Spain Rules The Links With Cabrera Bello Making It Back-To-Back Wins.

Rafa Cabrera Bello made it back to back Spanish victories on the European Tour in birding the first extra play off hole to win the Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.

Cabrera Bello, 33 birdied his closing two holes in a course record setting eight under par 64 before being joined on 13 under par by England’s Callum Shinkwin, who missed a tournament winning par putt on the last hole in regulation and his a round of 68.

The Dubai-based Cabrera Bello then found the par five 18th green, and the first extra hole in two and then two-putted for birdie after Shinkwin had parred the hole.

The win is Cabrera Bello’s third Tour victory although a first in five years while he earned him a first prize cheque of $US 1.66m.

He also joins compatriot, Jon Rahm as back-to-back Spanish winners after Rahm stormed his way to success in last week’s Irish Open.

“I am extremely happy”, he said.

Rafa CABRERA-BELLO (ESP) is the 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Champion. The tournament was played at Dundonald Links from 13th to 16th July 2017: Picture Stuart Adams, www.golftourimages.com: 16/07/2017

“I’ve won before and I have been up there so many, many times, and things not really working out for myself. I was starting to feel a little of pressure every time I was up there contending.

“So, really, really happy how I played today. I mean, in the playoff, I really gave it a go and extremely pleased it worked out for me”.

Shinkwin’s disappointment was eased by earning a place in this week’s Open along with a prize cheque for $US 6oo,ooo along the assurance of securing his Tour card for next year.

“It’s been a very good week and at the end of the day, I’ll be more than happy to finish second but the win was on my mind and didn’t happen”, he said.

“So, this result is massively important for me not only to be in The Open nbut hopefully later in the year I will qualify for the Race to Dubai finals.”

Frenchman Matthieu Pavon (66) finished third on 1o-under par to secure the second of three spots into The Open, and in what will be his first Major for the 24 year old Toulouse born golfer and just halfway through his rookie European Tour season.

“I played great yesterday and today, but badly I finished with a double-bogey on 1 yesterday, so it was a bit kind of revenge today, and I started well and everything was going in the right way,” he said.

“And to now being playing in my first Open, my first Major and in my first full season is going to be very special and I am very happy”.

And Australian Andrew Dodt, who was planning to travel with his wife to New York on Monday for a five-day holiday, secured the third Royal Birkdale place and his first appearance in a Major in shooting a last day 73 ending in a five way share of fourth at eight under.

“Yeah, tomorrow morning my wife and were meant to be off to New York, but pretty happy to be going to Birkdale and my first Major,” he said.

“So, I am over the moon. Over the moon. It’s been a big goal of mine sort of the back end of last year and this year to play my first major, and yeah, next week, bring it on



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