Davies confirms promise in Morocco
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2010 Trophée Hassan II | Round Four | 22 Mar 2010
24-year-old Rhys Davies became the first Welshman to win on the European Tour since Bradley Dredge at the Celtic Manor event nearly four years ago when he won the Trophee Hassan by two shots over South African Louis Oosthuizen. Few would be surprised if Davies is also the next Welshman to win on the European Tour.
Davies, a former British Boys Champion (2003) where he defeated Pablo Martin in the final, graduated from last year’s Challenge Tour where he won twice, finished in 4th position on the Challenge Tour rankings and earned European Tour playing rights in 2010. Already in his rookie season he has displayed a capacity to handle the higher level with top ten finishes at the Abu Dhabi Championship and Malaysian Open.
Davies played the Asian Tour in 2008 and for much of 2009 after a collegiate career at the East Tennessee State University in the US. He gained an invite to an event on the Challenge Tour, took full advantage by winning and was soon winning again.
Davies, the 36 hole leader, started the final round two behind South African Louis Oosthuizen but by the turn he had moved within one and took the lead for the first time on day four when he birdied the 10th and 11th. Oosthuizen regained the lead when he eagled the 12th but birdies at the 13th and 14th by Davies and a late stumble by Oosthuisen and the title was Davies.
The pair had gapped the field with five shots between runner up Oosthuizen and the third placed foursome of Thomas Levet, Thomas Aiken, Ignacio Garrido and Miko Ilonen.
The only Australian in the field, Andrew Tampion missed the cut although New Zealander Mark Brown did, finishing well back in 56th position.
The European Tour will now head to Spain for the Open de Andalucia, the final European Tour event before the Masters which begins on April 8th.
