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Madeira Open News
- (2007/03/25)
 The
30 year old Daniel Vancsik of Argentina (Buenos Aires) completed an emphatic
maiden European Tour victory at the Madeira Islands Open BPI with a great final
round performance at the Santo da Serra Golf Club that saw him record the
largest winning margin of the 2007 season. Finishing the week on 18 under par
270 to win by seven strokes from South Africa�s David Frost and 1995 Madeira
Islands Open BPI champion Santiago Luna, who shared second place on 11 under
277.
Vancsik�s fantastic triumph made him the ninth Argentine winner in European Tour
history, and his 18 under total is equalled the lowest winning score recorded in
the tournament�s history, first set by Welshman Bradley Dredge in 2003, at the
magnificent Santo da Serra Golf Club.
Starting the final round with a four shot lead, Vancsik was the clear favourite
to take the title at the start of the day. The only question that had to be
answered was did he have the nerve to finish the fine job he had started, having
never been in such a lofty position at a European Tour event?
His answer was unequivocal as he stormed out of the blocks with two birdies in
his first three holes to open up a seven shot lead on the chasing pack. A bogey
at the third was soon rendered irrelevant as he birdied the seventh, eighth and
ninth holes to effectively end the tournament with nine holes to play.
Another two birdies on the back nine were countered by two dropped shots as he
made his way back to the clubhouse, but by that time the only question remaining
was how many strokes was he going to win by?
In the end, he was to win by seven and establish the largest winning margin of
the season en route to collecting the first prize of �116,660, as well as a
European Tour exemption until the end of season 2009.
�This is amazing,� said Vancsik, who was mobbed by his fellow countryman on the
18th green and covered in a champagne soaked Argentine flag as he sunk the
winning putt.
�I have changed so much of my swing in the last two months and worked so hard to
earn this victory. I didn�t hit the ball well today, but my sand wedge was
perfect and I made three great birdie putts on the seventh, eighth and ninth and
after that I knew that I could relax and put the ball on the fairways and
greens.
�I played well all week. I had so many chances for birdies because my wedge play
was so strong, and when I made the chances I took them because I was putting
well. When you feel good about your short game you are much more relaxed on the
course.
�My coach Jos� Cantero worked with me a lot on my short game and my
psychologist, Paulo Pecora, helped me a lot with my concentration. Before that,
anytime I hit a couple of bad shots I would lose my mind completely, but he
helped me to stay patient and realise that you do not always hit the ball great
in this sport. If you can�t don�t control your mind then you will not succeed in
golf.�
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Madeira Open Golf Tournament 2007. |
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