Englishman Craig Hinton, the winner of the 2016 Mena Tour Order of Merit, will enter what promises to be an exciting 2017 full of confidence after winning the US$150,000 3e Actuaries Open in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea.
The 27 year old is set to play in next year’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic among several starts on the European Tour as well as playing on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour after topping the Mena Tour’s money list with two victories and he proved his quality again by coming out on top in the African event against a top class field that included PGA Tour start Charlie Wi.
Having fired an Equatorial Guinean record of 7-under 65 in the third round to move two clear of the field Hinton produced a solid closing round of level-par 72 to finish three shots clear of former European Tour player Peter Gustafsson of Sweden at 10-under par.
Final Leaderboard. 3e Actuaries OPEN pic.twitter.com/HVHDISkI0g
— Road to Mongomo (@3e_EGOpen) December 12, 2016
“It’s been a long day and it was hard work out there so to finally win is a great achievement,” said Hinton who made two bogeys and a birdie on the front nine before a solid bogey-free back nine was finished off in style with a birdie at the last. “It fills me with a lot of confidence and I look forward to moving on now.
“It was new experience for me coming to Equatorial Guinea. I knew a few of the boys in the field from the Mena Tour but I hadn’t played with most of players before. There were some good players from the Sunshine Tour and we also had Charlie Wi from the PGA Tour so it was a really good field and it’s great to come out on top.”
“This win gives me a lot of confidence going forward. I think today’s round was a bit harder than I would have liked but it definitely gives me confidence, winning the Mena Tour and then coming here and winning again.”
Hinton almost didn’t make the field for the prestigious African event, having gained the last of five available spots at the DSA Architects ‘Road to Mongomo’ Qualifier presented by Worldwide Golf at Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai in September, after a tense four-man play-off.
What a week in Equatorial Guinea! Nothing could have prepared me for this experience, thank you @oopayinka @3e_EGOpen! See you in 2017⛳️👍
— Ryan Cairns (@CairnzyGolf) December 12, 2016
“It was close, I nearly wasn’t even here – it came down to one shot or I wouldn’t have been here,” he said. “The qualifier was run very well. We had five guys come over from that and I think everybody made the cut and played very well so it was great and hopefully there’ll be more of them.”
With lots of traveling on the agenda as he competes in events around the world to further his golfing career, Hinton revealed that the US$24,000 winner’s cheque could not have come at a better time.
“I think my girlfriend will be happy!” he said. “It’s going to be a massive help to me going into next year – it covers a few costs which is a massive thing. Everybody out here at this level is struggling for cash so to have that going forwards is amazing.”
Meanwhile, in the ladies event which ran concurrently to the men’s tournament, Chile’s Paz Echeverria, who plays on the LPGA, signed off her professional golf career in style with a closing round of two-over 74 to finish 2-under for the tournament, four strokes clear of Columbia’s Paula Hurtado and Spain’s Luna Sobron.
What a week!! Happy to be going home with the win in the @3e_EGOpen. Thanks @oopayinka for your hospitality! We all had a great time! 🏆
— Paz Echeverria (@Merygolf) December 12, 2016
“I played really well the first three days so I had a couple of shots saved for today,” she said. “I knew it was going to be a tough day. Luna and Paula were playing really well too so I’m happy to get the win.
“It’s my first win outside my country and it’s actually my last win as a professional so it’s even more special.”
Echeverria, who will take up a role developing junior golf within her home country next year, admits to being surprisingly impressed with her experience in Africa.
“I knew nothing about Equatorial Guinea,” she said.
“I found out that they spoke Spanish and I thought that was weird as I ever knew they spoke Spanish somewhere in Africa! They invited a friend of mine who also plays on the LPGA and she couldn’t come so suggested that they invite me instead. I wasn’t sure whether to come or not then they said I could bring a friend so we said ‘why not, let’s do it and see what happens. I’m happy I made that decision!
Had a great time in mongomo this week, i came 4th, it was such a fun tournament and met some great people @3e_EGOpen @oopayinka
— Rachael Goodall (@Rachygolfer) December 12, 2016
“The layout of the golf course is unbelievable. I think the greens could be a little bit better – that would make it extraordinary but I think it’s a really good course.”
With a US$24,000 cheque also awarded to the winner of the ladies’ tournament Echeverria couldn’t wish for a better way to close the curtain on her career as a professional golfer.
“It’s a wonderful end to my career and the winner’s cheque comes perfectly in time for Christmas!”
