Jorge Campillo wins first title at Trophee Hassan II
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Jorge Campillo claimed his maiden European Tour title on his 229th attempt with a two shot win at the Trophée Hassan II
Campillo rallied with late birdies at both the 16th and 17th holes to end his long wait for victory with a final round two-under 71, beating out Sean Crocker, Eric Van Rooyen and Julian Suri by two shots at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
“It’s been a long road,” he said after his win. “I’m grateful, but it’s been way too long. Way too many hours of work since I was a boy to today. I’m just proud that I can say I’m a winner on the European Tour.
“I just love the game, I love competing. Most people say, maybe I’m not a winner, but I was when I was an amateur. It was a matter of time, I think I proved it today.
“I made so many promises that I have to do after I win that I might have to take a few weeks off!
Until today, the Spaniard had had a total of six runner-up finishes on the European Tour since 2011 – including two back-to-back in Oman and Qatar earlier this year, and looked set to break through for a win.
It came at last on Sunday in Morocco, but it was by no means a straightforward route to his maiden title.
Starting the day one shot behind Van Rooyen, Campillo gave himself a lot of work to do after making bogeys at both the second and third holes to drop three shots behind by the fifth.
He made up a shot by taking advantage of the par-five eighth, and after the leader three-putted the 10th, Campillo added a second birdie of the day on 11 to join him at the top of the leaderboard.
Another three-putt from the South African handed Campillo the outright lead on the 14th, and although Suri quickly joined him it would not be for long as the eventual winner converted from 10 feet for birdie on the 16th, and picked up a second shot in a row just a hole later.
Standing on the 18th tee with a two shot advantage, Campillo then found the fairway bunker, but was able to save par and earn his first title – 10 years after turning professional.
“It was tough, I didn’t have my A game,” Campillo said. “I was missing shots off the tee but I putted great. I hit some great shots coming in and I’m proud. I’m proud of the way I finished. I finished today like a champion.”
American David Lipsky finished in fifth place on five-under-par, with Grant Forrest and Masahiro Kamawura in joint sixth a shot further back.
On the other course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, fellow Spaniard Nuria Iturrioz won the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Meryem Cup by seven shots on 13-under-par.
