David Drysdale has gained the Vattanac Legends Championship after a nail-biting closing spherical in Cambodia, capturing a powerful closing 66 to assert an emotional first win on the Legends Tour.
English duo Peter Baker and Anthony Wall each completed a shot again at -11, with Andrew Marshall and in a single day chief Phillip Archer at -10 on a day of low scoring on the Sir Nick Faldo-designed Vattanac Golf Resort.
South Africa’s Keith Horne – a winner on the Reignwood Legends Championship in July – led with six to play however was compelled to accept a share of sixth place, alongside first-round chief Greg Owen.
For Drysdale it was a big day. An excellent birdie on the final obtained him into the clubhouse at -12, one forward of Wall who had simply set the goal at -11. The Scot then needed to endure a nerve-wracking wait to see if his 19-year look forward to a win – spanning 576 DP World Tour and 14 Legends Tour occasions – was at an finish.
“Vattanac Legends Championship winner sounds incredible,” stated Drysdale. “It’s been a very long time coming, nevertheless it feels superb. I performed nice at present and I’m delighted to get it accomplished. I felt fairly calm and was simply attempting to remain centered and hit one good shot after one other.
“I didn’t get off to a fantastic begin, however then I discovered my rhythm and hit some massive pictures into the par-fives on the again 9. The one on 13 was enormous for me. I hit a fantastic drive and had an excellent quantity, so hit 3-hybrid proper at it – left me about an eight-footer for eagle which I holed. And the one into 18 is the kind of shot you dream of hitting. Virtually made a 3 however delighted with a 4 to complete.”
Having carded -12, Drysdale then needed to endure the prospect of both Peter Baker or Phillip Archer eagling the final to power a play-off. “It’s been a troublesome half-hour,” he stated, after neither was in a position to make the three wanted to disclaim him victory. “For those who get an excellent drive away an eagle is certainly doable so it was a little bit of nervous wait. I’m glad it’s throughout. It means the world to me. I had a few probabilities to win, had a pair the place guys robbed me should you like – it will go an extended option to make up for that.”
With the lead altering fingers a number of instances over the course of the afternoon, spectators in Phnom Penh have been handled to a spectacular end on the Vattanac Golf Resort with the Marshall, Horne and former Ryder Cup participant Jarmo Sandelin forcing their option to the highest of a fluctuating leaderboard earlier than Wall and Drysdale made decisive strikes.
Wall specifically made a fantastic surge on the again, eagling the par-four eleventh after driving the inexperienced and including two additional birdies coming in. “It was a full dedication driver – it ran to about 5 toes and I holed it, in order that was nice,” stated Wall afterwards.
“The previous couple of holes are arduous, mentally fairly troublesome, and I performed them actually solidly. I felt like I wanted a 3 on the final, and I’m delighted that I used to be in a position to hit my greatest drive and a hybrid that pitched 15ft from the flag. Sadly it ran by and left a troublesome chip to gap. But it surely was a fantastic day and generally is the way in which it’s – I’m pleased with my efficiency. I’m so happy for David – he’s a diamond and he deserves to win. It’s been so lengthy. I keep in mind the play-off in Qatar and he was so unfortunate. Honest play to him, I’m delighted for him.”
Earlier within the day, former Ryder Cup participant Niclas Fasth additionally loved a second to keep in mind – a hole-in-one on the fifteenth gap. “It was a 4-iron from 197 yards, hit it completely and was actually completely satisfied when it dropped,” stated Fasth. “I believe it’s my eleventh ace and it’s at all times beautiful when it occurs!”
In a novel extension of the Tour’s first Cambodian chapter, there might be back-to-back Legends Tour occasions at Vattanac Golf Resort, as play strikes from the East to West Course for the Vattanac Legends Championship Legacy Version.
