Kennedy agony as Hanell takes victory

Sweden’s Christopher Hanell today won the Madeira Island Open after Australia’s Brad Kennedy twice cruelly fell victim to the 18th.

Kennedy mistakenly signed for a quadruple-bogey eight instead of a seven in his third-round 80 this morning to fall five shots off the lead.

And after a superb final round fightback in gale-force winds, the 29-year-old then bogeyed the 18th to miss out on a play-off by a single stroke.

Hanell carded a closing 71 at Santo da Serra for a four-under total of 284, claiming his first European Tour title and the winner’s cheque for £67,153.

Kennedy finished in a tie for second on three under alongside Sweden’s Steven Jeppesen and American Rob Rashell.

Welshman Garry Houston and Birmingham’s Sam Walker were another shot back in fifth with second round leader Jamie Spence, who also carded a third round of 80, sharing seventh on one under.

Kennedy’s costly blunder came at the conclusion of the delayed third round on Sunday morning.

The Australian thought he had been forced to take a penalty drop while taking relief from the cart path, and after eventually declaring his ball unplayable, returned to the tee to hit another ball, his third shot.

He then found the green and three-putted for a seven, which playing partner Spence duly marked on his card. However, thinking he had taken a penalty shot, Kennedy changed it to an eight and signed his card, and therefore had to accept the score of 80 when the error was spotted.