Matteo Manassero blows his chances of Masters Tournament card – Golf News
Matteo Manassero blew his chances of making it to the Masters Tournament, as he scored an equal-par 72 in the final round of the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II on Sunday, March 25, 2012.
The Italian teenager had shared a lead with Irishman Damien McGrane while entering the final round of the tournament, with an overall score of 12-under par.
However, he failed to hold on to his lead and remained at the same score while five players surpassed him on the leaderboard.
Meanwhile, two others joined him to share the sixth position in the tournament.
A win in the tournament was necessary for him to earn a place in the first major event of the year. Therefore, he will now miss the prestigious event at the Augusta National Golf Club.
“I would have loved to be going to Augusta for a first time as a professional,” he said. “But I will go now to Sicily this week and concentrate on winning the Sicilian Open”.
Manassero carded a total of three birdies and a spectacular eagle on Sunday. However, the same number of bogeys and double bogey forced his score to remain at level par.
Meanwhile, Michael Hoey surged to the top of the leaderboard, with a stunning performance of seven-under par 65 to take a three-stroke margin victory over the overnight leader, McGrane.
He managed to record a total of eight birdies in the final round against his lone bogey on the par-five 10th hole.
McGrane scored five birdies against three bogeys to finish two-under par 70.
It was an average performance in the final round of any event when a player has a lead at the end of the third round. Yet, it was not enough to stop Hoey, who was in his best form.
The best performance on the day was recorded by Jamie Donaldson who broke the course record with an 11-under par 61, to shoot his place on the leaderboard with a 40-place jump.
He managed to post six birdies along with three outstanding eagle putts to tie for the third position at the Golf du Palais Royal. His only bogey of the day came on the par-five fifth hole.
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