Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Morales and Miguel Suárez emerged as winners of The Omega Mission Hills World Cup Aruba Qualifier 2007 at the Tierra del Sol Resort.
The duo carded a final day two under par 69 in foursomes play to finish the week at 11 under par 273 and lead the five qualifiers to the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China from November 22-25. The final round effort allowed them to pip Ireland’s Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin, who carded a 71 to finish one stroke behind in second place.
A three under par 68 – which equalled the best round of the day – vaulted Colombia’s Jorge Benedetti and Gustavo Mendoza into third place on nine under par 275. The Colombians, tied for the ninth place midway through the event, were by far the best team over the final 36 holes as their six under par 65 in Saturday’s fourballs proved.
Indentifying the final two qualifiers provided excitement for the spectators after Paraguay, Italy and Venezuela tied on eight under par 276.
Paraguay carded a 72 that included a double bogey on the last hole, Italy matched them with a 72, while Venezuela posted a 71, which forced a play-off for the final two berths. When Venezuela missed a four footer for par at the first extra hole, both Paraguay and Italy secured their own par putts to ensure their trips to the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Winners Puerto Rico started the day with consecutive birdies at the first and second, but found trouble with a double-bogey at the fourth and a bogey at the sixth. It was, however, the only problem for Morales and Suarez who birdied the eighth, 11th and 16th.
“Two under par for the day is a great score under these conditions and this is a great joy for us,” said Suárez, a 38 year old who turned professional in 1995. “We came here just trying to qualify, so it is very satisfying to finish as the best team.”
The winning duo played as a team in the 1996 World Cup in South Africa, at the time Morales, who is making his fourth World Cup, was still an amateur. “The last time Puerto Rico made it to the World Cup it was back in 1999. It’s great to make it back to such an event like that,” he said.
The Omega Mission Hills World Cup Aruba Qualifier 2007 was conducted by the Tour de las Americas on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours. The five teams who qualified completed the 28 nation field that will compete for a US$5 million prize purse at Mission Hills.
