America’s Clark Dennis secured his first European Senior Tour title as he beat Peter Fowler in a play-off after the third round of the Senior Italian Open was abandoned due to a flooded course.
Dennis and Fowler shared the lead on seven under par after Saturday’s second round, and reached the fourth fairway at Udine Golf Club on Sunday before play was suspended, and then abandoned, due to severe rain and the threat of thunderstorms later in the afternoon.
The pair then went to the 18th fairway, which had been converted into a 162-yard par three, to play-off for the title. Both found the green with their tee shots and Dennis converted his birdie putt from 15 feet with Fowler’s just missing, handing the American his first Senior Tour title, just a week after finishing second at the Travis Perkins Masters at Woburn.
“This is a real monkey off my back,” said the in-form Dennis, who had four top-five finishes to his name prior to this week. “I have spit the bit a few times this year, but feel like I’ve played well in a lot of instances. Yesterday when I made a triple-bogey on 15, I didn’t feel like it was my fault; but to make a birdie on the 17th after that was great. It was very important to make that birdie, my second shot was probably my best of the day. and I hit it to a foot.
“I played yesterday like it was the last round; with the forecast we knew there was a good chance we wouldn’t finish play today. It was so difficult going out there this morning, I knew that if we played the scores would not be low. When I saw the greens start to puddle up, I knew we would not be able to continue with all the casual water on the greens – finishing the way we did was the fairest solution, but I understand why the tournament director sent us out to play today.
“We were under a lot of pressure on that play-off hole. I would have rather been ten under par yesterday and not have to do it. Peter hit a great shot and made a great putt which just missed. But I made a nice putt to win and it’s a good feeling.”
Fowler, who recorded his best finish since last year’s Scottish Senior Open, was gracious in defeat. “Unfortunately that’s the way it goes sometimes, but the team did a great job to make the course playable this week and it was a good tournament,” he said. “Clark’s a fine player, he’s been really hot this year in patches, and it’s great for him to get a win. I played the play-off hole very well, hit a great tee shot and made a great putt. It just didn’t go in, and that’s the way it goes.”
Steen Tinning and Order of Merit leader Chris Williams shared third place on six under par.