Adrian Meronk, from Poland, carded a final round 66 featuring two bogeys and two eagles to win the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters with a 16-under, 272 total.
He adds his victory to a list of historic champions at the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande such as the Argentine Roberto De Vicenzo, winner of the 1966 Spanish Open, and the Spaniard Severiano Ballesteros, winner of the 1987 Spanish Professional Championship.
“I did not have my best start, so winning this tournament is very special. I am over the moon. I knew it was going to be tricky today and that the weather was not going to be very helpful,” said Meronk, after his fourth win in the DP World Tour.
A few months later, in July 1967, De Vicenzo won the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. In July 1988, also the year after his victory at the Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande, Severiano Ballesteros won his third Open Championship and fifth major at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
“I hope I can follow that trend,” said Adrian Meronk, who after his victory this week moves back into the top 50 on the Official World Ranking and third on the Race of Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.
Germany's Matti Schmid closed with a 71 to finish second at 15-under followed by England's Richard Mansell in third place at 14-under after carding a 68.
“I didn’t get off to a hot start, I was trying to talk to myself, stay positive," said Schmid. "I was hitting good shots on the range in the morning so I knew I had the game.
“The eagle on the sixth gave me some momentum and then I believed and stayed super focused until the last putt, which I’m very proud of.
“That was the first time I hit the (ninth) fairway this week and just had a good number for my 54-degree (wedge), was hitting that shot yesterday on the range.
“Just hit a perfect shot, little draw, one bounce and in which was a great bonus for me and had me going for the back nine.”
South African Louis De Jager's own 68 got him a share of fourth place at 13-under alongside American Chase Hanna who closed with a bogey-free 66.
