Richard McEvoy carded a final-round 73 to claim his maiden European Tour victory at the 2018 Porsche European Open.
McEvoy entered the day tied with American Bryson DeChambeau at 12 under, and while the 39-year old Englishman wasn’t terrific, neither were most of the lead pack, especially DeChambeau, who owned a share of the lead after each of the opening three rounds.
The 24-year old American stood on the 15th tee holding a one-shot lead at 11 under, but posted bogey-bogey-par-triple bogey on his final four holes at Green Eagle to drop outside the top 10.
As DeChambeau was sinking to a 6-over 78, McEvoy was holding on, and with a final-hole birdie, the 39-year old journeyman reached 11-under par, and his first trip to the winner’s circle.
“It’s incredible. I’ve waited a long time, 17 years as a pro on and off the Tour. I’m absolutely over the moon,” said McEvoy. “A lot of hard work, a lot of bad years, a lot of good years but it’s never quite happened and it was my time on that 18th green today.
“I fought hard, I believed, and even at the last I overpowered my caddie to lay it up to give myself the best opportunity to make birdie and I managed to do it.
“I’ve tried to enjoy my golf as much as possible. Not that I haven’t been but I just needed to that little bit more and it’s just come up proper trumps.
“It started a couple of weeks ago, I played a pro-am at Queenwood and shot 64 – a course record – and beat the likes of Rory, Justin Rose, Adam Scott and a few other boys and that was the start of the confidence kick, really. Last week was obviously another boost to the confidence and I’ve come good again this week.”
German amateur Allen John (67), Swede Christofer Blomstrand (68) and Italian Renato Paratore (70) were one back at 10-under par.
Japan’s Hideto Tanihara (69) and Frenchman Romain Wattel (71) tied for fifth at 9 under, one clear of England’s Paul Casey (73) and Austrian Matthias Schwab (75) at 8 under par.
Patrick Reed struggled to a 4-over 76 to finish T9 at 7 under, alongside South African Charl Schwartzel (70), among others.
TOP 10 LEADERS
POS-PLAYER-SCORE(TODAY)
1. Richard McEvoy -11 (+1)
2. Allen John -10 (-5)
2. Christofer Blomstrand -10 (-4)
2. Renato Paratore -10 (-2)
5. Hideto Tanihara -9 (-3)
5. Romain Wattel -9 (-1)
7. Paul Casey -8 (+1)
7. Matthias Schwab -8 (+3)
9. Patrick Reed -7 (+4)
9. Charl Schwartzel -7 (-2)
9. Matthew Nixon -7 (-4)
9. David Drysdale -7 (+1)
FINAL-ROUND HIGHLIGHTS
QUOTABLE
“I fought hard, I believed, and even at the last I overpowered my caddie to lay it up to give myself the best opportunity to make birdie and I managed to do it.”
– Richard McEvoy
