Thomas Aiken wins Open de Espana and dedicates victory to Seve Ballesteros – Golf update
South African professional golfer, Thomas Aiken, attained his first European tour victory after posting a two under par 70 at the Open de Espana. The player was in the lead throughout the tournament and dedicated his maiden win to
golfing legend, Seve Ballesteros, who passed away on Saturday. The player had actually taken a seven week break before he teed off in Spain. Winning two shots ahead of final round partner Anders Hansen, Aiken was ten under par total at the end of the tournament.
“It's been a sad week with Seve passing away," said Aiken. "I definitely want to dedicate this win to him with it being his home Open and what he gave to his home fans and to golf. I don't think it's quite hit home yet. I've been waiting for this for a long,
long time. Actually couldn't have thought of a better week to cross the finish line.”
The player started the last round with a two-shot lead and wasn’t hesitant to work his way to his first victory. Aiken two-putted for a birdie at the par-five second and then four holes later, he struck once again. On the par 4 6th hole the player
hit an approach from a dirt path to 20 feet. Making the turn at two under, Aiken was doing really well as he birdied the 11th hole as well.
Just as things were going really well, the player couldn’t get the 20 feet putt quite right and made a bogey on the thirteenth hole. With this bogey reducing the lead down to two, Denmark’s Hansen bogeyed hole number thirteen as well. Things started looking
in favour of the South African as he birdied the fourteenth hole. Aiken made another silly bogey on the seventeenth but even Hansen managed to make another birdie and finally Aiken was the winner.
The player, who collected a 330,000 Euros winner’s check, was wearing a black ribbon just like all other golfers in honour of Ballesteros. The player has continued the great success South Africans golfers have been displaying this season. Five of the tournaments
this season were won by Aiken’s compatriots and he was finally added to the winners list today
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