Zanotti makes history with win
FABRIZIO Zanotti yesterday became the first Paraguay-born player to win on the European Tour, defeating world No 2 Henrik Stenson at the fifth extra playoff hole to capture the BMW International Open near Cologne.
The 31-year old Asuncion-born player posted a final round 65 to join Stenson (67), Frenchman Gregory Havret (66) and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (67) in the play-off in the €2m event on the Gut Larcenhof course.
After Havret dropped out at the second extra hole, the 305th world ranked Zanotti, competing in his 180th Tour event, matched the birdies of Stenson and Cabrera-Bello at the third extra hole when rain began falling heavily.
Stenson and Cabrera-Bello were then in rough off the tee at the fourth extra hole, the par four 18th, with the Spaniard dropping out after finding water guarding the green with his second shot.
Stenson was forced to lay-up short of the green before then matching Zanotti’s par.
However, Stenson then found the water with his tee shot at the fifth extra hole, the shortened par four 17th, with Zanotti laying-up with the aim of getting a par.
Zanotti then created European Tour history when Stenson, who found a bunker with his third shot, conceded victory after failing to sink his next shot.
Zanotti lost his playing card last season but regained it last November by finishing second at the Tour School. “I feel very, very happy and it is a moment I’ve been waiting for a long time,” he said “I have worked hard, and I am very happy,” he said.