If thirty minutes before the end of the International Series of Morocco someone had said that Ben Campbell was going to win the tournament, very few would have believed it. What a comeback. On the tee of hole 17 John Catlin was leading by three strokes over Eugenio Chacarra, Caleb Surratt and the New Zealander Ben Campbell. There were only two holes left in the tournament. It seemed that no one could snatch the third victory of the year from him.
Ben Campbell had other plans this Sunday at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The New Zealander made a spectacular eagle on the par 4 of hole 17. From the tee he put the ball on the green, but he had a putt of more than ten meters which he converted right in the middle. The lead was reduced to one stroke.
At the final flag, Campbell has holed from four meters and has put all the pressure on Catlin who from a little more than three meters has not been able to sink the putt that gave him the victory. Everything would be decided in the playoff. John had good memories as just two months ago he snatched the victory from David Puig in that same instance. Luck has been elusive this time.
In the playoff played on hole 18 neither of the two players managed to catch the green in regulation. Catlin from 100 meters passed the green and left it in the first cut of rough about twelve meters from the flag. Campbell hit his third shot from the bunker that protects that final hole. The flag was in the final stretch of the green and Campbell has not made a good exit from the sand. It has gone far to the right and he too was left in the first stretch of rough about ten meters away. Catlin executed his approach first which he left given less than a meter. He took out the five. Campell has done magic again and has holed from the putt from rough with a ball that has fallen inside practically in its last lap. Fist in the air and second victory of his career in the International Series. What a way to turn a tournament around. Impressive. Catlin has not taken advantage of the final stretch, but he has not made any gross mistakes and has seen how an impressive Campbell stole the wallet at the last gasp.
On the other hand, the Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra (-12) has flirted with victory all day. The day started very well for the interests of the Spaniard who after three holes was the sole leader thanks to a birdie on hole 3 and two bogeys from the Englishman, but a difficult final stretch at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam has prevented him from fighting for the victory. The third professional victory will have to wait.
With this third place, the Madrid player achieves his best result of the year and adds his second top ten of the season after the one achieved at the LIV Golf in Singapore.
Despite not being able to finish the week with a victory, the American’s season is starting to be outstanding. After the victories harvested in Macao and Arabia he adds his fourth. Of course, with this second place he consolidates his leadership of the Order of Merit of the Asian Tour and surpasses Carlos Ortiz to get to the top of the ranking of the International Series that give a place in LIV Golf. There is still a lot of season ahead, but the player born in Sacramento, is making merits, to earn a place in the Saudi circuit.
Jon Rahm’s team mate in Legion XIII, Caleb Surratt, has also had a good week in Rabat and has finished tied with Chacarra in third place.
