Swede Lundgren wins co-sanctioned Russian Open

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2005 Cadillac Russian Open | Wrap | 15 Aug 2005

31-year-old Swede Mikael Lundgren today won his first European Tour event when he edged out England’s Andrew Butterfield at the fourth extra playoff hole to take out the Cadillac Russian Open.

Lundgren, who played Eisenhower golf for Sweden and played collegiate golf in the US, has taken a good while longer than other Swedes with a perhaps less impressive amateur career to make his mark in professional golf. It took him the best part of five years before he gained his European Tour card via the Challenge Tour but when he did he had a good first season finishing 63rd that year. He kept his card for three more years but in 2004 he was back on the Challenge Tour and when he was unable to graduate from there he was back at the Q-School. He missed out so in 2005 it has been mainly Challenge Tour events again. There had been the occasional good finish but he was not exactly on track to graduate in 2006.

This is the type of event that offers opportunity for some and this time it was Lundgren who put his hand up. He was in contention from day one, trailing only Tom Whitehouse, then after round two had only countryman Frederik Widmark ahead of him. He took a one shot lead the lead into the final round however and when he eagled the par five second he had given himself the cushion he needed. Perhaps the thought of his first win and the benefits it would offer got to him somewhat as he fought to hold the field at bay. He managed to do just that with the exception of the fast finishing Andrew Butterfield.

Butterfield was not in the hunt as he made the turn but a final nine of 30 had him closing quickly and when he walked off the course after his round of 66 he had set the mark for the Swede.

Like Lundberg, Butterfield was also looking for his first win after ten years as a professional and six years between both the European and Challenge Tour. This would have been a great boost for him should he have won, but he has played so well in 2005 on the Challenge Tour that he will be back on the European Tour in 2006 in any case.

Another to close in a rush was 30-year-old Scot David Drysdale whose seven birdies from the 8th hole saw him finish in a share of third alongside Australian Jarrod Moseley. Drysdale has also been back and forward between Tours and although he had full playing privileges in 2005, there had been little to get excited about. He has now moved to 103rd on the money list and has a chance of retaining his card.

Moseley has struggled so much over the past two years that there have been times when he hasn’t wanted to continue his golfing career but the last few weeks have seen significant improvement. Prior to the recent Scandinavian Masters, Moseley had missed all but one of thirteen cuts, but at that event in Sweden there was a significant turnaround. He was 18th after a great start and the 2003 Australian PGA Champion seemed to have overcome a major hurdle form-wise. He followed that up with another cut made in Scotland last week and then this week he was again solid all week. Whatever it is he has done to turn his career around, it is clearly working. He has a long way to go before he can avoid having to return again to the Q-School which he was required to do last year but at least things are heading in the right direction.

Terry Pikadaris was the only other Australian to make the cut finishing 41st.

The European Tour heads to Akron Ohio for the WGC NEC Championship but for those not in that field their next stop will be in Munich for the BMW International Open in two weeks time.