Peter Lawrie wins Open de Espana
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 Open de Espana | Round Four | 05 May 2008
The European Tour has yet another new winner after Irishman Peter Lawrie defeated Ignacio Garrido at the second extra hole of a playoff to win the Open de Espana at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.
34-year-old Lawrie is into his sixth season on the European Tour having played in Asia prior to that. He secured his European card via the Challenge Tour in 2002 where he won the final event of the season. His previous best European Tour effort had been a runner up at the Canarias Open de Espana in his rookie season in 2003.
It was a final day full of drama where any of six or seven golfers had a chance to win. Perhaps the favourite, Miguel Angel Jimenez, took the lead on his own when he birdied the 8th and 9th holes to move to 15 under and at that stage led by one over Soren Hansen but a horror triple bogey at the 10th destroyed the 44-year-old’s chances.
Hansen then led over England’ David Lynn and the early tearaway leader in the event, Ignacio Garrido, but when Hansen, who had holed his second at the 8th for eagle, bogeyed the 12th, he Garrido and Lynn shared the lead at 13 under.
At that point Lawrie did not appear to be a factor but he began his late charge with a birdie at the 13th then added three more at the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to move to 15 under and had the lead on his own.
Lawrie was playing in the third to last group and when he signed for his final round 67 he led by one over Hansen and Garrido. Garrido appeared to have blown his chance when he struggled to the turn in 39 but he managed to regroup with three birdies on the back nine including one from 30 feet at the last to force a playoff with Lawrie.
While Lawrie may have been cursing the 30 footer of Garrido’s at the 72nd hole, he would have been rejoicing in one of his own at the first extra hole to match the birdie of Garrido’s from six feet. At the second extra hole, Lawrie hit a great shot from the fairway trap while Garrido, coming from the fairway, found the water and it was effectively all over.
Alone in third place was Soren Hansen just one shot back of the playoff while in a share of fourth were Spaniards, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia and Miguel Angel Jimenez and England’s David Lynn. It was a huge week for Garcia-Heredia who made a horror start to his final round with two double bogeys early but who bounced back to record eight birdies in his next 15 holes to secure his biggest cheque in the game. Garcia-Heredia does not have status on the European Tour but this performance may open up several doors for him.
The best of the Australasians was Gareth Paddison who finished 18th. It continued a good run of events for the left handed New Zealander who is in his rookie season on the European Tour. This was his biggest cheque of the season but importantly he is building momentum and confidence.
The best of the Australians was Peter Fowler who finished 22nd after a disappointing last day of 75 while Matthew Millar was 54th.
The European Tour now travels to Milan for this week’s Italian Open.
