Dougherty holds off Echenique at BMW
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2009 BMW International Open | Round Four | 29 Jun 2009
Nick Dougherty has won the BMW International Open in Munich but he was forced to hold off a remarkable late challenge from Argentinean Rafa Echenique.
A final nine holes of 27 by the 28-year-old Echenique, including an amazing albatross at the final hole, saw him move within one of Dougherty but the Englishman was able to hold on with three pars to finish one ahead of Echenique and four ahead of third round leader, Retief Goosen.
While much of the talk on the final day will be of the amazing late burst of Echenique, who played his last ten holes in ten under, nothing can be taken away from what was a fine last round by Dougherty. The 27-year-old put together nine birdies in his final round for his round of 64 to catch and pass Goosen who had led him by three heading into the final round.
Dougherty started the final round with four birdies in his first five holes and he had moved two ahead of Goosen at that point. By the time they reached the turn however the pair was tied in the lead at 18 under. Dougherty drew clear in the early stages of the final nine before the grandstand finish by Echenique.
Felipe Aguilar, Miguel Angel Jimenez, David Drysdale and Graeme Storm finished in a share of 4th place, one behind Goosen.
The leading Australian was Richard Green, who appears to be warming to his task in time for the Open Championship. Green finished in a share of 9th but importantly this has followed a 6th place finish at the recent Celtic Manor Wales Open. Green finished 4th at Carnoustie in 2007 and might well be a dark horse amongst the Australians at Turnberry.
Scott Strange was 30th and Marcus Fraser 46th were the only other Australians to make the cut.
The European Tour now moves to Paris for this coming week’s French Open.
