Jonathan Caldwell and Alice Hewson. Pics: Tristan Jones/ LET
Gothenberg, Sweden, June 14: Jonathan Caldwell from Northern Ireland held off the challenge from Spain’s Adrian Otaegui and Englishwomen, Alice Hewson on the final stretch to win the exciting Scandinavian Mixed Hosted by Henrik & Annika to claim his maiden European Tour victory. The 37-year-old Caldwell shot 8-under 64 in the final round. The tense last five holes included an eagle-2 on 14th, bogeys on 15 and 17th and birdied on 16th and 18th.
Otageui finished second while Hewson was the leading woman finisher and third overall.
India’s Shubhankar Sharma and Ajeetesh Sandhu from men’s and Tvesa Malik and Diksha Dagar missed the cut.
Caldwell had set the clubhouse target at 17-under after equalling the best round of the week with an eight under 64. Otaegui had an opportunity to clinch the title at the death after giving himself a birdie opportunity at the 72nd hole for an 18 under total, but he three-putted meant Hewson was the last person standing with a chance to force extra holes.
Hewson, 23, needed to birdie the last two holes, or hole out from the fairway on the 18th to get into a play-off, but she parred and ended third and claimed the honour of the highest-placed Ladies European Tour player.
It was a fitting finish to the co-sanctioned European Tour and Ladies European Tour.
For Caldwell, who partnered Rory McIlroy while representing Great Britain and Ireland at the 2007 Walker Cup as an amateur, it is a life-changing victory having struggled to make his mark on the professional game for 13 years and even working part-time in a golf store to fund his European Tour dreams.
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Tvesa, Diksha and Shubhankar tee up at Scandinavian Mixed Masters
