Englishman Tom Shadbolt has been proclaimed champion of the Alps Costa del Sol at Lauro Golf with -18. Three strokes behind, in second place, was Spanish Santiago Tarrio (-15). Frenchman Nicolas Tacher and David Borda from Navarre were third with -11.
It is the first victory of Shadbolt, 28 years old, in the Alps Tour. This has been a tournament he will always remember, as he said when he handed in his card. “I had six second-place finishes but hadn’t managed to finish it off until today.”
The Englishman has been crowned in style, with a course record and a hole in 1 on the par 3 14th. Today he went out to play the decisive round one stroke behind leader Tarrio and has completed a final stretch to mark. The Galician, installed all week in the top positions of the tournament, ran into the best version of the Englishman, who in the last holes made an eagle on the par 5 13th hole and a hole in 1 just after. Everything changed in a matter of minutes. Faced with that ‘magic’, Tarrio could only finish the good work and be second.
Shadbolt carded 63 strokes. He also beat the course record of 64 strokes since 1999. In addition to the 1st hole and eagle, he had five birdies and zero errors. “It has been an incredible day. The moment I made the eagle I thought: now I have my chance. I’ve played very well these days and I knew I could do it. Everything went my way and I knew how to control the pressure at the end. I’m very happy,” said the champion.
As for the rest of the Spaniards, Gabriel Cañizares from Malaga finished sixth with -8. Jordi García del Moral and Manuel Morugan were also in the top 10, both with -7 in eighth place. Carlos Rodiles, also from Malaga, was twelfth with -5.
After the signing of the cards, the awards ceremony took place for the best classified. The ceremony was presided over by Francisco Salado, CEO of Tourism and Planning Costa del Sol; Joaquín Villanova, Mayor-President of the City Council of Alhaurín de la Torre; Carlos Pitarch, General Manager of Lauro Golf; Pablo Mansilla, President of the Professionals Committee of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation; and Javier Gervás, director of JGolf18.0, the company promoting the tournament. They all congratulated the sponsors, club workers, tournament volunteers and players for the fantastic event.
The Alps Costa del Sol has the support of Turismo Costa del Sol de Málaga, Turismo y Deporte Andalucía, the Real Federación Española de Golf, the Consejo Superior de Deportes and the Real Federación Andaluza de golf. It also has the collaboration of Reale, Solan de Cabras and Kyocera (official printing services). JGolf18 is the tournament promoter.
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