Forty-eight years old and nearly twenty-five seasons spent on the professional circuit, Richard Bland won the British Masters, his first victory on the European Tour.
The Englishman won on the Belfry course after a play-off against the Italian Guido Migliozzi (24), who was only eighteen months old when Bland started his career .
It only took one hole for the latter to win and lift the trophy awarded by Danny Willett, during a particularly moving ceremony.
“I did,” said a moved Bland, professional since 1996.
It was the 478 professional tournament contested by Bland, who lost his playing rights several times on the European circuit, for lack of gains, before coming back through the Challenge Tour (as in 2004 and 2008) or the terrible ordeal of the European maps (2007 and 2011).
By winning the British Masters, Richard Bland becomes the oldest player with their first victory on the European Tour.
“I have always worked very hard and have continued to believe in it.
Lately, I have put the package on the wedge.
And this week my big game was at a great level.
I'm not the toughest on the circuit, but I must have missed five or six fairways this week ... "
At the end of the four rounds of the British Masters 2021, Richard Bland had finished with a final card of 66, thus signing only one small bogey in 72 holes. Rewarded, he was therefore at the head of the leaderboard tied with Migliozzi (-13), managing to force the Englishman to play off by saving the par on the 18. Behind the co-leaders were the Finnish Korkhonen, the Englishman Dave Coupland and the Pole Adrian Meronk, one shot (-12). Eddie Peperell (-9), leader on the morning of the last lap, finished in 11th place, after a last card above par (73).
On the French side, Matthieu Pavon and Raphaël Jacquelin (-6) finish at the gates of the top20, tied for the 21st position, ahead of Julien Guerrier (30th, -5). During the last round, Mike Lorenzo-Vera signed the best card (64) of the day. The Basque, on the tee at around 7 am, ended his week (71-74-75-64) in the best possible way, with nine birdies for only one small bogey conceded. He finished with a bang to climb up to 34erang, tied with Alexandre Lévy and Clément Sordet (-4).