In a tournament awash with birdies, Spain’s Jose Luis Ballester Barrio ground it out on the final day to win the European Amateur Championship in Estonia this afternoon.
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
He becomes the first Spaniard to win the tournament since a 15-year-old Sergio Garcia triumphed at El Prat in 1995. His efforts have also secured him a spot in next month’s Open at Royal Liverpool (July 20-23).
With high winds ensuring the low scoring that was a feature of the first three days did not continue, the champion did just enough to stay two clear of Denmark’s Mads Laage and Welsh international James Ashfield, who must have all-but-secured his Walker Cup spot.
Ballester Barrio, who attends Arizona State University, eagled the first but thereafter had to grit it out, especially after double bogeying sixth.
Back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 gave him the breathing space he needed, especially with Laage bogeying both to drop four back.
The Spaniard, who was one of four players to post a ten-under 62 in the first round, could afford to bogey 15 and 18 while Harpenden’s Jack Bigham also had his chances. Three bogeys in his final four holes meant the 2021 British Boys champion finished in a tie for fourth, three behind the champion.
• ALEX MAGUIRE, who did not play in the European Amateur, has won the inaugural Open Amateur Series to book a place in next month’s Open at Royal Liverpool (July 20-23).
The Irish star’s efforts in winning the St Andrews Links Trophy and then reaching the quarter-finals of the Amateur at Hillside, proved enough. Ahead of the European Amateur his biggest danger was Amateur runner-up Ronan Kleu but the Swiss player missed the cut in Estonia and fourth-placed Albert Hansson (Sweden) could only manage joint 50th this week.
The competition was introduced this year with the leader (in terms of world rankings points gained across the three blue riband amateur events) earning a place in the final Major of the season.