DP World Tour: ISPS Handa Championship in Spain.. Results
Local hero Pablo Larrazábal claimed his seventh DP World Tour title - and his first on home soil - after reeling off five birdies in a row around the turn to win the 2022 ISPS Handa Championship in Spain by one shot.
The popular Spaniard began the final round at Infinitum's Lakes Course in a tie for sixth but catapulted himself into the lead with birdies at the fourth, seventh, ninth, tenth, 11th, 12th and 13th.
His only bogey came at the difficult 15th but he did not let that derail his challenge, responding with an outstanding birdie on the 16th and following that up with another gain at the last to sign for a 62 and set the clubhouse target at 15 under par.
But with the trio in the final group - Adrian Otaegui, Hennie du Plessis and Aaron Cockerill - all just two strokes behind Larrazábal with three holes still to complete, he faced an anxious wait to discover his fate.
He was able to celebrate his second victory in as many months, though, after his challengers could not force a play-off.
Fellow Spaniard Otaegui finished alone in second on 14 under after notching a birdie at the 18th, with Du Plessis and Cockerill another shot back in T3
Larrazábal said: "What a day. But I knew that my golf was there.
"I couldn't make any putts the first three days but I told my girlfriend last night that she had to choose the clothing for the (winning) pictures!
“I knew that I had a low one in my bag and that's what I did. Today I holed putts and that was key. I mean, to shoot 62 in windy conditions with the flags out there, it was good.
It was another great week for Cockerill who lost his DP World Tour status, but has already had a T2 at Magical Kenya Open now a T3 and over a 103,000 euro he is well on his way to earning his card back, 25th on the DP World Tour rankings
After his 62 on a weather delayed Saturday left him with the overnight clubhouse lead he started Sunday with 3 straight birdies before a bogey at the 4th held him to a -2 32 front nine.. A killer double bogey 6 at the par 4,10th stalled his progress, but by 3 straight birdies and he was in contention at -13 just 2 shots behind Larazzabal, however straight pars from 14 in weren't quite enough to catch the leader for a chance at his 1st DP World title..still a great week and a spot in the Catalunya Championship this week.
Bryan Angus (europeantour.com)
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