It was a weekend for history-makers on both sides of the Atlantic with Spain’s Pablo Martin-Benavides and Morgan Pressel notching up significant firsts on the European Tour and LPGA Tour respectively.
Before Martin-Benavides, American Scott Verplank was Oklahoma State University’s most storied golfer because he won as an amateur on the US PGA Tour.
Now, it is Martin-Benavides’ turn to fly the Oklahoma State flag as the 20-year-old Spaniard became the first amateur to triumph on the European Tour with his victory at the Estoril Open de Portugal.
The rising star of world golf carded a final round of three-under-par 68 for a seven-under total of 277 at Oitavos to beat Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin by one stroke.
Martin-Benavides, who led the 2003 Canarias Open de Espana heading into the final round, said on europeantour.com:
“My coaches have been giving me stick about that [Verplank’s victory] for the last three years. They kept telling that I was no good if I couldn’t win a pro event as an amateur! But it actually helped me a little bit, even though it was a joke it helped me.â€
In Rancho Mirage, California, Pressel, at 18 years, 10 months and nine days, became the youngest Major champion in the history of the LPGA Tour when she won the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Sunday.
Pressel sunk a 10-foot birdie for a final round of three-under-par 69, thinking she would finish second to Suzann Pettersen. But the Norwegian suffered a huge collapse on the home stretch.
Pettersen had a four-shot lead with four holes left but dropped five shots to hand Pressel victory. Pettersen finished in a three-way tie for second with Catriona Matthew and Brittany Lincicome.
Pressel, 10 months after graduating from high school, was on the practice range when she heard about her victory and broke down in tears. All she could managed was a few words, according to AP, via Yahoo:
“Oh my God! Oh my God!â€
It is not the first time she made history with age. In 2001, she was only 12 when she became the youngest female golfer to qualify for the US Women’s Open. She was 13 when she played the event.
While there were no major records at the Shell Houston Open in Humble, Texas, there was plenty of drama as Australian Adam Scott sank a monster 50-foot putt on the final hole to save par and defeat defending champion Stuart Appleby.
Scott’s six-under-par 66 put him at 17 under for the tournament, three ahead of Appleby and Bubba Watson, and provided him with a great boost ahead of this week’s first Major of the season, the US Masters at Augusta.
For the record, Scott became the sixth Australian, with Appleby on that list, to win the Houston Open. He is also well aware that last year’s Masters champion, Phil Mickelson, also won the week before Augusta. Scott said on pgatour.com:
“I still think I can do some work on my putting, although it was pretty good today. And obviously next week putting is a key factor to getting around the golf course.â€
