Joel Moscatel (-14) has conquered this Sunday the Le Golf Vaudreuil Golf Challenge by winning in the first playoff hole against the French Benjamin Herbert (-14). The Spaniard thus obtains the second victory of his career in the Challenge Tour, which is also his second victory of the year after the one achieved less than two months ago in the Challenge of Spain. He also becomes the first Spaniard to win at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil.
This is not just another victory, with this triumph the Spaniard virtually seals one of the 20 cards for the DP World Tour next season. There is also the possibility of immediate promotion if he achieves a third success by the end of the season. Impressive. What a way to play.
Joel is barely facing his first full season on the tour and he already has almost with both hands the passport towards the highest continental category. He scores 870.71 points in the Road to Mallorca and last year the last card was won by Stuart Manley with 840.64. Exactly half of the season remains and the work is practically done. As said, it’s crazy what the Spanish player is achieving.
The whole day was practically a head-to-head between Will Besseling (-13) and the Spaniard. They started together in the stellar match and have been giving and taking the lead. The Dutchman had a two-stroke lead at the tee of hole 12 (-14 versus -12). There was still a lot to be decided and a guest to appear.
In that final stretch, the French Benjamin Hebert (-14), who was at -10 at the start of the aforementioned hole 12, hooked five birdies and a bogey to finish at -14. The excitement was at its peak and they reached hole 18 with Besseling tied at -14 with the Frenchman who was already in the clubhouse. Joel Moscatel had just made his second bogey of the day at 17 and dropped to -13. Besseling, who had made birdie on that hole the previous three rounds, had it in his hand, it depended on him. Moscatel, on the other hand, had added eagle, birdie, birdie, was going to fight to get into the playoff. If both made the birdie, the Dutchman would be the tournament champion. Well, Besseling has felt the pressure and with a painful bogey has even been left out of the playoff. Meanwhile, the Spaniard did make the birdie and got into the playoff with Benjamin.
The first playoff hole, which ultimately was the decisive one, was to be played at hole 10, par 3. There, Hebert, who was looking for the seventh victory of his career on the tour, made a bogey that has handed the victory to the Spaniard on a silver platter. Moscatel, with a par, has achieved his second victory of the year.
Beyond Joel’s extraordinary victory, it has been a very positive Sunday for Spanish interests. Five of ours were part of the game today and all have finished among the top 22 of the tournament. Special mention deserves Quim Vidal (-13). The Barcelona player has signed a great round of 67 strokes, the second best card of the day, only surpassed by Jamie Rutherford (66). This great final round allows him to finish third tied, just one stroke from the tournament champion. It is the best result of his career in the Challenge Tour in the 24 tournaments he has played, in fact, it is his first top ten on the tour.
Vidal needed today’s result to score many points (120, specifically) and get into the top 45 players of the year who have access to the final of the Road to Mallorca. Seven birdies and two bogeys to close a week in which he delivered the first eight under par of his career on Friday. Great tournament.
Borja Virto (-8) chains his second consecutive week signing a very good result and has finished in France within the top twelve of the tournament. This result consolidates him in the top 45 of the annual circuit classification. The Navarrese has delivered a card of 71 strokes with four birdies and three bogeys. Javi Sainz (-7), on the other hand has finished one stroke behind Virto and adds his second top 20 of the season. The Biscayan has made his ninth consecutive cut of the season and is on the verge of signing a great result that boosts him in the table.
The fifth soldier of the Armada is Lucas Vacarisas (-6). The Spaniard has finished in the 22nd position of the tournament with a great final sprint with two birdies that have made him climb fifteen positions and a good handful of points.
The circuit now takes a two-week break before facing a marathon of three straight months without rest. The next test is held in Austria from July 18 to 21.
