SEVILLE, Spain, 19 April 2004 — Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez claimed his third European Tour title when he won the inaugural Seville Open by two strokes yesterday.
Gonzalez birdied two of the last three holes to close with a three-under-par 69 for a 72-hole total of 14-under-par 274 ahead of Britons Stephen Gallacher and Jonathan Lomas.
On a testing afternoon of veering wind, Gonzalez had to dig deep at the end to ward off the two British players, using his strength to make a four at the long 16th and then holing a 40ft putt on the last to extend his winning margin.
Lomas, aiming for a second tour title eight years after his first, holed in one at the third and seemed the main threat but he bogeyed the last for a 66 to reduce Gonzalez’s target.
Gallacher, nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard, reduced his chances of a maiden win by bogeying the 15th in a round of 68.
Kerr Beats Jeon in Playoff at Takefuji Classic
In Las Vegas, Texas, Cristie Kerr shook off a shaky finish and rolled in a short birdie putt on the seventh playoff hole to win the LPGA Takefuji Classic ahead of South Korean rookie Seol An-jeon.
Kerr put behind her a collapse on the final nine holes an outlasted Jeon in one of the longest playoffs in LPGA Tour history, capturing her second career victory and first in almost exactly two years. Kerr watched a four-stroke cushion disappear as she bogeyed four of the final six holes in regulation. The last was an agonizing near-miss at the 18th hole that forced sudden death.
Journeyman Purdy Builds 4-Shot Lead at Hilton Head
Journeyman Ted Purdy, who two years ago was playing in Asia, built a four-shot lead Saturday at The Heritage, posting a six-under 65 at Harbor Town Golf Links.
A Phoenix native, Purdy had seven birdies and a late bogey on the 6,973-yard layout to reach 12-under 201, comfortably ahead of fellow American Heath Slocum. While Purdy is little known, he has played well over the last couple of years. Purdy credits his swing coach for this week’s turnaround and his 10-month-old son, Sam, for turning around his career. It was the third straight sub-70 round for Purdy.
