AMERICAN'S AVIEMORE WIN GAINS HIM PROMOTION TO EUROPEAN TOUR
REPORT FROM NEIL AHERN
European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Brooks
Koepka showed the grit, determination and endless talent of a future
world-beater as the American stormed to a three-shot victory at the
Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonalds
Hotels and Resorts to gain automatic promotion to The European Tour.
The
hype surrounding the Floridian on the European Challenge Tour
this year has been likened to that of Martin Kaymer in 2006, with
some experienced touring professionals stating that Koepka is the
best they have ever seen.
this year has been likened to that of Martin Kaymer in 2006, with
some experienced touring professionals stating that Koepka is the
best they have ever seen.
The
23 year old has lived up to that high praise during an incredible
11 month period on the Challenge Tour, which culminated in a
gloriously resolute performance at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club
as he defied extremely trying weather conditions and long rain delays
to lift the title.
11 month period on the Challenge Tour, which culminated in a
gloriously resolute performance at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club
as he defied extremely trying weather conditions and long rain delays
to lift the title.
His
final and most important of four Challenge Tour titles came
thanks to a three under par 68 and because it is his third victory in
2013, the West Palm Beach native is promoted straight to The
European Tour – following in the footsteps of the likes of Edoardo
Molinari and Kristoffer Broberg who did the same.
thanks to a three under par 68 and because it is his third victory in
2013, the West Palm Beach native is promoted straight to The
European Tour – following in the footsteps of the likes of Edoardo
Molinari and Kristoffer Broberg who did the same.
There,
he will join his close friend and compatriot Peter Uihlein as a
new breed of young stars from around the world begin to choose the
Challenge Tour as the best and most educational route to the top of
world golf.
new breed of young stars from around the world begin to choose the
Challenge Tour as the best and most educational route to the top of
world golf.
After
a four hour delay to his own tee time, Koepka got off to a flying
start with five birdies and a bogey taking him to the turn in four
under.
He started to wobble a little on the back nine with three bogeys in
five holes leaving him just one shot clear of the chasing pack but
he bounced back to finish with two consecutive birdies and card
the joint best round of a tough day to finish top on 18 under 266.
start with five birdies and a bogey taking him to the turn in four
under.
He started to wobble a little on the back nine with three bogeys in
five holes leaving him just one shot clear of the chasing pack but
he bounced back to finish with two consecutive birdies and card
the joint best round of a tough day to finish top on 18 under 266.
“It’s
really exciting,” said Koepka, who is the first American to win
three times in a single Challenge Tour season. “It was nice to get my
third win here in Scotland and on my final trip before heading home
to take some time off.
three times in a single Challenge Tour season. “It was nice to get my
third win here in Scotland and on my final trip before heading home
to take some time off.
“This is only the beginning, and I’ve done it
in barely a year playing
professionally. I know it sounds a little bit cocky, but I have high
expectations for myself.
professionally. I know it sounds a little bit cocky, but I have high
expectations for myself.
“Hopefully I will win on The European Tour
next, it sounds cool
saying it. I have always wanted to get out there and play with those
guys and now I get my room-mate (Uihlein) back!
saying it. I have always wanted to get out there and play with those
guys and now I get my room-mate (Uihlein) back!
“Maybe my expectations are borderline too
high, but it is a good thing
to always push yourself and never be satisfied. I think that is part of
some frustration I have been feeling recently, that I am expecting a
little bit too much of myself. A good break - going back home - will
take care of all of that.”
to always push yourself and never be satisfied. I think that is part of
some frustration I have been feeling recently, that I am expecting a
little bit too much of myself. A good break - going back home - will
take care of all of that.”
Koepka
will travel to Sunningdale for The Open Championship
International Final Qualifying stage tomorrow (Monday) before
flying home to West Palm Beach, Florida, for a well-earned rest and
then returning to join the top tier of European golf for the first time.
International Final Qualifying stage tomorrow (Monday) before
flying home to West Palm Beach, Florida, for a well-earned rest and
then returning to join the top tier of European golf for the first time.
Sam
Walker, meanwhile, put up a strong defence of his title in the
Cairngorm Highlands of Aviemore as a two under par 69 left him in
tied second place, his second runner-up finish in three weeks.
Cairngorm Highlands of Aviemore as a two under par 69 left him in
tied second place, his second runner-up finish in three weeks.
The
Englishman, a two-time winner of this event, finished on 15
under par alongside Andrea Pavan (71) of Italy, Englishman Steven
Tiley (72) and Korean Byeong-hun An (72), the former US Amateur
Champion who sealed the highest finish of his Challenge Tour career.
under par alongside Andrea Pavan (71) of Italy, Englishman Steven
Tiley (72) and Korean Byeong-hun An (72), the former US Amateur
Champion who sealed the highest finish of his Challenge Tour career.
There
were four players three shots further back on 12 under,
including local favourite Duncan Stewart – from Grantown-
on-Spey just 15 minutes away from this week’s venue – who
sealed his best finish on the Challenge Tour to win the Douglas
Lowe Memorial Trophy for the highest-placed Scot.
including local favourite Duncan Stewart – from Grantown-
on-Spey just 15 minutes away from this week’s venue – who
sealed his best finish on the Challenge Tour to win the Douglas
Lowe Memorial Trophy for the highest-placed Scot.
ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
Par 284 (4x71)
266 B Koepka (USA) 70 66 62 68
269 A Pavan (Ita) 65 67 66 71, S Walker (Eng) 67 65 68 69, S Tiley (Eng) 67 67 63 72, B An (Kor) 62 70 65 72
272 D Stewart (Sco) 65 67 68 72, J Carlsson (Swe) 66 68 67 71, S Garcia (Esp) 63 70 70 69, P Maddy (Eng) 68 68 68 68
273 T Murray (Eng) 67 65 70 71, J Doherty (Sco) 66 66 68 73, T Hatton (Eng) 65 69 67 72
274 D Frittelli (RSA) 65 68 67 74, G Cambis (Fra) 66 66 69 73, C Kelly (Sco) 68 71 65 70, G Hutcheon (Sco) 68 69 64 73
275
L Kennedy (Eng) 67 71 67 70, J Guerrier (Fra) 68 70 69 68, S Kim
(Kor) 69 69 68 69, E Dubois (Fra) 66 67 68 74, T Sluiter (Ned) 71 65 70
69
276 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 70 69 68 69, M Trappel (Aut) 68 69 65 74, A Velasco (Esp) 66 69 65 76
277 N McCarthy (Eng) 69 69 66 73, J Huldahl (Den) 68 67 71 71, D Geminiani (Ita) 71 67 68 71
278
T Pilkadaris (Aus) 69 69 71 69, R Kellett (Sco) 68 69 69 72, B Hebert
(Fra) 67 71 68 72, A Forsyth (Sco) 69 69 68 72, E Saltman (Sco) 71 68
68 71, J Gibb (Eng) 68 70 69 71, T Nørret (Den) 68 66 73 71, M
Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 67 68 65
78, J Dantorp (Swe) 65 65 69 79
279 R Quiros (Esp) 70 66 72 71, J
Abbott (Eng) 70 67 69 73, T Remkes (Ned) 66 66 72 75, C Moriarty (Irl)
69 65 74 71, N Lemke (Swe) 65 70 73 71, K Ferrie (Eng) 67 68 71 73, P
McKechnie (Sco) 67 70 70 72, D Dixon (Eng) 68 68 70 73
280 C Russo (Fra) 66 73 69 72, J Mommo
(Fin) 68 70 71 71, O Whiteley (Eng) 72 65 70 73, J McLeary (Sco) 66 71
70 73, G Wright (Wal) 68 68 69 75, A Bernadet (Fra) 69 70 70 71, J
Fahrbring (Swe) 70 68 70 72
281 A Gee (Eng) 69 70 70 72, J Watts (Eng) 65 74 66 76, O Wilson (Eng) 72 66 70 73, B Etchart (Esp) 71 68 70 72
282 S Dodd (Wal) 72 67 69 74, J Lima
(Por) 67 72 70 73, G Dear (Sco) 68 69 68 77, K Borsheim (Nor) 68 71 67
76, N Kearney (Irl) 70 69 68 75
285 S Parry (Eng) 68 71 72 74, S Whiffin (Eng) 73 65 74 73,
286 L Saltman (Sco) 70 69 72 75, G Shaw (Nir) 69 68 76 73,
287 S Manley (Wal) 68 71 73 75, J Mikkelsen (Nor) 69 70 70 78,
288 M Sell (Eng) 69 70 71 78
289 L Corfield (Eng) 70 69 75 75, A Dunbar (Nir) 62 69 75 83,
290 M Kerr (Sco) 71 68 72 79
** P Edberg (Swe) 69 67 71 retired
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Labels: CHALLENGE TOUR
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