Gran Canaria Lopesan Open final Results
Garrick Higgo held off the challenge of in form Maximilian Kieffer to win his second European Tour title at the 2021 Gran Canaria Lopesan Open.
The South African lefty with the baby face, had carded the lowest round of his European Tour career with a 63 on day three to put himself in the driving seat and he had extended his lead to four shots by the turn.
Kieffer - fresh off a play-off defeat last week in Austria - came home in 30 to sign for a 62 and pile on the pressure but Higgo kept his cool and registered another 63 to get 25 under and seal a three shot victory.
Dane Jeff Winther picked up four shots in his last three holes to sign for a 64 and get to 21 under, two shots clear of England's Sam Horsfield.
Higgo's maiden victory at last season's Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos came in just his seventh event and this triumph at Meloneras Golf arrives in his 24th.
That makes him the fastest South African to two wins in European Tour history not including Major Championships, and the victory could also move him up to a career best 65th on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Including Majors, the only South African to claim two wins in fewer events is the great Gary Player, and Higgo revealed he spoke to Player on Saturday night as he sat on his first 54 hole lead.
"I spoke to Gary last night actually and he just said there is no such thing as a lead and you should play like you're two behind," he said. "That was nice from him. He's said it to me so many times but I've never really had a lead so I've never had to worry about that."
The result also secures a South African double, with Brandon Stone having won the Limpopo Championship on the European Challenge Tour earlier in the day.
"It's unreal," Higgo added. "Jeez, I can't put it into words, it feels amazing. It's quite a relief finishing now.
"It wasn’t over until the last hole really, I knew anything could happen, especially with the wind coming up. It was a bit stressful.
"I am just going to keep going forward. I am playing next week, the week after and see where my game goes. It feels good, I have worked really hard with my coach and everyone back at home, so it feels amazing."
Canadian Aaron Cockerill finished at -13 T29.
The Tour remains in the Canary Islands for the next fortnight, next week is the Tenerife Open.
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