Leader of the Spanish Open with two strokes in the morning of the 4th and last round this Sunday, Rafael Cabrera Bello finally needed a playoff to win.
Author of a final card of 69 today, he had to decide with his compatriot Adri Arnaus (67), the two players having finished tied (-19 in total) the 72 holes of the tournament.
This is Cabrera Bello's first victory in four years, his fourth on the European Tour while Adri Arnaus is still chasing a first success among the elite of the Old Continent.
Coriace Catalan
However, it only took one small playoff hole for Cabrera Bello (37), who fell to 232nd place in the world this year, to overcome the tough Catalan (187th world), who will celebrate his 28th on October 17. birthday. Back on hole n ° 18, Rafa filled the victory putt under the cheers of the crowd, gathered around the green, and under the eyes of world n ° 1 Jon Rahm, who finished in 17th position (-13 ).
Behind the two Spaniards, Julien Guerrier finished on the 3rd step of the podium alongside the Scottish Grant Forrest and the Indian Shubhankar Sharma, together at -17.
His card of 69 did not allow the Rochelais (28) to join the final battle for the win.
However, it concludes a week which remains very satisfactory for the 608th player in the world, now 103rd at the Race to Dubai.
Guerrier should make a spectacular jump in the world rankings on Monday, his last top 3 on the European Tour had been acquired in Oman in ... 2018.
Warrior 3rd, Dubuisson and Lévy 12th
Among the French, Victor Dubuisson, thanks to a good 66 this Sunday, and Alexandre Lévy (69) are classified in 12th position with the Paraguayan Zanotti, the Austrian Wiesberger and the Danish Bjerregard (-14).
Lévy is now in 52nd position in the Race and can look forward to the Dubai final in December with more and more serenity.
Just behind them at the leader of the Spanish Open in tied 17th place, Mike Lorenzo-Vera (-13) is in good company alongside locals Otaegui and Rahm.
This week in Madrid marks the start of three consecutive events in Spain on the European Tour, with the Spanish Open followed by the Masters of Andalusia and the Mallorca Golf Open.
Final classification of the Spanish Open at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid (par 71):
Rafael Cabrera Bello (Esp) -19
Adri Arnaus (Esp) -19
Julien Guerrier (Fra);
Grant Forrest (Eco);
Shubhankar Sharma (Ind) -17 ... etc
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