Marco Crespi wins NH Collection Open
Marco Crespi wins NH Collection Open
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
By Fergus Bisset
published

Marco Crespi of Italy fired a closing round of 69 to win the NH Collection Open at La Reserva de Sotogrande Club de Golf by two shots from Jordi Garcia Pinto and Richie Ramsay.

Marco Crespi of Italy fired a closing round of 69 to win the NH Collection Open at La Reserva de Sotogrande Club de Golf by two shots from Jordi Garcia Pinto and Richie Ramsay.

Crespi, who came through Qualifying School at the 11th attempt last November, posted a four round total of 10-under-par to claim his first European Tour victory in just his 25th start on the circuit.

The 35-year-old opened his final round with a birdie then picked up further strokes at the fifth, eighth and ninth holes. He reached the turn in 32 but then dropped shots at the 12th and 13th holes. He recovered one at the 14th then parred his way in to secure the title.

“I started well today,” said Crespi. “I birdied the first and that gave me the confidence to go low. I am very happy.”

Scotland’s Richie Ramsay moved into a share of the lead with Crespi when he birdied his first four holes. But a double bogey at the ninth scuppered the Scotsman’s chances of victory.

He ended the week in a tie for second with Spain’s Jordi Garcia Pinto. The Spaniard scored four birdies in his last five holes to post an impressive 66.

Overnight leader Matthew Nixon of England had a disappointing day. He was three over for the final round through 14 holes, but salvaged his tournament somewhat with an eagle at the 15th. He finished in a tie for fourth with Chile’s Felipe Aguilar.

NH Collection Open La Reserva de Sotogrande Club de Golf, Cadiz, Spain Apr 3-6, purse €600,000, par 72

1    Marco Crespi (Ita)    70    73    66    69    278    €100,000 T2    Jordi Garcia Pinto (Esp)    73    70    71    66    280    €52,110 T2    Richie Ramsay (Sco)    71    72    69    68    280    €52,110 T4    Felipe Aguilar (Chi)    71    69    70    71    281    €27,720 T4    Matthew Nixon (Eng)    72    71    65    73    281    €27,720 T6    Kristoffer Broberg (Swe) 76    70    67    69    282    €16,860 T6    Oliver Fisher (Eng)    71    72    71    68    282    €16,860 T6    Adrian Otaegui (Esp)    71    69    72    70    282    €16,860 T6    Marc Warren (Sco)    72    67    75    68    282    €16,860 T10    Bradley Dredge (Wal)    70    69    78    66    283    €11,520 T10    Ricardo Santos (Por)    74    70    67    72    283    €11,520

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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