It was so close for Darren Fichardt on Sunday as he lost out on a victory in the Legends Tour’s Staysure PGA Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland on the first hole of a play-off.
Fichardt and American Bo van Pelt were the only two players who were under par after regulation play in the only Legends Tour event with a halfway cut as strong winds produced extremely challenging playing conditions. They were locked together on three-under after 72 holes.
Van Pelt had enjoyed a three-shot lead at one point in the middle of the back nine, but the gritty Fichardt kept battling as the American faltered and drew level with three to play. Nothing could separate the two over the closing holes as they both sought a first Legends Tour win and a dramatic play-off ensued.
In the play-off, both players crashed superb drives down the par-five 18th. Van Pelt was then first to play, hitting a majestic fairway wood from more than 260 yards to the middle of the green, while Fichardt seemed to injure his wrist as he struck his approach and found a deep fairway bunker. In taking two more to get to the green, his chance was lost and Van Pelt two putted for birdie and the win.
Having claimed the oldest senior championship in world golf, Van Pelt said: “It means a lot to me, it’s been a long road back and I can’t thank the Legends Tour enough. My first event at Costa Navarino was great and this was too. I’ve been playing pro golf for 27 years and the two I’ve played on this tour have been as good as anything I’ve played.”
The American was also full of praise for his vanquished opponent, who performed valiantly to force a play-off and even had a chance to win in regulation before three-putting his 72nd hole. “I can’t say enough about Darren,” said Van Pelt. “He’s a world-class player and he played really good today. I knew he wasn’t going to go away. I just played solid all week. I knew my game was in pretty good shape, but there was a lot of good players out here.
“I’ve just been trying to really get into my process, focus on my pre-shot routine. It’s easy to get ahead of yourself, but on this golf course, you really can’t do it. And I probably did as good a job this week as I have ever done in my career. My son was great. It was his first week on the bag, but he said a lot of good things at the right time. It wasn’t looking very good for me on 18 in regulation when Darren’s right there in front for two. But the play-off was a fresh start. I hit a really good drive and there at the end I just tried to focus on the shot at hand and not think about giving up a three-shot lead.”
Adilson Da Silva closed with a two-under-par 70 for a share of ninth on five-over.
