Jorge Campillo produced a final-round 2-under 71 to claim a two-shot victory in Morocco at the Trophee Hassan II.
Starting the final day at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam one shot back of 54-hole leader Erik van Rooyen, the Spaniard struggled early with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 2 and 3.
Campillo, though, settled his nerves, and finished his final 15 holes cleanly while adding four birdies, highlighted by a pair of late gains on Nos. 16 and 17 to claim his maiden European Tour title with a four-round score of 9-under par.
While it took 229 starts to claim his first victory, Campillo has been one of the Tour’s most consistent performers, having finished in the Race to Dubai’s top 100 in each of his seven European Tour campaigns.
“It’s been a long road,” said Campillo, who now owns a win, two runner-ups, and a third in his five most recent starts.
“I’m grateful, but it’s been way too long. Way too many hours of work since I was a boy to today. I’m just proud that I can say I’m a winner on the European Tour.
“I just love the game, I love competing. Most people say, maybe I’m not a winner, but I was when I was an amateur. It was a matter of time, I think I proved it today.”
Americans Julian Suri (71) and Sean Crocker (72) tied for second, alongside Van Rooyen (74), at 7-under par.
A third American, David Lipsky (72), rounded out the top-5 finishers at 5-under par.
2019 Trophee Hassan II
Final Top-5 Leaders
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 4)
1. Jorge Campillo -9 (-2)
2. Julian Suri -7 (-2)
2. Sean Crocker -7 (-1)
2. Erik van Rooyen -7 (+1)
5. David Lipsky -5 (-1)
Positioning: Early Rounds
Round 1
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 1)
1. Jordan Smith -7 (66)
16. Jorge Campillo -1 (72)
Round 2
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. David Lipsky -5 (-3)
1. Sean Crocker -5 (+1)
7. Jorge Campillo -3 (-2)
Round 3
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 3)
1. Erik van Rooyen -8 (-5)
2. Jorge Campillo -7 (-4)
Winner’s Stats
Driving: 302.3 yards (25th)
Fairways: 31/56, 55.3% (20th)
Greens: 49/72, 68.1% (12th)
Putts/GIR: 83/1.696 (5th)
Scores: 16 Birdies, 49 Pars, 7 Bogeys
Campillo’s 2019 Season
Starts: 10 | Cuts: 10
Wins: 1 (Trophee Hassan II)
Additional Top 10s: 3
Money: € 767,987
Points: 1,179.2
Race to Dubai: 6th
Trophy Photo
In what has to be one of the strangest trophies on any tour, the winner of the Trophee Hassan II receives a knife, or what’s described as a “diamond-encrusted dagger from HRH Prince Moulay Rachid as the tournament takes place close to the Royal Palace of Agadir.”
Quotable
“I made so many promises that I have to do after I win that I might have to take a few weeks off. It was tough, I didn’t have my A game. I was missing shots off the tee but I putted great. I hit some great shots coming in and I’m proud. I’m proud of the way I finished. I finished today like a champion.”
– Jorge Campillo, 2019 Trophee Hassan II Champion
