David Drysdale has won the Vattanac Legends Championship after a nail-biting final round in Cambodia, shooting a magnificent closing 66 to claim an emotional first win on the Legends Tour.
English duo Peter Baker and Anthony Wall both finished a shot back at -11, with Andrew Marshall and overnight leader Phillip Archer at -10 on a day of low scoring at the Sir Nick Faldo-designed Vattanac Golf Resort.
South Africa’s Keith Horne – a winner at the Reignwood Legends Championship in July – led with six to play but was forced to settle for a share of sixth place, alongside first-round leader Greg Owen.
For Drysdale it was a special day. A brilliant birdie at the last got him into the clubhouse at -12, one ahead of Wall who had just set the target at -11. The Scot then had to endure a nerve-wracking wait to see if his 19-year wait for a win – spanning 576 DP World Tour and 13 Legends Tour events – was at an end.
“Vattanac Legends Championship winner sounds fantastic,” said Drysdale. “It’s been a long time coming, but it feels amazing. I played great today and I’m delighted to get it done. I felt pretty calm and was just trying to stay focused and hit one good shot after another.
“I didn’t get off to a great start, but then I found my rhythm and hit some big shots into the par-fives on the back nine. The one on 13 was huge for me. I hit a great drive and had a good number, so hit 3-hybrid right at it – left me about an eight-footer for eagle which I holed. And the one into 18 is the sort of shot you dream of hitting. Almost made a three but delighted with a four to finish.”
Having carded -12, Drysdale then had to endure the prospect of either Peter Baker or Phillip Archer eagling the last to force a play-off. “It’s been a difficult half-hour,” he said, after neither was able to make the three needed to deny him victory. “If you get a good drive away an eagle is definitely possible so it was a bit of nervous wait. I’m glad it’s all over. It means the world to me. I had a couple of chances to win, had a couple where guys robbed me if you like – this will go a long way to make it up for that.”
With the lead changing hands multiple times over the course of the afternoon, spectators in Phnom Penh were treated to a spectacular finish at the Vattanac Golf Resort with the Marshall, Horne and former Ryder Cup player Jarmo Sandelin forcing their way to the top of a fluctuating leaderboard before Wall and Drysdale made decisive moves.
Wall in particular made a great surge on the back, eagling the par-four 11th after driving the green and adding two further birdies coming in. “It was a full commitment driver – it ran to about five feet and I holed it, so that was great,” said Wall afterwards. “The last few holes are hard, mentally quite difficult, and I played them really solidly. I felt like I needed a three at the last, and I’m delighted that I was able to hit my best drive and a hybrid that pitched 15ft from the flag.
Sadly it ran through and left a difficult chip to hole. But it was a great day and sometimes is the way it is – I’m proud of my performance. I’m so pleased for David – he’s a diamond and he deserves to win. It’s been so long. I remember the play-off in Qatar and he was so unlucky. Fair play to him, I’m delighted for him.”
Earlier in the day, former Ryder Cup player Niclas Fasth also enjoyed a moment to remember – a hole-in-one at the 15th hole. “It was a 4-iron from 197 yards, hit it perfectly and was really happy when it dropped,” said Fasth. “I think it’s my 11th ace and it’s always lovely when it happens!”
In a unique extension of the Tour’s first Cambodian chapter, there will be back-to-back Legends Tour events at Vattanac Golf Resort, as play moves from the East to West Course for the Vattanac Legends Championship Legacy Edition. For more information, click here.
