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Carrasco Claims Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open
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Carrasco Claims Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open

American Ray Carrasco produced a phenomenal finish to win the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open and said that a little Welsh ancestry might have helped him along the way.

Carrasco holed a 45 foot birdie putt on the final hole at Royal St David’s Golf Club to beat compatriot David Oakley by a stroke. The huge putt came shortly after he’d holed a bunker shot on the 16th for a birdie.

“It has not sunk in yet. This is definitely the biggest tournament I have ever won. There is a lot to it. My father in law, who past away several years ago, was Welsh so I think there is some spiritual guidance there,” said Carrasco, who won £75,000.

The American, who led by one at the start of the day, fired a two under par 67 to finish the European Seniors Tour event on four under par.

“It feels absolutely miraculous. I was just trying to get the last putt close and to have it curl in was just an incredible surprise. I feel like going back out there and pacing it off,” added Carrasco, who has now three times on the Seniors Tour.

Carrasco led for much of the day but lost the lead to playing partner Oakley after bogeying 11, 13 and 15 before his fantastic finish.

“I didn’t lose it, he won it. The shot that won it for him was the shot on 16. He could have made bogey there but he made birdie,” said Oakley, who also shot 67.

American Bob Lendzion and Simon Owen from New Zealand finished two strokes further back in joint third after carding rounds of 67 and 69 respectively.

England’s Jim Rhodes closed with a 66 to finish in outright fifth on level par. Bob Charles from New Zealand, aged 68, ended nine shots off the pace after a 70.

Ireland’s Liam Higgins won the Hardys Super Seniors Prize for the leading player aged over 60. He finished in joint eighth place and won €1,500.

The Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open was also special for former Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell who fired his first sub par round in a professional tournament. He shot a three under par 66 to finish in a tie for 39th place.

Mansell, competing as an amateur, nailed four birdies and dropped one shot en route to the finest round of his golfing career. The moment was made more special by the fact that his son Leo was caddying for him.

“I am just delighted, it’s just fantastic. What I am happy about is that it shows people I am here for all the right reasons. It was a good round of golf and it was just a privilege to play in this event,” said Mansell, who was Formula One World Champion in 1992 and Indy Car winner in America the following year.

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