Global Golf Post - April 12, 2010

MADEIRA, PORTUGAL | England’s James
Morrison secured his maiden European Tour
title at the Madeira Islands Open BPI - Portu-
gal after holding off a determined charge from
countryman Oliver Fisher.
Overnight leader Morrison carded a final-
round 70 to finish on 20-under par, one clear of
Fisher, who roared into contention with a host
of birdies on the final day. Fisher finished with
an impressive 65 – the joint-lowest round of the
day – while Scotland’s George Murray claimed
third on 14 under following a 73.
“I’m overwhelmed,” Morrison said. “I don’t
think it will sink in until Monday. I’m over the
moon. I’ve got my card for next year.”
Fisher, six behind Morrison after 54 holes,
burst out of the blocks at Porto Santo Golfe
with a sensational front nine of 31. Sparkling
approach play helped the Englishman to five
birdies, including four in succession starting
from the third hole. By contrast, Morrison
endured a shaky start to his final round,
missing a five-foot putt for par on the first
and dropping a further shot at the par- 5 third
after finding the water with his second shot.
But the 25-year-old winner recovered impres-
sively with a birdie at the sixth before picking
up an eagle at the 569-yard eighth. Another
birdie followed at the 10th to take Morrison to
20 under, three clear of Fisher with six holes to
play. Murray threatened to make it a three-way
fight for the title when he bounced back from an
opening bogey with an eagle at six to move to 16
under. But consecutive bogeys at the next two
holes undermined the Scot’s challenge before he
moved back to 15 under with a birdie at 12.
Italy’s Alessandro Tadini was alongside Gary
Clark on 12 under following a superb final-
round charge. Tadini picked up four birdies in
his opening six holes to vault up the leader-
board. A bogey at nine halted his progress, but
he quickly regained momentum with a four at
the long tenth before collecting further birdies
on the 12th, 13th and 14th, although he did give
a shot back on the par- 4 16th.
George Coetzee was one of three players on
11 under, alongside Charles-Edouard Russo
and John Parry, while Simon Thornton, Michael
Hoey and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet were a shot
further back. Thornton had looked set to chal-
lenge the leaders before dropping off the pace
with a nine on the par- 5 10th. Gonnet recorded
an eagle and six birdies in his closing 65, while
Steve Lewton and Fredrik Andersson Hed both
carded scores of 66 to reach 8 under for the
tournament. l