Final round report and scores from the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy

September 17, 2007

Claudio Vigano closed with a battling five over par 77 to become the first Italian to win the prestigious Duke of York Young Champions Trophy at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire.

The 16 year-old Italian Boys’ champion from Milan battled back from double bogeys on the 10th and the 11th and a triple bogey on the 17th to card a brave birdie on the 535-yard par-5 18th and finish two shots ahead of French Girls’ champion Isabelle Boineau, Danish Boys’ champion Joachim Hansen and fellow Italian Giulia Molinari.

Earlier in the day Molinaro, the 17 year-old Italian Girls’ champion from Treviso, had stormed through field with a magnificent three under par 69 which tied the best round of the tournament and was enough to give her first prize in the girls’ tournament after a card countback with the unfortunate Boineau.

#Vigano looked to be cruising to an impressive victory when he went out in level par 36 but four dropped shots in the space of two holes at the 430-yard par-4 10th and the 120-yard par-3 11th saw his lead drop to just two shots. He regained his composure with fine birdies at the 370-yard par-4 13th and the 530-yard par-5 14th but then squandered a further three shots on the 17th before hitting a towering 6-iron to within eight feet of the hole of the par-5 final hole to set up the first international victory of his career.

“I cannot begin to tell you how I feel,” said Vigano moments after receiving the trophy from the Duke of York.

“I began to wonder whether it was going to be my day when I dropped shots on the 10th, 11th and the 17th but I’m proud of the fact I managed to control my nerves coming down the last.

“It’s a great honour to win this tournament,” he added, “and it’s even better to know that Giulia has won the girls’ prize.”
Molinaro started the final round on nine over par 153 after opening  rounds of 73 and 80 but like her compatriot turned in level par 36 and then moved into top gear with a closing nine holes of three under par 33 that included birdies on the 10th, the 14th and 18th.

“That was a great way to end the tournament,” said Molinaro. “I played well in the first round and again this morning but the second round let me down a bit.”

“It has been a fantastic week,” she added, “and I’m delighted the Italians have done so well.”

British Boys’ champion, the Spaniard Emilio Cuartero, carded a six over par 78, his best round of the tournament, but that still left the hugely promising 16 year-old from the outskirts of Barcelona languishing well down the field on 24 over par 240.

Scottish Boys’ Match Play champion also improved on his opening rounds of 77 and 78 with a four over par 76 that saw him finish the event on 15 over par 231 and a single shot ahead of Ireland’s Gary McGrane.

The leading British competitor was England’s Matt Haines who added a 76 to his opening rounds of 77 and 74 to claim a share of ninth place on 11 over par 227.
Welsh Boys’ champion, Joe Vickery, closed with an 81 to finish the Championship on 236.

Final Round Scores

220 – Claudio Vigano (It) 72-71-77
222 – Giulia Molinaro (It) 73-80-69, Isabelle Boineau (Fr) 74-74-74, Joachim Hansen (Den) 75-71-76
224 – Kasper Sorensen (Den) 76-77-71, Sean Einhaus (Ger) 74-74-76
225 – Darius van Driel (Hol) 80-70-75
226 – Lionel Weber (Fr) 77-74-75
227 – Matt Haines (Eng) 77-74-76, Bernardo Frere (Port) 77-71-79
228 – Alessia Knight (It) 75-76-77
229 – Rashid Khan (Ind) 81-72-76, Johan de Beer (SA) 72-78-78, Vaishavi Sinha (Ind) 75-75-78, Rachel Raastad (Nor) 77-73-79
231 – Mathieu Rivard (Can) 80-77-74, Paul Ferrier (Sco) 77-78-76
232 – Gary McGrane (Ire) 75-79-78, Dominique Jacobs (SA) 79-74-79, Fanny Vuignier (Swi) 75-75-82
233 – Klara Spilkova (Cze) 81-76-76, Philip Kaiser (Au) 85-72-76, Roberto Francioni (Swi) 77-76-80
234 – Ossi Mikkola (Fin) 79-79-76, Francois Verheyen (Bel) 78-77-79, Egert Poldma (Est) 83-70-81, Maaike Naafs (Hol) 79-72-83
236 – Matteo Manassero (It) 81-77-78, Joe Vickery (Wal) 77-78-81
237 – Marina Kotnik (Au) 79-79-79, Mikus Gavars (Lat) 85-69-83
238 – Nicole Vandermade (Can) 77-82-79, Martin Prihoda (Cze) 77-80-81
239 – Christoffer Arvidsson (Swe) 78-75-86
240 – Emilio Cuartero (Sp) 82-80-78
241 – Michael Kanev (Bul) 81-84-77, Valentine Gevers (Bel) 78-82-81
243 – Marta Vasconelos (Port) 81-82-80
244 – Koray Varli (Turk) 79-82-83
245 – Holly Clyburn (Eng) 84-80-81, Andri Oskarsson (Ice) 82-79-84
246 – Tim Gornik (Slo) 79-82-85
250 – Krista Puisite (Lat) 89-84-77, Tjasa Prelog (Slo) 86-81-83
253 – Elcin Ulu (Turk) 84-85-84
255 – Petros Venetopoulos (Gr) 91-77-87
274 – Heida Gudnadottir (Ice) 95-86-93