Welshman Kyron Sullivan ended a marathon final day at the European Challenge Tour’s Estoril Challenge with a play-off victory over Englishman Ben Mason to claim his first professional title and vault 88 places on the Challenge Tour Rankings from 95th place to eighth spot after securing the €19,200 top prize at Pehna Longa Golf Club in Estoril.
The 29 year old finished the regulation 72 holes in four under par 284 after completing his third and fourth rounds on Sunday after torrential rain had brought a suspension of play on Saturday afternoon.
Sullivan began his final day marathon with two birdies to set the tone for the best day of his professional career to date. He completed the third round in one under 72 before posting a 74 for the fourth round and going to extra holes with Mason, whose scores of 71-71 for the third and fourth rounds had left him leading in the clubhouse until Sullivan, playing in the final match of the day, holed out on the 18th green.
After signing his scorecard, Sullivan and Mason went back to the par three 17th for the first extra hole of the sudden-death play-off, where Mason made a bogey four and left the Welshman a testing three foot put for the title.
Sullivan stood strong and rolled home the final putt of the tournament to finish ahead of Mason, with Oskar Bergman of
“I was very nervous over that putt because I had three putted the 17th for bogey about 20 minutes before that,” said Sullivan. “But I got over it and went through the routine and was just delighted to see it drop.
“It feels great to have won here, and it is a little extra special that I won here in
“The fact that my wife Joanne was caddieing for me this week made it all the more special, and I think she must be a good luck charm for me because I was second in Rotterdam the last time she was on the bag.
“It was a long, tough day finishing the third round, then playing the fourth round and going into the play-off, but I am pleased that the tournament wasn’t reduced to 54 holes now because no one can take anything away from me.
“I’ve moved into the top ten on the Rankings now and I hope that I can stay there for the rest of the season because I have come close to getting my European Tour card through the Challenge Tour for the last two seasons, so hopefully this will be my year.”
Mason was philosophical in defeat and can take much consolation from the fact that he climbed 100 places on the Rankings and moved into 12th place by picking up the second placed cheque for €13,200.
“I said at the start of the week that I would have been happy with a top ten finish, so second place is a good effort,” said the Englishman. “It’s disappointing to lose in a play-off, but there is a long way to for the rest of the season and if I can get a few more results like this one then I won’t be far away from getting my Tour card back at the end of the year.”
