Pablo Ereno was crowned the Challenge de Catalunya champion after defeating Denmark’s Hamish Brown in a play-off at Fontanals Golf Club.
The 22-year-old home-favourite birdied the last for a six under par round of 66 to force the play-off with Brown, the overnight leader who signed for a 68 to also finish on 22 under par.
Both players birdied the first extra-hole, before Ereno bettered Brown’s bogey on the second with a par to join the HotelPlanner Tour winners’ circle.
Ereno climbs to second place in the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings and he was delighted to come out on top as he looks to earn promotion to the DP World Tour.
“It feels great,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier to get my first HotelPlanner Tour win at home in Spain, it feels awesome.
“It makes it very special that I had my sister and my dad out here, a bunch of my friends too. I feel like I played a little bit better for them today.
“I knew we would have to shoot low today to win. I started well but made a couple of mistakes, a couple of bogeys and a double, every time I made a mistake I just tried to make birdies again.”
Ereno, who double bogeyed the par three eighth amongst six birdies in seven holes, posted his tenth birdie of the round, on the 72nd hole to force the play-off. With the Spanish crowd behind him, Ereno managed to find a way past Brown on the second extra hole.
“Bryce (Easton) and Hamish played incredible today it was really competitive out there and I was glad to make it to the play-off, it was really fun."
Ereno is on his rookie season on the HotelPlanner Tour, and had already impressed in the opening six events of the season.
“I’ve been playing pretty good this season, I have been practising really hard and the experiences I’ve had already helped me out there today.
“The Jonsson Workwear Durban Open hurt me, as I was tied for the lead with two to play and made a quadruple bogey on 17. I managed to stay patient today which helped me make those birdies at the end.
“I have been learning a lot about my game, which is what is important, as it will help me play better and hopefully play on the DP World Tour soon.”
South African MJ Daffue, Irishman Gary Hurley and Englishman Frank Kennedy shared tied third, two shots behind Ereno and Brown, at 20 under par, with Sweden’s Adam Wallin, Denmark’s Jacob Worm Agerschou and South Africa’s Bryce Easton tied for sixth a shot behind.
Daffue remains in first place on the Road to Mallorca rankings, with Ereno climbing to second, ahead of England’s Will Enefer in third, ahead of South African duo MJ Viljoen and Deon Germishuys in fourth and fifth respectively.
The HotelPlanner Tour now heads to Denmark for the Danish Golf Challenge at Odense Eventyr Golf Club on Odense, from May 21-24.
