Levy grabs first professional golf title
SHENZEN, China: Frenchman Alexander Levy won the first professional tournament of his fledgling career on Sunday, holding off a spirited charge from England’s Tommy Fleetwood in the $3.2 million ...
April 27, 2014
The 23-year-old overnight leader showed few nerves as he plotted his way around Shenzhen’s par-72 Genzon Golf Club in 69 for a total score of 19-under-par and the $530,000 winner’s cheque.
Levy had started the final round three strokes ahead of Alvaro Quiros and was soon four ahead when the Spaniard bogeyed the first hole. It quickly got worse for the big-hitting Quiros as he played aggressive golf in a bid to gain ground on Levy but dropped further back to go out in one-over par.
Levy, whose previous best finish in a tournament was third at last year’s BMW International Open, picked up a shot at the sixth to complete his first nine in one-under 34.
Alexander Levy secured his first European Tour title after winning the China Open by four shots.
The Frenchman began the final round with a three-shot lead and was cruising to victory when he birdied the 14th to go five shots ahead of Tommy Fleetwood with five holes remaining.
However, Levy had a double bogey on the par-4 15th after pulling his approach to the left of the green and was hampered by a divot on his third shot, allowing Fleetwood closed to within one shot.
Levy, though, recovered with birdies on the final two holes to secure the win on 19-under as Fleetwood ended the round with a bogey.
"I didn't feel pressure - it was a difficult putt, difficult pin position, my ball was in the divot. It was a difficult shot, I made double bogey but I knew I was playing well and I was only thinking about my game," Levy said about the 15th hole.
"I just played my golf and focused on the target. I saw Tommy made a birdie on the 17th but I like the pressure."
Alvaro Quiros finished third on 13-under following a round of 72, with Francesco Molinari fourth on 12-under after the Italian carded a five-under 67.
World No.3 Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter and Anders Hansen all finished on 11-under and shared fifth spot.
