Emilio Cuartero-Blanco claimed his first European Challenge Tour win after a play-off with Oscar Lengden after the final round of the Stone Irish Challenge was washed out.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

EMILIO Cuartero-Blanco secured an emotional maiden victory on the European Challenge Tour after defeating Oscar Lengden on the third play-off hole of the Stone Irish Challenge.

The final round of the tournament, which was being played at Headfort Golf Club, was cancelled as heavy rains water-logged the course, rendering it unplayable.

With Cuartero-Blanco and Lengden sharing the 54-hole lead on 11-under, a play-off — held on the par three 17th hole — was required to determine a winner.

Both players carded two-putt pars on the first extra hole, and on the second, both nearly chipped in after missing the green.

The third time around, Cuartero-Blanco holed a birdie putt from 12 feet, and when Lengden’s birdie effort from 10 feet burned the edge, the Spaniard secured his first victory in five seasons on the Challenge Tour.

“I remember the first year I got onto the Challenge Tour five years ago, I thought I was going to win a couple, maybe three and get to the European Tour,” said Cuartero-Blanco.

“Then I got shocked with reality. I’ve been close before, but now, it’s just one of those feelings I can’t describe.

“I just want to go home and hug my loved ones. It’s just a tournament I know, and life goes on, but I’m definitely going to enjoy this one. I don’t know what to say really.”

The victory dramatically alters the course of the season for the 28-year-old, who now moves to 41st on the Road to Mallorca rankings, and gains entry into the limited-field Hainan and Foshan Opens in the Far East.

“This was going to be the last tournament of the year for me,” Cuartero-Blanco said.

“I was 100th on the rankings, and it was one of those years where you battle and the scores don’t go the right way, but you know you’re doing things well.”

The win came so suddenly for Cuartero-Blanco, that he will forgo the Hainan Open in order to obtain the necessary travel visa for the Foshan Open.

In China, he will then try to earn a spot in the season-ending Challenge Tour Grand Final, which is reserved for the top 45 players on the Road to Mallorca.

“I don’t even know how I played this good with all the swing changes I’m doing. I was just trying to play golf and have no back pain, and I ended up winning.

“Maybe it’s because I’m having fun, but I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it too much I just want to enjoy it.

“Now I know I can win. I know it’s not four rounds and all that, but a win is a win.”

Cormac Sharvin, who finished in a tie for fifth on eight-under, collected the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the low-Irishman at the Stone Irish Challenge.

The Dublin resident moved to fifth on the Road to Mallorca and has joined the race to finish the season as Challenge Tour No. 1.

The Challenge Tour now heads to the Orient for two limited-field events, which begin with the Hainan Open, at Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club in Donghai Bay, China, from October 17-20.

•For full results in the Stone Irish Challenge click here.

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Portmarnock’s Robin Dawson is going for broke as the European Challenge Tour nears its climax after leading the first round of the Lalla Aïcha Challenge Tour at Royal Dar Es Salam, in Morocco. Picture by EUROPEAN TOUR

IRELAND’S Robin Dawson raced to the top of the leaderboard at the Lalla Aïcha Challenge Tour in what could be a pivotal week for the European Challenge Tour rookie.

The 23-year-old posted eight birdies and 10 pars in a flawless eight-under par opening round of 64 on the Blue Course, at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, to sit one shot clear of Lancashire’s Jack Senior.

Dawson, who currently occupies 88th position on the Road to Mallorca rankings, is looking to surge up the standings with a strong finish this week.

Only the top 53 players in the order of merit following the Moroccan event are confirmed a place in the field for the penultimate event of the season, the Foshan Open, in China.

With four events remaining before the top 45 players battle it out for the all-important 15 European Tour berths up for grabs at the Challenge Tour Grand Final, the former Irish amateur international, who played in the 2018 Eisenhower Trophy, knows a strong result is required this week.

Dawson, who lost to Ernie Els’ nephew Jovan Rebula in the final of the 2018 Amateur Championship, duly delivered on day one in Morocco.

The Tramore man posted six birdies over his opening eight holes to propel himself into the lead, before picking up two more shots from the turn.

“I’m outside the top 70 so I know that I’ve got to play well in the next couple of weeks to give myself a chance,” he said. “I’ve got nothing to lose, so I’m just going to go out there and give it 100 per cent.”

The Portmarnock player recorded an impressive round of 64 in the third round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on the European Tour as he attained a career-best top 30 finish in the Rolex Series event.

But Dawson finds himself in contention for the first time in his short career following a mixed debut season.

“I’m really pleased,” Dawson said. “It was just nice carefree golf out there.

“My form has been rubbish, if I’m honest, but golf is a funny game, said Dawson who has made the cut in just six of his 18 starts on the European Challenge Tour in 2019.

“I feel like I’ve been playing okay and then I shoot something that leaves me scratching my head, wondering what is going on.

“I’m really enjoying playing this week. This is one of the best courses we play all year, the greens were perfect and tee to green you’ve got to be accurate if you’re going to score well.

“I can’t fault the course at all, it’s been really fun,” said Dawson.

Swede Oscar Lengden sits two shots behind Dawson’s lead, on six-under, as he goes in search of his third Challenge Tour title in as many years, with Surrey-based Welshman David Boote, Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson and Spaniard Santiago Tarrio Ben a shot further back.

The second round of the Lalla Aïcha Challenge Tour begins at 8am local time on Friday, with Dawson getting his second round under way at 2pm.

•For live scores click here

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