Carl Pettersson of Sweden became the seventh first time winner on The 2002 European Tour International Schedule when he beat England's David Gilford at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off at Vale do Lobo after a week of high winds had resulted in the tournament being reduced to 36 holes.
The 24 year old triumphed in only his 37th start since securing his card at the Qualifying School Finals in November 2000. Victory was worth 125,000 euro (£76,465) to Pettersson, who moves to fifth on the Volvo Order of Merit with 371,799 euro (£227,437).
Now based in the United States, where he went to College, Pettersson won his maiden title with a par four at the first extra hole, Gilford having overshot the green at the 445 yard 18th.
The 36 year old Ryder Cup player chipped 25 feet past the hole from long grass and two putted for a bogey five, leaving Pettersson with the luxury of two putts to win from 20 feet. He ran his first effort two feet past but made the uphill return to join Arjun Atwal, Tim Clark, Alastair Forsyth, Richard S Johnson, Justin Rose and Kevin Sutherland as first time winners in 2002.
Petterson and Gilford, who won the last of his six titles in 1994, had finished tied on 142, two under par, when the second round was completed on Saturday after winds gusting up to 40 miles an hour had played havoc with the playing schedule on the first three days.
The Swede, who had claimed the first round lead with a 66, shot a second round 76 while Gilford strung together rounds of 70 and 72. They finished one stroke ahead of Greg Owen of England, Spain’s Miguel Angel Martin and Swede Henrik Nyström, who were the only other players under par.
The inclement weather on Saturday resulted in the tournament being cut to 54 holes, but that also proved impossible when heavy overnight storms caused a three hour delay on Sunday morning. Play in the third and final round did eventually start, but the rising winds forced another suspension after only 35 minutes of action, in which 13 players began their rounds.
Eventually, the tournament was cut to 36 holes, with 75 per cent of the 1,000,000 euro prize fund being paid out. Pettersson and Gilford moved back to the 18th tee and enacted the final scene in the drama, with the Swede leaving for North Carolina with the winner’s cheque.
Gilford, who had dropped out of the top 100 on the Volvo Order of Merit for the past two years, signalled his return to the top level with his runner-up cheque for 83,332 euro (£50,976).
After punching the air with delight, Pettersson said: “I’m extremely happy, although it’s a shame the tournament had to be cut to 36 holes. I have never felt pressure like I did in the play-off, knowing I had two putts to win. I am normally very calm under pressure but I was shaking a bit today! I had a tricky little one back uphill but that was okay as I didn’t want to leave myself with a short one downhill.”
The prize will assist Pettersson with his mission to build a new home in the United States and he added: “One of my goals this season was to win. I was second in the Open de Argentina last year and had some good finishes so far this season. I didn’t much to anyone, but winning was a goal and I’ve achieved it.”
