Cevaer celebrates European Tour win

France’s Christian Cevaer was today celebrating his amazing good fortune after claiming his first European Tour victory in an amazing finish to the Spanish Open in Fuerteventura.

Cevaer holed his 137-yard second shot to the opening hole of yesterday’s final round and then repeated the trick on the 16th to overhaul long-term leader Ricardo Gonzalez.

Gonzalez looked set to claim back-to-back victories following his Seville Open win seven days ago when he led by three shots with three holes to play.

But, moments after Cevaer pitched in on the 349-yard 16th, the Argentine drove out of bounds on the same hole and, after driving through the green with his second ball, three-putted to run up a double bogey six.

Cevaer then had to save par after going through the back of the 18th to stay one shot ahead and watch as Gonzalez, Swede Peter Hedblom and overnight leader David Park all failed to birdie the last to force a play-off.

Cevaer’s final round of 69 gave him a nine-under-par total of 271, the winner’s cheque and a two-year tour exemption, Gonzalez, Hedblom and Park sharing second place on eight under.

“It is fabulous and I am just really happy that my perseverance has paid off,” said Cevaer, who was world junior champion aged 17 and won the prestigious PAC-10 Championship while gaining a psychology degree at Stanford University in California.

“I am happy that I have clinched one of the first opportunities I have had because I know how tough it is and you do see guys finishing on the podium a lot without winning.

“This is very encouraging for me. I would have had to be happy if I had finished in the top three but the opportunity came back to me and I focused very much on my last five holes.

“It was a fantastic stroke of luck holing out that lob shot on 16. I hit it perfect but we all know there is not much difference between it going in or finishing close.

“This means a great deal because I can be more relaxed and be really confident in investing all my efforts and work into my game.

“It was frustrating to play seven tournaments this season, make five cuts, and still be 130th on the Order of Merit but you have to be patient.”

Park was pleased to finish second despite failing to hold on to his one-shot overnight lead, the Welshman holing an 18ft par putt on the 18th after driving into a fairway bunker.

It was the 29-year-old’s first top-three finish in 135 events since he won the European Grand Prix in 1999 on his second tour start, and a good recovery after going to the turn in 40.