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

Legarrea's birdie blitz opens up four-shot halfway lead

Jesus Legarrea from Spain (c) Agathe Séron

Spain’s Jesus Legarrea followed up his excellent first round at the weather-hit Umbria Open in Italy with a four-under-par second round 67 to open up a four-shot halfway lead on Saturday.

The 26-year-old, in form after finishing tied-11th and fifth in his last two Alps Tour outings, carded six birdies in his first nine holes and composed himself after a double bogey six on his 12th with two par-three birdies to close, handing him a commanding lead over home favourite Alessandro Grammatica, who fired a mistake-free 66 to close on Legarrea.

England’s Matt Wallace was alone in third on four-under while Legarrea’s co-leader after round one Nino Bertasio, who was up first thing this morning to complete his second round with an eight-foot par putt but missed it, was a stroke further back ahead of six players on two-under.

“Now back to bed!” tweeted Bertasio after his day began in disappointing fashion, the Italian and his fellow competitors set for another wait before the start of the third round due to the rain.

“Two hour delay to the official tee times,” said the Alps Tour, with the leaders originally scheduled to tee off at 4:00pm and unlikely to finish before darkness falls.

Order of merit leader Andrew Cooley of England missed the cut at three-over by two shots while last week’s winner in Austria Brendan McCarroll, second in the standings, also missed out.

From Wentworth

Tom Pilcher

Golfmanager Press Agency

Legarrea, Bertasio shine in Umbria Open first round

Jesus Legarrea co-leader with Nino Bertasio after first round in Umbria Open. (c) Agathe Séron

Spain’s Jesus Legarrea and local favourite Nino Bertasio defied the horrific conditions in the first round of the weather-delayed Umbria Open on Friday to open up a two-shot lead at six-under-par.

After play was held up by six and a half hours on Thursday it was Legarrea and Bertasio who made the early running at the sodden Perugia Golf Club, the Spaniard making an eagle at the short par-four 16th while Bertasio avoided any trouble in his flawless round of 65.

Another home favourite Matteo Peroni was in a share of second place alongside Slovenian Matjaz Gojcic with a host of players at two-under, while order of merit leader Andrew Cooley of England slumped to a four-over first round, two away from the cut which is likely to be made at two over.

Legarrea’s friend Jose Maria Olazabal, playing on the European Tour at Wentworth’s PGA Championship, said his compatriot was closing on a win after his last two Alps Tour finishes of tied-11th at the Open International de Rebetz and fifth at the Gosser Open in Austria last week.

“He’s improved a lot and the results are there, he just needs to finish off a tournament. With a better strategy and short game I think he’ll win. The most important thing is confidence,” said the twice U.S. Masters winner.

From Wentworth

Tom Pilcher

Golfmanager Press Agency