Alejandro del Rey secured his first European tour title at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, clinching victory by four strokes. The tournament, held at Al Hamra Golf Club, witnessed del Rey's consistent performance, with a remarkable third straight 6-under 66, culminating in a 22-under par finish for the week. This victory marked a significant milestone in his career, as it came on his 70th start on the tour.
Del Rey began the final round with a two-shot lead, which he quickly extended to five shots, thanks to birdies at the 1st, 2nd, and 5th holes. His exceptional play over the weekend was highlighted by a bogey-free performance, allowing him to maintain a comfortable distance from his closest competitor, Marcus Armitage, who finished second. Armitage had led after the initial two rounds but could not match del Rey's relentless pace.
"I'm just grateful and I'm very happy that this finally came," said an elated del Rey after his triumph.
Ranked No. 308 before the tournament, del Rey's win significantly boosts his standing in the golfing world. His recent form had not pointed to such a breakthrough, as his last top-10 finish was in March at the Singapore Classic, where he tied for seventh place. However, his commanding performance in Ras Al Khaimah has demonstrated his potential to compete at the highest levels.
David Puig of Spain secured third place, finishing at 15 under par. Del Rey's flawless execution throughout the tournament set him apart from the competition, particularly as he parred his way through the closing stages to hold off Armitage's challenge comfortably.
Del Rey reflected on his journey by stating, "I got to a point last year where I just felt like I wasn't having that much fun on the golf course because for me, playing for 20th, 30th place wasn't that meaningful at that point."
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