Steven Alderson had to hold back tears after his emotional victory at the G4D Tour @ Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters to become the first autistic champion in the history of the G4D Tour.
The Australian started the second day with a two-stroke lead at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande and ended with a 70 to win by nine strokes with a score of -7.
Alderson ̶ Spud for friends ̶ arrived very confident at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande after winning the South Australian All Abilities Championship by three strokes at Kooyonga at the end of September.
Spud plays a 1.4 handicap and his palmares include other major titles such as the 2020 South Australian Mid Amateur Men’s Championship and the 2023 South Australian Webex Players Series.
It has not been an easy road, and at 44 years old she fought back tears as she recalled the years of harassment she endured because of her autism.
“I couldn’t be prouder,” he said. “After being a bullied autistic kid in school and even at golf clubs, this means everything to me. I’m on top of the world.”
“To have the opportunity to play outside of my country representing Australia and my people is just amazing.”
Alderson will now return to tour the world after earning his spot in the G4D Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the final event of the season, and expressed his gratitude to those who have helped him on his journey.
“I want to thank my parents who have always supported me; my Willunga sponsors, Gully Winds Wine. Rob and Sarah, an extraordinary couple.
“To my caddie Trent (Blucher), without him this would not have been possible; and to Willunga Golf Club, to which I am proud to belong.”
“Sotogrande is a fantastic course and the people here are really friendly. Spain is a great country.
After making eagle on 2, Alderson alderson finished the front nine with three more birdies and a single bogey to reach -9.
He stumbled on the 15th where he had to put in a very long putt for a double bogey and lost another shot on the next, but a birdie on the 17th assured him a resounding victory.
“I’ve been working very hard lately, and in the practice round. We stuck to our game plan even though I missed a couple of shots down the stretch. My caddie has been outstanding all week and helped me stay in the present when I missed. A few years ago I probably would have broken a club or thrown the bag in the water, instead I was able to stay in the present moment, and putting that giant putt was amazing.”
Italy’s Davide Fasci shot a 68, the best round of the day, to finish second tied at +2 with France’s Mathieu Lebon.
The final event of the G4D Tour season will be the G4D Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship, which will be played in Dubai from November 11-13.
Tickets for the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters are now available, with discounts for federated players and free access for children under 13, and can be purchased here.
The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, a DP World Tour tournament valid for the Race to Dubai that is held thanks to the essential collaboration of the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Junta de Andalucía, in addition to being co-financed with European funds and having been declared an event of exceptional public interest by the Government of Spain.
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