February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By John Manley
Des Smyth started the final round of the Madeira Island Open three strokes behind leader Massimo Florioli. After three-putting the first hole on Sunday for bogey, there was scant indication that Smyth would etch his name into the European Tour record books before the sun faded over the Atlantic Ocean.
Smyth shrugged off the bogey and got his groove back, firing a six-under-par 66 to post a two-stroke victory over John Bickerton at Santo de Serra in Portugal. Florioli faded to a third-place tie, having closed with a 73.
At 48 years and 34 days old, Smyth became the oldest winner of a European Tour event, eclipsing Neil Coles’ record, set in 1982, when he was 48 years and 12 days old.
Smyth’s charge to the top of the leaderboard began with a birdie on the third hole. He escaped disaster on number seven, after his drive hooked left into a cluster of trees. Using his wedge, he lofted the ball over a clearing in the branches that put the ball back on the fairway. He then used a seven iron to leave the ball four feet from the cup, which he sank with one tap of the putter.
The Drogheda resident went into overdrive on the back nine, birdying No. 10, which he followed with an eagle on the par-five 11th hole. A bogey on 13 was answered by birdies on 14, 15 and 16. Smyth’s final score was 18-under-par 270 (66-70-68-66).
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"I’m ecstatic," Smyth said. "I was almost afraid to think of winning. I’ve won seven times previously and played Ryder Cup, but when you haven’t won for so long, it is like this elusive dream. It just shows you if you can keep hanging on. I’ve just hung on for the last couple of years. This is huge for me. It’s very hard to win on Tour these days."
Smyth’s earnings comprised 91,660 euro and a two-year exemption on the European Tour, which will carry into his 50th year, when he becomes eligible for the Seniors Tour.
Also showing well was Philip Walton, who tied for 41st place at 284. His opening-round 67 positioned him only a stroke off the early lead, but served instead to help him make the cut, followed as it was by a 75. Walton collected himself over the weekend, reporting to the scorers’ tent with rounds of 70 and 72.
Buy.Com Tour
John Kernohan went south of the border for the Monterrey Open at Club Campestre, where he fought to a fourth-place tie. His opening-round 65 left him one shot off the early lead. He followed with rounds of 70, 69 and 69 to finish 15 under par at 273. His take was $17,718.75. Deane Pappas registered the winning number of 271.
Sean Quinlivan missed the cut by two strokes. He posted 143 (72-71), when 141 was needed to bring some dinero back to Los Estados Unidos.
Senior Tour
Christy O’Connor, Jr. tied for 18th place in the Siebel Classic at the Coyote Creek Golf Club in California’s Silicon Valley. O’Connor’s 218 (72-72-74) was two over par for 54 holes and left him 12 strokes behind runaway winner Hale Irwin. O’Connor was enriched by $17,560.
Canadian Tour
The snowbirds completed their Myrtle Beach foray with another tournament at the Barefoot Resort. Eamonn Brady missed the cut by one shot with his one-over-par 145 (71-74). The Tour goes into hibernation until June, when it resumes play in Victoria, British Columbia.
Jacksonville Tour
Keith Nolan took eighth place in the Jacksonville Winter Tour’s recent event at The Course at Ponce de Leon in Florida. His 212 (73-68-71) was 11 shots behind the red-hot Nick Napoleon, who held a seven-stroke advantage over the runner-up. Nolan earned $640.