Andrew Marshall claimed a maiden win on the Legends Tour on the Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open after an excellent closing 66 at San Domenico Golf.
The Englishman reeled in in a single day chief Phillip Value to complete at -14, two photographs away from France’s Lionel Alexandre and Swedish debutant Johan Edfors, who each matched Marshall’s 66 to complete T2 at -12.
Order of Advantage chief Scott Hend, and one of many males chasing him down, Peter Baker, had been an extra shot again at -11 after their rounds of 67. Welshman Phillip Value, who led by 4 after the primary two rounds, having opened up with a scintillating 64, endured a day to neglect. The 2002 Ryder Cup star was the one participant within the top-20 to shoot over par and ended up in sixth place at -10 after a 74.
For Marshall – taking part in alongside Value – it was a case of endurance being rewarded after numerous near-misses in recent times, together with in Italy two years in the past when James Kingston roared by way of the sector to shoot 61 and declare victory.
“It feels actually good,” stated Marshall, a two-time winner on the MENA Tour and the PGA EuroPro Tour. “I wasn’t actually interested by successful this morning as a result of Value was to this point forward. I’ve come shut just a few instances and if you see different individuals win you do suppose ‘when’s it my flip?’ So to lastly do it’s nice. I nonetheless can’t consider it actually.
“It’s wonderful what occurs. Phil really hit it within the gap on three and it was going so quick, it simply hit the pin after which went by way of the inexperienced. So a stunning shot turns into a three-putt bogey and also you surprise if it’s an indication. I simply performed pretty across the flip and bought to 5 or six-under and it was all in regards to the timing of it. I then ran out of holes to mess up and right here I’m soaked in champagne. Now I do know I can do it, hopefully it received’t be too lengthy earlier than it occurs once more or I give myself an opportunity at the least.”
With Value slipping again into the pack, numerous gamers made expenses in direction of the highest of the leaderboard together with Scott Hend, who eagled the second after which added additional birdies to maneuver to -10 on the flip.
Johan Edfors additionally seemed to be in with a shout after a back-nine 31 bought him to -12. Taking part in in his first Legends Tour occasion, the Swede notched 17 birdies for the week and clearly loved a return to a venue he final performed 20 years in the past.
“It’s been nice coming again to San Domenico,” stated the three-time DP World Tour winner. “I’ve had a incredible first week on the Legends Tour. I’ve been practising and taking part in just a few occasions however there’s an enormous distinction taking part in in a correct match. I used to be pleased with my sport coming in and it was good to have the ability to carry that onto the course as properly.
“It was more durable than I believed, however I used to be really fairly calm and performed my greatest golf of the week at present. If I might have simply holed just a few extra putts it might have been a very nice day. I hit plenty of good photographs and gave myself plenty of good possibilities and that’s all you need.”
