Grant makes history; McGee T20; Sugrue shines; Brazill comes from behind
Linn Grant. Picture: Getty Images
Sweden's Linn Grant became the first woman to win on the DP World Tour when she closed with a superb 64 to cruise a nine-shot victory in the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed.
Two shots clear of Australia's Jason Scrivener overnight, the former Arizona State University star (22) finished on 24-under-par to pocket €319,716 in the co-sanctioned event between the LET and DP World Tour, where 78 men and 78 women play for a $2 million prize fund but only one trophy. Scores
She birdied five of her first six holes and picked up three more on the back nine at Halmstad Golf Club to claim her third LET win this year and her sixth since turning professional in August last year.
"I hope this victory is big," Grant said. "I hope it brings women more forward, and it gets people's eyes on us a little bit more. It is always nice to say that you beat the guys for a week! To be able to speak Swedish and hear everyone out there cheering for you, it was amazing."
Scotland's Marc Warren and Sweden's Henrik Stenson tied for second place on 15-under after final rounds of 65 and 70 as defending champion Jonathan Caldwell tied for 37th on four-under after a 70 for his best result in seven months.
"Every time I looked back, she was in prime position and just gave herself birdie chance one after another, I would imagine, so there wasn't much I could do against a player like that," Stenson said. "So very well played, and congratulations to Linn."
On the Challenge Tour, Ruaidhri McGee claimed a tie for 20th in the Empordà Challenge in his first tour start for 21 months.
Tied for seventh overnight, the Derry man (31) closed with a one-over 71 to finish on five-under-par, eight shots behind Scotland's Liam Johnston, who put a tough couple of years behind him by securing his first victory since 2018.
After missing 16 cuts in his last 20 cuts on the Challenge Tour, the Scot carded a three-under 67 to win by two from England's Todd Clements on 13-under as Kinsale's John Murphy made 16 pars and two bogeys in a 72 to finish tied 29th on three-under.
On the Alps Tour, Mallow's James Sugrue closed with a three-under 67 to finish tied fifth on 12-under in the Open de la Mirabelle d'Or at Golf de la Grange aux Ormes in France, just two shots behind French amateur Tom Vaillant, who beat Italy's Manfredi Manica on the fourth extra hole.
In amateur golf, Naas' Robert Brazill came from six strokes behind halfway leader Eddie McCormack to win the Connacht Men's Stroke Play by four strokes at Portumna.
He was still six shots behind Galway Bay stalwart McCormack, who carded a one-under 71 in the morning to lead by five shots with a round to go.
But Brazill closed with a three-under 69 to win by four shots on one-over 289 from Malone's Fionn Dobbin as McCormack faded to joint fourth with an 81.
Brazill’s first win since breaking the scaphoid bone in his right wrist in March 2020 looked only a matter of time.
He was second to Jack Hearn in the Ulster Men’s Strokeplay two weeks ago before finishing tied fourth in the East of Ireland Championship having shot 65 in round three to lead through 54 holes.
“With the way I played the last few weeks, it was just nice to finish off those few weeks well with a win", Brazill said.
