It was the nerviest of finishes, but Alvaro Quiros sealed a memorable comeback win over South African Zander Lombard at the Rocco Forte Open in Sicily, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
And while there was joy for Quiros and his team, the other side of the coin spelt agony for the young South African. It’s been five long years for Quiros and all those nightmares seemed to be drifting back into focus with a back nine collapse at the Verdura Resort.
Starting with a five-stroke lead, Quiros had stretched his lead to as much as seven strokes over Lombard before the nerves kicked in and the wind picked up. But it wasn’t cut and dried yet, as the South African gave two shots away in four holes down the stretch as he started misfiring with his irons.
It appeared a done deal for Lombard when he knocked his chip to a foot on 18, with Quiros beginning to crumble and a plugged lie in the bunker over the back awaiting him.
The Spaniard summoned everything he had, splashed out and sank a lengthy putt to save par and move the contest into a playoff down 18 once again.
Advantage Quiros as Lombard played the hole in +3 during the week compared to his -1.
Both men found the fairway before Lombard hit his approach just on to the front section of the green, with Quiros failing to take his chance as he hit it long and left. Lombard found his touch and putted in two for par – matched by Quiros, who putted to a couple of feet.
The contenders then found themselves in the equal, but opposite position on the second playoff hole. Quiros hit it close, while Lombard three-putted to hand Quiros the chance, which he took.
Earlier, Lombard opened birdie birdie and erased his bogey on four with three more front nine birdies as he put himself into contention for his maiden European Tour title. Birdies on 12 and 13 saw him close the gap on a faltering Quiros, who limped into the scorer’s hut with a back nine 40.
Another Spaniard, Pep Angles, briefly got himself within one with a chip-in on 17, but faded from the picture on 18, despite finding the fairway with a towering drive, while Chinese sensation Haotong Li was left stranded in the car park waiting to see if he would be involved in a playoff, after a scintillating 66 on Sunday which included an albatross.
South African Jbe Kruger completed a solid week as he closed with a 71 to finish T11 while Haydn Porteous shot a +5 76 to finish T38.
