Eugenio Chacarra is now a three-time DP World Tour winner after claiming the DS Automobiles 83° Open d’Italia by five shots in Turin.
Related: Eugenio Chacarra eyes second title of season in Turin
The Spaniard, who held a two-stroke lead going into the final round, delivered another superb performance at Circolo Golf Torino on Sunday, carding a 64 to reach 24 under par and prevail over England’s Matt Wallace.
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The victory is his second of the season, following the KLM Open in the Netherlands earlier this month, with his success moving him to third on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World and earning him a place in next month’s 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
The 26-year-old got his final round off to the perfect start, making birdie at the first, before an eagle chip-in from Wallace immediately halved the overnight deficit. The former World Number Two amateur maintained his composure despite the chase, picking up another shot at the fifth before a stellar run around the turn – he made gains at the eighth, ninth and tenth to inch closer to the title.
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A stunning eagle from 35 feet at the 15th gave him a three-shot cushion over Wallace and all but sealed the win; a consistent Chacarra, who only dropped three shots all week, playing the final holes to par while the Englishman closed with consecutive bogeys to finish at 19 under par.
Wallace had the consolation of the $40,000 Nexo Course Record prize for his 62 on Friday. Having gone one better than hometown hero Edoardo Molinari’s 63 the day prior, the 36-year-old shared his intention to donate some of his prize money to this week’s venue, which is also the home course of Molinari.
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Chilean Joaquín Niemann posted a 68 to finish a further shot back, while Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren surged into fourth place thanks to a final round 63.
Spain’s Ángel Ayora reached 16 under to claim outright fifth, as well as the Franco Chimenti Memorial Award – the award recognises the highest finisher born in 2001 or later, who is yet to win and is not ranked in the top 15 of the Order of Merit on any of the major Tours.
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Dane Jeff Winther, Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, Finland’s Oliver Lindell and Portugal’s Daniel Rodrigues were in a share of sixth at 15 under, while Germany’s Nicolai von Dellinghausen rounded out the top ten.
Player quotes
Eugenio Chacarra: I’m feeling great. Obviously winning’s always fun, but that’s what we work for, you know? I’ve been doing incredible work these last couple of years, and yeah, very proud of myself. I think it was a good fight. I mean, two world-class players, probably two of the best players in the world too. That’s what I was dreaming since I was little, to play against those kind of players down the stretch, and very proud of how I played and how I managed myself today.
All week – I mean, just not this round, I think it’s been 20 rounds in a row under par, you know, I’ve been playing solid golf. I’m doing an incredible job with my caddie and staying patient and enjoying golf and like I said, I proved myself already. When I was an amateur, I was one of the best, in America (in college), I was one of the best, and I want to be one of the best players in professional golf so that’s what we’re working for.
I mean, there’s things I can do better. I mean, 12, 13, 14, I feel like kind of like left the door open a little too much. But that’s the beauty of this game, you know? You can always get better and that’s why I play it, that’s why I love it. But for sure it was one great round of golf.
I’m so excited (to qualify for The Open). I’ve never played it there, I dream of playing it always. I watch every (Open Championship) on TV since I was little, so I’m excited to be out there. Now it’s time to celebrate and then we can focus on that.
