Adilson Da Silva has been the winner of the first edition of the European Legends Cup that has been held on the Almeria course of Golf Almerimar by winning in the play-off against Peter Baker, with whom he had tied with 9 under par and is now in first position in the Legends Tour ranking. José Manuel Carriles fights to finish in the 11th position.
The excitement was guaranteed on the final day of the European Legends Cup that has been held at Golf Almerimar. With a pleasant breeze and more benign playing conditions than the first two days of competition, the birdies kept appearing and three players were tied with 3 holes to go. Paul Lawrie, British winner, had already dropped out of the fight with two consecutive bogeys on holes 11 and 12. Archer goes into the water on 17 and drops out of the equation; Baker, who has played splendidly, presents the best card of the tournament, with 65 strokes for less 9; Da Silva settles the 18th with birdie for the third consecutive day and ties the Brit to go to the play-off. An extra hole has been necessary to decide the winner, the 18th, in which Da Silva has made another birdie against Baker’s par to hand the victory to the Brazilian, his seventh victory on the Legends Tour.
“I’m happy, assured Da Silva, it’s been fantastic. I played very well, my putt has not been as I would have liked but I’m happy with how I’ve handled it and how I’ve kept my nerves at all times. It’s the first time I’ve won in a play off, and despite the pressure, it’s been fantastic to be able to win against a player of the stature of Peter Baker”.
With this victory, Adilson Da Silva climbs to the 1st position of the Legends Tour Ranking, adding 7 top 10 this year including his triumph in Ireland, which magnifies the victory that the Brazilian has achieved in the Almeria town of El Ejido.
The performance of the Cantabrian José Manuel Carriles, the best ranked Spanish player in the tournament, in 11th position after settling the third round with 68 strokes that has ended, once again, with a birdie. “Quite happy, firstly for being invited, a good tournament, good place, good prizes, all attentions, being here is already good. Today I was afraid because the last rounds I play are bad, I started with two greens at three putts and I thought, ‘well man, there’s everything left’… I like the course, I feel very comfortable on it, I’ve been patient, I’ve played well and in the end I’ve got a good round. Very happy”.
The European Legends Cup has been possible thanks to the support of the Legends Tour, Staysure, Real Federación Andaluza de Golf, El Ejido City Council, Bodegas Juan Gil, Titleist, Aquadeus and TOA Shoes, and is organised by JGolf.
