NEWS

Italy's Marco Crespi shoots final-round 69 to earn first European Tour title

Published on

CADIZ, Spain -- Unheralded Marco Crespi of Italy won his first European Tour title after carding a 3-under 69 in the final round to claim the inaugural edition of the NH Collection Open on Sunday.

Playing in his 25th European Tour event, the 35-year-old Crespi had five birdies to overcome a pair of bogeys on the final day to end two strokes ahead of nearest rivals Richie Ramsay of Scotland and Spaniard Jordi Garcia.

Felipe Aguilar and overnight leader Matthew Nixon finished three shots back.

Crespi stumbled with back-to-back bogeys on the 12th and 13th holes, but he responded with a birdie on the 14th before making par down the stretch to take the win at La Reserva de Sotogrande Golf Club.

"I started very well today," said Crespi. "I birdied the first and that gave me the confidence to go low. I just had to manage my pressure on the back nine."

Crespi's previous best finish was fourth at the South African Open earlier this year.