LA RESERVA DE SOTOGRANDE luxury setting for the return of the European Tour to Andalucía, a superb tournament won by Italian Marco Crespi

The magic of the European Tour has once again enchanted Andalucía, and at another exceptional course: La Reserva de Sotogrande, venue for the NH Collection Open. Italy’s Marco Crespi won this newly created event.

Marco Crespi insisted a good start was key as he won his first European Tour title at the NH Collection Open. The 35 year old, who came through Qualifying School at the 11th attempt in November to earn a first season on The European Tour, completed victory on only his 25th career start.

A three under par 69 gave the Italian a ten under total at La Reserva de Sotogrande Club de Golf and a two shot win over Spain’s Jordi Garcia Pinto and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay.

Crespi turned in a four under par 32 to race into a three shot lead, but bogeys at the 12th and 13th jeopardised his chances.

The two-time Challenge Tour winner had only finished in the top ten of a European Tour event once before, finishing fourth at the South African Open earlier this season, but held his nerve and birdied the 14th before paring his way in for victory.

“I started very well today,” said Crespi. “I birdied the first and that gave me the confidence to go low.

“I just had to manage my pressure on the back nine. I lost a couple of shots on 12 and 13. On 12 I hit a very bad eight iron to the green, my only bad shot of the day. On 13 I had a very long iron, a three iron, and it wasn’t a really bad shot.

“But then I birdied the next; I really like the 14th because I birdied it every day.

“I played very good and I am very happy.”

Earlier Ramsay had birdied his first four holes to move into a share of the lead, with Crespi, who had birdied the first, and overnight leader Matthew Nixon.

But Crespi had further gains at the fifth, eighth and ninth to surge clear, and a double bogey six at the ninth effectively ended the Scot’s chances of a third European Tour title as he signed for a closing 68.

Garcia Pinto birdied four of his last five holes for a 66 as the 24 year old posted his best European Tour finish, while Nixon and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar shared fourth on seven under.

“Putting has been the key this week,” added Crespi. “The greens were perfect, I felt very confident and the ball rolled beautifully.

“I have been waiting a long time for this moment and I would like to dedicate my win to my wife Elena and to Carlotta, our two year old daughter.”

Garcia Pinto added: “I have been working hard all winter. I spend eight hours on the golf course, working on all aspects of the game and the results are starting to show.

“I came without expectations and things have turned out nicely; 66 is a great score to finish the tournament but we have a long season ahead.

“I learned that last year when I won in Kenya, I must go on working and trying to score consistently week after week.”

THE OLDEST ROOKIE

Aged 35, Marco Crespi is the oldest rookie on The European Tour this season. At aged 35 years and 152 days is the oldest rookie to win in European Tour history.

Crespi is only the second Italian rookie to win in European Tour history. The first was Matteo Manassero at the 2010 Castello Masters. He is the ninth different Italian to win in European Tour history.

“THE TOURNAMENT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS”

La Reserva manager Juan Álvarez Lozano said he was extremely satisfied with the inaugural NH Collection Open “because we can say it was a great success. Both the players and the press and public left with a very pleasant impression of our golf course. As we hoped and expected, the course measured up well, in both technical layout and maintenance. The fact that players at this level said the course was prepared in excellent condition gives us the incentive to continue presenting it in just as good a state, or even better, for our clients.

“As for the attendance figures, I have to say they were quite significant, around 5,000 people during the week, which is – without a doubt – very good.

“At La Reserva,” he concluded, “we have been very pleased with the tournament, and it has also been important for Sotogrande for top-level golf to return to the area.”

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