Alexander Levy fired a final-round 2-under par 70 and held off a late charge from 54-hole leader Alvaro Quiros to capture the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco.
The Frenchman, who entered the day just one back of Quiros, made three front-nine birdies at Royal Golf Dar Es Salamand to turn with the lead at 8 under. A bogey on the par-4 16th dropped him to 7 under, but a bounce-back gain on the 17th moved Levy to 8-under par, good for a one-stroke victory over the Spaniard Quiros.
“This feels so good. I’m a little bit tired now because it was really tough today but I did a really good job today. For me, I played an amazing game. I’m so happy to win this trophy,” said Levy.
“Like what I said from the start of the season, I need to improve my game. I need to work a lot. I worked a lot the last two days, two weeks, and I won this trophy.
“So that’s helped me but step by step, it’s a good win but I need to go back to work because we can see we have a lot of good players in Europe. So it will be tough to make it.”
Quiros, who had led after each of the first three rounds, struggled early and was 2 over on the day until back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 returned him to level par and possession of second-place at 7-under par.
One further back was the foursome of Alexander Björk and Joakim Lagergren of Sweden, Finn Mikko Ilonen and Andrea Pavan of Italy.
The win was Levy’s fifth on the European Tour, and first since last season’s Volvo China Open, where he’ll defend next week.
The 27-year old earned $487,500 and 24 world ranking points which will move him inside the top 50, and into contention for a Ryder Cup spot, which will be contested in his native France.
FINAL TOP 10
1 Alexander Levy -8
2 Alvaro Quiros -7
3 Andrea Pavan -6
3 Joakim Lagergren -6
3 Alexander Bjork -6
3 Mikko Ilonen -6
7 Andy Sullivan -5
7 Erik van Rooyen -5
9 Seung-su Han -4
9 Paul Waring -4
9 Joost Luiten -4
WINNER’S STATS
Driving: 300.6 (13)
Fairways: 44.6% (54)
Greens: 70.8% (5)
Putting: 1.766 (29)
Scores: 1 Eagle, 14 Birdies, 50 pars, 6 Bogeys, 1 Double
LEVY’S FINAL-ROUND HIGHLIGHTS
QUOTABLE
“I played an amazing game. I’m so happy to win this trophy.”
– Alexander Levy
Credit: European Tour Media, Getty Images
