Tag: Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

Darren Fichardt navigates windy conditions to snag lead at Qatar Masters

Fichardt was one of just four players to post a score under par on the day.

Despite a rough stretch on the back nine in which he followed a double-bogey with a bogey, South African Darren Fichardt navigated his way through some swirling winds at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on Saturday, and he’ll take a one-shot lead into the final round.

Fichardt, who has five wins on the Euro Tour but none since the 2017 Joburg Open, opened the back nine with two straight birdies but hit his rough patch on holes No. 13 and 14. He fought back with two birdies on the day’s final holes, however, and stands at 7 under through 54 holes at the Education City Golf Course.

Englishman Jack Senior is alone in second just a single shot behind Fichardt. Kurt Kitayama is the top American in the field as he’s currently T-10 at 2 under, but dropped significantly with a 75 on Saturday.

Fichardt, who has a total of 18 victories on the South African-based Sunshine Tour, used some solid wedge play to grab the lead. He was one of just four players to post a score under par on the day.

Admittedly, the field in Qatar is not particularly strong as just eight of the world’s top 100 players are on hand, and none from inside the Official World Golf Ranking’s top 50.

Jorge Campillo wins Qatar Masters after five playoff holes with David Drysdale

Jorge Campillo double-bogeyed the 17th at the Qatar Masters to drop into a playoff, but ultimately won his second European Tour title.

Jorge Campillo nearly gave it away in the final minutes of regulation at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Campillo, the 33-year-old Spaniard, made a double-bogey on the 17th hole at Education City Golf Club in Doha, Qatar, that erased his two-shot lead and dropped him back to 13 under and in a tie with David Drysdale.

It took five extra holes but eventually Campillo found himself back in the top spot, and with his second career European Tour title.

Campillo started the playoff by putting his tee shot in the bunker at the 18th, but he saved himself with a 25-footer for birdie. Drysdale made his birdie from 6 feet.

Scores: Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

On the next trip down the final hole, Campillo made birdie from 20 feet and Drysdale made one from inside that, once again. The two matched pars on the next two trips down the hole before Campillo won with a birdie from 20 feet when Drysdale missed from similar range.

Campillo had to wait 229 events for his first European Tour victory at the Trophée Hassan II but he has now won in consecutive seasons.

“I’m just so proud right now of the way I played in the play-off,” he said. “I hardly missed a shot and I was able to make some putts.

“I hit some good shots coming in in the middle of the round but you have to be patient, you have to try hard. I knew I was going to make some putts. It was a tough win but I’m glad I pulled it off.

“It’s a great par 4, 18. A tough hole. David was hitting some great shots into the hole and I had to make some putts. Three birdies out of six on 18 to win is something to be proud of.”

Campillo’s final-round 1-over 72 was his highest by far for the week. He started with back-to-back rounds of 66 before a third-round 67.

Behind Drysdale in second, three men tied for third at 12 under: Niklas Lemke, Kalle Samooja and Jeff Winther. Lemke had the highest final-round climb with his closing 6-under 65. It moved him 18 spots up the leaderboard.

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