Frenchman Alex Levy clinched the fourth European Tour title of his career by beating Dylan Frittelli in a play-off at the Volvo China Open in Beijing.
With Levy in the clubhouse, Frittelli would have won in regulation with a birdie on the last, but a par by the South African meant the two went back to the par-five 18th for a play-off, with Levy taking the title thanks to a birdie four that Frittelli was unable to match.
For Levy, who carded a final round 67 to Frittelli’s 74 to finish on 17-under par, it meant a repeat of his 2014 Volvo China Open win, making him the first two-time champion in the event’s 23-year history. Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal took third place one shot behind on 16-under.
The 26-year-old Frenchman started the day seven shots behind Frittelli and produced the biggest final round comeback by a winner in the history of the tournament.
Despite an opening day course record 63 at the Topwin Golf and Country Club, Levy’s chance appeared to have gone when Frittelli opened up a five-shot lead after the opening two holes on the final day. But six birdies in that final round 67, combined with Frittelli’s collapse, saw Levy take it to a play-off and collect the trophy and a cheque for RMB 3.333 million. It also moved him up to 11th place in The Race to Dubai standings.
“I’ve been in that position before so I know how hard it is to lose a play-off after leading for so long,” said Levy. “I haven’t had a chance to speak to Dylan but I’ll tell him he can learn from this just as I did.”
Levy got himself back into contention as Frittelli’s lead began to evaporate on the back nine. Five shots ahead of his nearest challenger with 16 holes to play, the European Challenge Tour graduate just could not find the form that brought him rounds of 63 and 64 on days two and three. Tee shots that ended up against the base of a tree on the 12th and under a rock edge on the 16th ultimately cost him three shots and summed up his day.
Although England’s Chris Wood and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria also tried to rein in Frittelli’s advantage, rounds of 68 and 67 respectively were not enough, leaving the pair tied for fourth place on fifteen-under. Best performance of the week from home-grown talent came in the shape of 21-year-old Li Haotong who made a spirited defence of the Volvo China Open title he won in 2016, finishing with a 70 for a share of 11th place on eleven under.