Liam Nolan is a winner on the HotelPlanner Tour after producing a flawless weekend performance to claim the Abu Dhabi Challenge at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.
The Irishman signed for a five under par closing round of 65 to reach 21 under par for the week, four strokes clear of his nearest challenger, Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen.
Nolan, who catapults 31 places up to 12th on the Road to Mallorca and inside the promotion places, was delighted to finally secure his maiden professional victory in sweltering conditions in the Middle East.
“This feels absolutely mental,” he said.
“Everything from what’s the worse that can happen to what’s the best that can happen is running through your head all the time.
“A four-shot lead, while it might look good, it’s nothing. It felt like to me like it was nothing. The mind was racing a little bit, but I played really well today and a bit more conservative in places.”
The 26-year-old started the final day in Al Ain with a two-stroke cushion and settled into his round with a birdie on the drivable par four fourth. A par at the next followed before the man from Galway rattled off three consecutive gains, with a monster putt on the eighth helping him turn at four under.
Nolan saw his advantage cut after Pulkkanen made birdie on the 12th, but the Irishman responded immediately with a pinpoint approach on the next to reach 21 under.
He dropped his only shot of the weekend at the 16th, but with a comfortable lead on the final hole, Nolan reached the par five in regulation and holed the birdie putt to cap a memorable performance alongside his caddie Sean.
“After the tee shot on 18, I was still a bit nervous but once I’d hit my second shot, I allowed myself to relax a little bit,” he added.
“The par putt on 17 gave me the four-shot cushion coming down the last. If I’d missed that there would have been a little bit to do. When that went in, I felt like I could relax.”
“I had a nice chat with Sean coming up the fairway which was cool. He’s been my friend for 12 years, so this is as cool as it’s got for us so far.
“We’ve done every professional tournament together, so this is as much his victory as it is mine. It’s our win. It’s so special to have a friend out there that you know so well.”
Nolan is embarking on his second full HotelPlanner Tour season and is now firmly in the promotion picture ahead of back-to-back events in China and the Grand Final at the end of the month.
With his place in Mallorca all-but confirmed, the Irishman is now primed to compete for one of 15 DP World Tour cards for the second campaign running.
“It sounds great [going to the Grand Final],” he added.
“You can’t have a chance to get to the DP World Tour if you’re not in the Grand Final. I’m probably thinking more about this win right now than the Rankings.
“I will find some time to celebrate tonight and decompress a little bit.”
Pulkkanen claimed outright second on 17 under, with the Finn rising seven places to sixth on the Rankings, cementing his promotion aspirations.
Italian Matteo Cristoni finished in third position on 16 under with Belgian Matthis Besard and Bastien Amat from France one stroke back in a share of fourth. The top five on the Road to Mallorca remains unchanged with Swede Christofer Blomstrand setting the pace with South African MJ Daffue in second.
The HotelPlanner Tour now heads to China for back-to-back events in the Middle Kingdom, starting with the Hainan Open taking place from October 8-11.
