BEL OMBRE (MAURITIUS): As a 26-year-old Frenchman, a 22-year-old Italian and a Danish teen went into a playoff, tied at 19-under after 72 holes, the neutrals among the sizeable crowd at Heritage Golf Club all rooted for
Rasmus Hojggard
.
The 'kid' didn't disappoint them, showing nerves of steel to edge out Antoine Rozner on the third playoff hole and lift the AfrAsia Bank trophy.
Hojgaard, who has been making waves in Europe with identical twin Nicolai since leading Denmark to the World amateur team title last year, produced an immaculate approach shot from the par-5 18th fairways and followed it up with a 12-foot eagle putt to put it beyond the Frenchman who managed only a birdie.
The first playoff hole eliminated Italian
Renato Paratore
, who came up with a par. That left Rozner and Hojgaard as the last men standing and both birdied the second playoff hole even though the teenager came agonizingly close to clinching it with an eagle. He didn't falter the third time round, getting even closer to the pin with his second shot.
He had barely put his hands up in celebration when fellow-Danish pro Soren Kjeldsen sprayed him with champagne. "To be on the European Tour is a dream in itself… To win the event… I can't put it in words," said Hojgaard, who qualified for the play-off with a birdie on the last hole of regulation play.
JYOTI FINISHES T-17THIndia's
Jyoti Randhawa
surprised many with a stunning final-round 65 to finish a creditable tied 17th on 14-under.
FINAL STANDINGS 269-R Hojgaard (Den) 66-69-66-68, A Rozner (Fra) 67-67-66-69, R Paratore (Ita) 69-67-66-67
(Hojgaard won on third playoff hole)
HOW INDIANS FINISHED: T-17: Jyoti Randhawa (-14); T-54: Udayan Mane & Abhijit Chadha (-5); 71:Viraj Madappa (+3).
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