Sam Conner’s career was headed on a solid path this summer before an injury setback thwarted his progress. After having secured two wins on the EuroPro Tour, and with a European Challenge Tour card in hand, he lost two months of competition in summer with a back injury.
Now that is all behind him after his victory in The Gecko Tour event played at Málaga’s Parador course (he also gained a meritorious eighth place in the Volopa Irish Challenge in mid-September). The 25-year-old Englishman and compatriot Simon Ward finished the tournament with a total of 137 shots over two rounds, and Connor prevailed on the first play-off hole. The tournament was another example of the high level of competition on The Gecko Tour, with nine other players separated by just two shots.
The keys to Connor’s victory were an exceptional opening round of 64 and a birdie on the 16th hole in the last round. “It was a critical moment. I had just made a bogey on the 15th hole and was only one shot away from Ward. It was a crucial birdie, although the most important part was my attitude. I never stopped thinking I could win. It was a question of having faith.”
As for the play-off… “I hit two really good shots and left the ball in the middle of the green on the 18th hole. Simon sent the ball to the bunker short of the green and had an excellent shot out of the bunker, but he wasn’t able to land the putt for par and I took the win.”
Benedict Staben and Spanish golfers Gonzalo Ganged and Gabriel Cañizares finished tied for third, while Jaime Camargo and Manuel Quirós and Swedish golfers William Nygard and Fredrik From were another shot back joint sixth.
Connor has a medical extension to return to the Challenge Tour in March, and in the meantime he has opted for the Gecko to train for next season. “The Gecko is a really great tour, and lives up to our expectations. They’re good courses, normally good weather, and great players. It’s highly beneficial for us.”
The Gecko Tour resumed almost immediately, with the sixth tournament being played at Atalaya Golf Club on Thursday and Friday (1-2 December).
