Legarrea bags maiden victory in Umbria

Jeasus Legarrea (c) Claudio Scaccini

Spain’s Jesus Legarrea stormed to his first Alps Tour win with a nine-shot victory in the weather-affected Umbria Open on Sunday thanks to a final round of six-under-par 65.

After rain on all three days had wreaked havoc with the Perugia Golf Club layout and the event was shortened to 54 holes late on Saturday, Legarrea started with an eagle on the par-five first hole to extend his lead over Italy’s Alessandro Grammatica to five shots before he coasted home with a three-round total of 16-under, ahead of another home favourite Gregory Molteni (66).

“The first win is always very special. I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself and this will help,” said Legarrea, who had two runner-up finishes on tour last year and let a two-shot advantage slip going into the final round of the Open International de Rebetz earlier this month.

“I’m also very happy for all the great people around me,” added Legarrea, who gets tips off compatriot and twice major winner Jose Maria Olazabal.

The 26-year-old racked up four more birdies on the front nine to reach the turn in cruise control at six-under for his round while Grammatica (76) only went backwards and could not keep up with the Spaniard’s low scoring.

Legarrea’s landslide win was the biggest on the Alps Tour since Englishman Jack Senior’s 10-shot romp at the Guadeloupe Open last June.

From Wentworth

Tom Pilcher

Golfmanager Press Agency