with the emotion of it. It's just very surreal and I don't think it will hit me for a few days.
"You see them winning these tournaments, and the history of it and all these names, so to put mine on there feels pretty ridiculous, really. It really does.
"Hopefully I can be one of those guys who has an incredible career like that and people are sitting here in the future going, 'oh, Beef's on there'. It's pretty incredible."
Tournament host Sergio Garcia made six birdies in his round of 67 to finish at three over, a shot ahead of defending champion James Morrison and Søren Kjeldsen.
The win completes a long journey for 27 year old Johnston, who first made it onto The European Tour via the Challenge Tour in 2012 before a loss of form and fitness saw him lose his card.
Two wins on the Challenge Tour in 2014 saw him win the Road to Oman
and now, after finishing 70th on The Race to Dubai last season, he has
his breakthrough.
For Dutchman Luiten, the result is the continuation of a brilliant start to the season and hands him his fifth top ten in eight events so far this term.
Johnston bogeyed the first as those around him jostled for position, with Martin Kaymer opening up a two-shot lead over the field with a birdie on the third.
Luiten and Kaymer continued to battle it out but when Johnston hit a sensational approach to the seventh for birdie and made another gain on the next, a dropped shot from the German on the seventh meant Johnston and Luiten shared the lead at the turn.
SCOTSWATCH (by Colin Farquharson). Craig Lee finished as the top Scot in 10th place with rounds of 71, 72, 76 and 71 for six-over 290 and a payslip for $52,000.
Richie Ramsay earned $22,360 for T29 place and an aggregate of 296 (69-76-77-74).
David Drysdale shot 72, 76, 77 and 72 for 297 and a T34 finish which earned him $19,240.
Paul Lawrie's third-round 79 was his "killer." His first and second rounds were 73 and 76; his final round 72
For a total of 300 and a T45 finish, Lawrie earned $12,480.
For Dutchman Luiten, the result is the continuation of a brilliant start to the season and hands him his fifth top ten in eight events so far this term.
Johnston bogeyed the first as those around him jostled for position, with Martin Kaymer opening up a two-shot lead over the field with a birdie on the third.
Luiten and Kaymer continued to battle it out but when Johnston hit a sensational approach to the seventh for birdie and made another gain on the next, a dropped shot from the German on the seventh meant Johnston and Luiten shared the lead at the turn.
SCOTSWATCH (by Colin Farquharson). Craig Lee finished as the top Scot in 10th place with rounds of 71, 72, 76 and 71 for six-over 290 and a payslip for $52,000.
Richie Ramsay earned $22,360 for T29 place and an aggregate of 296 (69-76-77-74).
David Drysdale shot 72, 76, 77 and 72 for 297 and a T34 finish which earned him $19,240.
Paul Lawrie's third-round 79 was his "killer." His first and second rounds were 73 and 76; his final round 72
For a total of 300 and a T45 finish, Lawrie earned $12,480.
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, April 17, 2016
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