Saving his best for last, David Law produced a sparkling 67 to win the Sotogrande Masters for his maiden success on the MENA Golf Tour at La Reserva Golf Club on Wednesday.
Starting the final day a good two shots in front, the 24-year-old prodigy played his last 12 holes in five under after an early bogey on the sixth to finish the tournament on seven-under 209, a good six shots ahead of England’s Zane Scotland, who carded a final round 69.
Spain’s Victor Bertran made the biggest move of the final day, firing a solid six-under 66 — the best score of the tournament — to finish in a tie for third on level-par with Italy’s Rocco Sanjust.
Scotland’s David Law receiving the winner’s trophy from Spain’s Manuel Pinero, a
nine-time winner on the European Tour, as MENA Golf Tour ambassador Carlos
Balmaseda and Trevor Varri, the tournament director, look on. (Photo – MENA Tour)
The Spaniard rattled off eight birdies, one eagle (on the par-5, fourth) and one bogey in a round that represented an improvement of a whopping 12 shots on his second-round 78.
“It feels really great to win my first tournament on the MENA Golf Tour after two runner-up finishes (in 2013). The thinking was to stay in the moment and focus on what I needed to; that’s to make birdies,” said Law after receiving the winner’s trophy and a cheque of US$9,000 from Spain’s Manuel Pinero, a nine-time winner on the European Tour.
“Basically, I tried to play golf the way I did on the first two days. It’s a tough golf course from tee to green, but I am very happy with my golf. I putted well and took opportunities that came my way,” said Law, the third Scotsman to win on the tour after Paul Doherty and Clarke Lutton.
“The tour is travelling to new places which is fantastic. We are lucky to play on this course which is by far one of the best in Spain,” said the Scotsman, who also equals the largest winning margin record on the tour, recorded by England’s Ross McGowan (England) at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open.
Rising Moroccan star Yassine Touhami won the amateur division on 10 over after closing with a 75, a good nine shots ahead of Spain’s Salvador Paya Vila as Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Attieh settled for a distant third a further three shots adrift.
Experienced Younes El Hassani topped the MENA Division for professionals on 14 over after a neck-and-neck battle with fellow countryman Faycal Serghini as most golfers struggled to string together their rounds in windy conditions.
Elsewhere, the 2015 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit champion Thriston Lawrence returned a final round 70 to take share of the fifth along with Spain’s Manuel Quiros on one over. An eagle on the par-4, fifth – his second of the tournament – highlighted the final round of the South African.
England’s Miles Tunnicliff, a two-time winner on the European Tour, also made his presence felt, closing with a four-under 68 to settled for a tied 13th as England’s Andrew Marshall, the current Order of Merit leader, moved into a tie for seventh on two over after a final round 71.
The next event on the MENA Golf Tour will be the Ras Al Khaimah Classic to be held at Tower Links Golf Club from May 2.
The Sotogrande Masters results:
Professionals:
David Law (Scotland) – seven-under
Leading amateur:
Yassine Touhami (Morocco) – 10-over
MENA Division:
Leading Professional:
Younes El Hassani (Morocco) – 14-over
Leading amateur:
Yassine Touhami (Morocco) – 10-over
