Jorge Campillo moved up to sixth place on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai Rankings after finally ending his wait for a maiden European Tour title at the 229th time of asking with a brilliant two-stroke triumph at the Trophée Hassan II.
The Spaniard, who came into the tournament with two second place finishes and a third in his last four events, started the final round just one shot behind Erik Van Rooyen but started poorly with two bogeys in his opening three holes. However, the 32 year old quickly recovered with birdies on eight and 11 before holding his nerve to pick up two more shots over his last three holes to sign for a tournament total of nine under par and a two shot victory over Van Rooyen and American duo Sean Crocker and Julian Suri. With the win, Campillo picks up 585 Race to Dubai points which moves him from 20th to sixth with 1179.2 points in the season long Rankings.
“It’s been a long road,” said Campillo after finally getting his hands on European Tour silverware. “I’m grateful, but it’s been way too long. Way too many hours of work since I was a boy to today. I’m just proud that I can say I’m a winner on the European Tour.
“I just love the game, I love competing. Most people say, maybe I’m not a winner, but I was when I was an amateur. It was a matter of time, I think I proved it today.
“I made so many promises of things that I have to do after I win that I might have to take a few weeks off!It was tough, I didn’t have my A game. I was missing shots off the tee but I putted great. I hit some great shots coming in and I’m proud. I’m proud of the way I finished. I finished today like a champion.”
Van Rooyen’s wait for a maiden European Tour title goes on with the South African failing to convert his one-stroke overnight lead into victory after posting a final round one over par 74 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco.
Despite missing out on the title, the 29 year old makes his way from 37th to 19th in the Rankings after collecting 260.7 points. Crocker and Suri also received 260.7 points which sees Crocker leapfrog from 118th to 41st while compatriot Suri climbs to 38th from 95th.
“To have four under par rounds is something I didn’t have in India. On a course like this where it demands so much from me tee-to-green and on the greens, definitely huge steps forward, and for me to be bogey-free in the final round to maintain that sort of composure is definitely something first for this year, so it’s definitely a trend I’d like to keep going forward.” – Julian Suri
Meanwhile, David Lipsky posted a five under par tournament total after rounds of 71,70,74 and 72 to take fifth place on his own – his third top ten of the season. The American takes home 148 Race to Dubai points which sees him re-enter the top ten of the Race to Dubai in ninth spot.
The top 50 players in the Race to Dubai Rankings will contest the season-ending US$8millionDP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai from November 21-24 where US$3 million will be up for grabs for the winner, making it the richest prize in world golf.
