Andrew Coltart showed it is not how you start but how you finish that counts as he claimed his second European Tour title at De Vere Slaley Hall with victory in the Great North Open.
The Scot, who celebrated his 31st birthday less than a fortnight ago, gave himself a belated gift of 217,209 euro (£133,330) with a closing 72 for a winning eleven under par total of 277, one shot clear of fellow countryman Stephen Gallacher and England’s Paul Casey with Daren Lee, Bradley Dredge and Steve Webster in a share of fourth on nine under par 279.
The final round, however, was a rollercoaster affair for Coltart, who started the day three shots clear of the field but who slipped back after a ragged front nine which saw him hit only one fairway and pick up bogeys at the eighth and ninth to be out in 38.
But the winner of the 1998 Qatar Masters steadied himself and birdies at the two par fives, the 11th and 12th, as well as at the 331 yard 15th offset a dropped shot at the 13th and he finished bravely with three par figures to triumph.
“Obviously I feel pretty pleased,” said Coltart who moved into tenth place on the Volvo Order of Merit. “It was kind of nerve-wracking and at times it wasn’t pretty out there at all but I managed to grind it out and come through.
“It wasn’t much fun on that front nine but I knew there were still some birdie chances on the back nine so I just calmed down, gave myself a chance to regroup and started to hit some decent shots. I’m proud of the way I handled myself and hopefully this is the springboard to future successes for me.”
At one point deep into the back nine, Coltart, Gallacher, Casey, Lee and Dredge all stood at ten under par, leaving the destiny of the title depending on which player handled best the pressure of the closing holes.
For a spell it looked like it would be Lee, who led by two shots after his first round 66 and whose birdies at the 11th and 12th holes restored him to that position.
His rock solid form had seen him not drop a shot either since the final hole of round two but the 36 year old from Essex saw his hope of a maiden Tour victory crumble in the final two holes.
Having pulled his tee shot left of the short 17th, Lee pitched to seven feet and missed for par before sending his second shot through the back of the dangerous 463 yard final hole and taking three more to get down for a closing 70.
In the group ahead of the Englishman, Gallacher had already set the clubhouse target of ten under par 278 with a fine closing 68.
Having been in danger of missing the cut after his error-strewn opening 76, the nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher showed his uncle’s fighting spirit, covering the last 54 holes in 14 under par with rounds of 67-67-68 to record his best ever finish on The European Tour International Schedule.
After Lee had failed to match Gallacher’s target, playing partner Casey did achieve the feat with with a brave pitch and putt from the back of the 18th green for a closing 69 and a cheque which will guarantee his playing privileges for the 2002 Tour season.
With only two groups remaining on the course, it left the destiny of the title in the hands of Dredge and Coltart. In the penultimate group, Dredge looked favourite after birdies at the 14th and 16th but the 27 year old Welshman came to grief on the final hole.
In deep rough to the left of the fairway after a pulled tee-shot, Dredge could only advance his ball up the fairway still well short of the green. He needed to pitch and putt to beat Gallacher and Casey but his overhit third shot flew to a treacherous position on the grassy bank behind the pin from where he took three more to get down for a double bogey six.
It gave Dredge a closing 71, a nine under par total of 279, and a share of fourth place with Lee and Steve Webster, whose seven birdie 67 was one of the best rounds of the final day.
Standing in the middle of the 18th fairway, Coltart saw Dredge’s challenge unravel and knew that Gallacher and Casey were both in the clubhouse one shot behind him. The Scot knew he had to make par and from the light rough fired a six iron 25 feet right of the pin and calmly two putted to do just that.
Pre tournament favourite had been defending champion Lee Westwood but he missed the cut after a disappointing opening 81. At least brother-in-law Coltart’s victory kept the title in the family.
