Tag: Renato Paratore

Renato Paratore wins British Masters

The 23-year-old Italian claimed his second European Tour title at Close House.

For 62 holes, Renato Paratore made golf look easy. Not a single blemish on his card, just pars and birdies. It looked like it wouldn’t even be a close contest at the Betfred British Masters at Close House Golf Club in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.

But when he finally showed he’s human with a bogey at the par-3 ninth in Saturday’s final round and another dropped shot at the 11th, Paratore refused to crack.

The 23-year-old Italian pumped his fist after making his fourth birdie of the day at 17 and shot 2-under 69 to claim his second European Tour title by three strokes over 19-year-old Dane Rasmus Hojgaard, who had beaten Paratore in a playoff at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open earlier this season.

Hojgaard and South African Justin Harding climbed within two shots of the lead with five holes to play, but Harding and Hojgaard made bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes respectively to short-circuit their challenge. Paratore finished with a 72-hole total of 18-under 266.

“I’m really, really happy. Today was not easy,” Paratore said. “I played really solid. I didn’t expect to come back and win my second one after lockdown but I worked really hard the last year.”

Harding finished third, one stroke ahead of the English trio of Andy Sullivan (67), Robert Rock (69) and Dale Whitnell (71), who shared fourth on 13 under.

The win was Paratore’s first since 2017 and lifted him to No. 6 in the season-long Race to Dubai. He was able to celebrate at the back of the 18th green with his mom via video and his fellow players provided a guard of honor with their clubs as he walked off to sign his card.

The British Masters was the first of six European Tour events that will be staged in the UK this summer, with next week’s being held at the Forest of Arden.

Sam Horsfield shoots 61, but Renato Paratore leads by 1 at British Masters

Paratore shoots 66 and remains bogey-free through 54 holes in his bid to win his second European Tour title.

Renato Paratore poured in a birdie putt at the last to shoot 5-under 66 and take a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the European Tour’s Betfred British Masters.

The 23-year-old Italian turned in a spotless card for the third-straight day at Close House in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. Paratore, seeking his second European Tour title, birdied the par-5 seventh hole for the third straight round and peppered the flag at the par-3 12th hole for another birdie to maintain a one-stroke advantage over Justin Harding.

“I played really solid these three days, especially the short game which has helped me save some shots when I needed them, so I’m happy with that,” Paratore said. “Fortunately I live in Dubai with my friend who is also on the European Tour and we played a lot of competitive rounds with each other after lockdown. I think this helped me to stay competitive.”

The South African Harding eagled the par-5 10th hole en route to matching Paratore’s 66. The low round of the day belonged to England’s Sam Horsfield, who signed for 61. The 23-year-old Horsfield, still searching for his first European Tour victory, was limping along at 2-under par through 36 holes and wasn’t doing much better in the third round. He was just 1 under through his first six holes when he made the first of three eagles on the par 5s.

“I felt like the first two days I was maybe pushing a bit too hard as I haven’t played a tournament in four months,” Horsfield said. “I spoke to a few friends last night, FaceTimed a few people, and they said: ‘Dude just go out there and play like you were playing at home; it’s the same.’ So that’s what I tried to do and I think it worked.”

Horsfield enters the final round trailing by four.

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