The PGA of Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli conquered the Costa Daurada’s windy conditions, leading from start to finish to win the first ever Lumine International Pro-Am by three shots.
“I played very solid from tee to green [today]….I missed a few putts on the back nine, but it was really windy, so sometimes that happens,” said Individual Professional Winner, Gagli. “But I’m happy I finished with two birdies, so +2 today I think is a good round.
“I didn’t know [if it was enough to win]…but I did my job, so I was proud of my job and I played my best.
“I would like to thank my team, the Confederation of Professional Golf, Lumine Golf Course, and all the pros and all the amateurs…I am very happy for this win.”
The forecasted high winds ensured that Round 03 was going to be a tough challenge for the players, as the competition returned to the Lakes Course at Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club in Spain.
The contest was very much in the balance going into the final round, as Gagli held a slender two-shot lead over Bjorn Pettersson (PGA of Sweden).
Gagli had a quiet start to his final round, carding nine consecutive pars. However, he opened the back nine with bogeys on holes 10, 11 and 12.
He immediately hit back with a birdie on the par-four 13th, but lost a further two shots on the next two holes.
Seemingly unphased that his lead could be deteriorating, Gagli birdied the tricky par-three 17th, before a magnificent second shot on the par-five 18th left him with a simple two-putt to finish with a birdie, and card a round of 73 (+2), for a three-round total of 211 (-3).
The competition completed a fantastic week for the Italian, after he finished tied third in the Confederation of Professional Golf’s Fourball Championship just a few days previous, and now takes home the €3,800 first prize.
“Obviously it has been a good week, a good experience…I finished third with Canonica in the Fourball and I won the Pro-Am, so it has been a great week for me.
“I will try [to come back next year], but I would like to play on the main tour next year, but obviously if not, I would like to come here.”
In second place and three shots back, was the PGA of Sweden’s Bjorn Pettersson, after a three-over third round of 74, gave him a total of 214 (E).
“I am pretty pleased with second place…I tried to get it going today, but it was a little bit too tough,’ said the Swede.
“I knew Lorenzo [Gagli] was going to post a decent number…I tried my best, but it wasn’t enough. It was very windy…a lot of crosswinds made it difficult, and it came from the other direction than normal.”
Pettersson started on the 10th and made two bogeys and two birdies to reach the turn in 36 (E), but started to struggle with the high winds and bogeyed holes four, eight and nine.
“It’s been a great week, such a good start for the season…I like being down here and the weather has been pretty decent, and the golf course is always good. For sure [I’ll be back next year]…I love being here at Lumine, so I’m going to be here again.”
Making up the top three was Gagli’s Fourball partner and fellow PGA of Italy Professional, Emanuele Canonica. The Italian cared five bogeys on his front nine, but recovered to come home in 34 (-2) and give him a round of 74, and a total of 217 (+3) for the competition.
The Team Pro-Am Competition was won by the team consisting of PGA of France Professional, Eric Colletta, and amateurs, Pierre Fedrigo, J Baptiste Montaut and Simon Cohen. The quartet led after all three rounds and carded a fantastic final round stableford score of 83 points (-11), to give them a total of 256 points (-40).
They were two points clear of the team lead by PGA of Great Britain & Ireland Professional, Simon Williamson, who also carded a Round 03 score of 83 points for a 254 point total.
“We’re delighted, we played very consistently for all three of the rounds, and we were just pipped at the post…it was nip and tuck, but the better team won in the end,” said Williamson’s team, David Allott, Susan Allott and Brian Gill. “We’ve had a great week, and I think we’re going to do it again next year…it has been really well organised.”
Finishing in third place with 246 points were Itamar Cohen (PGA of Israel), Mordechai Fishman, Arieh Heanig and Zvi Herskoviz.
For Full Final Scores Visit http://eur.pe/2017Lumine
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For more information about the Confederation of Professional Golf, visit the Tournament Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2017Lumine), follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search #LumineProAm, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.
For more information on LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club visit www.lumine.com.
