Scotland’s Paul Lawrie triumphs after eight years in Andalucia Open, European Tour
European Tour event of Andalucia Open, being played the par-70, Parador Malaga Golf course, concluded on Sunday. The overnight leader Paul Lawrie continued his dominance on the final day to lift a trophy after almost eight years.
Lawrie certainly exhibited his class on all the four days to finish the championship with a total score of 12-under par, 268.
He started from the first nine and made three bogeys. The back-nine turned out to be fortunate for him as he made four birdies in five holes. He had a total of five birdies and three bogeys marked on his card to post a final round of even-par, 70. Lawrie
was impressive with his beautiful iron shots which has paid him dividends.
With the win, the 42-year-old from Scotland has ended his much awaited title drought. He last won at Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open in 2002.
At the conclusion ceremony, Lawrie said, “It's been a long time - 2002 seems a h**l of a time ago. I've had a few second places in there, but all of a sudden we're there again. I played lovely and the putter behaved better. I got on a nice run at the right
time.”
Sweden’s Johan Edfors was Lawrie’s nearest competitor. Edfors managed to card a moderate round of two-under par, 68 but was just one behind the winner. He only needed a birdie on the closing 18th to go in a playoff with Lawrie but only managed
a par. The Swede made six birdies and four birdies on his score card. His four day aggregate score was eleven-under par, 269.
Johan’s bogey on the par-4, 15th proved out to be a costly one at the end of his round. He was tied on the leader board but dropped a shot on the 15th. The 35-year-old veteran was pleased with the way he was stroking the ball on the
greens. He was close to winning but Lawrie was too good for him.
Felipe Aguilar of Chile finished at the third spot. He had a steady final round of two-under par. Felipe had three birdies and a single bogey on his score card. The long par-4, 15th troubled him as his approach shot went through the green. He
had to be content with a bogey from thereon. Aguilar finished the championship with a total score of ten-under par, 270.
Three players shared the third position after the final day. Dane Jeppe Huldahl, Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and England’s Mark Foster had similar aggregate score of four rounds. They had a score of nine-under par, 271 and shared the fourth spot.
The veteran Lawrie picked up the trophy along with the winner’s cheque of € 166,660
Tags: