South Africa’s Garrick Higgo held off the challenge of Maximilian Kieffer to win his second European Tour title at the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open.
The 21-year-old from Johannesburg carded the lowest round of his European Tour career with a 63 on day three to put himself in the driving seat and he had extended his lead to four shots by the turn on the final round.
Kieffer, who suffered a play-off defeat last week in Austria, played the back nine in just 30 shots to sign for a 62 and pile on the pressure, but Higgo kept his cool and registered another 63 to get 25 under par and seal a three-shot victory.
Dane Jeff Winther picked up four shots in his last three holes to sign for a 64 and get to 21 under and finish third, two shots clear of England’s Sam Horsfield.
Higgo’s maiden victory at last season’s Open de Portugal came in just his seventh event and this triumph at Meloneras Golf arrives in his 24th. The win takes him to a career best 65th on the world rankings.
“It’s unreal. I can’t put it into words, it feels amazing,” said Higgo, who turned professional in 2019 after graduating from the University of Nevada in the US. “The birdies on nine and ten were big for me in terms of my confidence, but it wasn’t over until the last hole really, so it was all a bit stressful. It was the first time ever that I have had a lead going into the final round, as all my other wins have been from behind. So I know what it is like to beat someone and I knew that it could change even on the 17th, so I was just trying to keep myself in the battle.
“I spoke to Gary Player last night actually and he just said that there is no such thing as a lead and you should play like you are two behind, so that was nice from him. My game is definitely trending the right way. I have been working hard and there are things I can get better at, so I will just take every week as it comes and see where my game goes.”
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Garrick Higgo – What’s in the bag
Driver: Titleist TSi3
Fairway wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrid: Titleist 818 H2
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (50˚, 54˚, 60˚)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T5.5 Proto
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x