Although Zander Lombard will be disappointed with his closing 72 on Sunday, he will be pleased with his share of second in the DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates.
Lombard endured a tough day after heading into the final round in the lead, and, although he made an eagle and four birdies, six bogeys had him battling to stay in contention throughout the day, and it was eventually only a birdie on 18 which was him finish second.
The tournament was won by Daniel Gavins of England, who finished on 17-under-par, despite a closing double-bogey seven after he hit two shots in the water on 18. Gavins achieved his second DP Wolrd Tour win and was one shot ahead of Lombard, who was looking for a maiden DP World Tour win, and of Alexander Bjork of Sweden.
Lombard opened with a bogey, but then made a 17-footer for eagle on the third. But he was unable to convert that into any momentum, and dropped shots on five six and nine, paying the price on each of those for a lack of accuracy off the tee. He dropped again on 10, when he didn’t get up and down from just short of the green. He was finally able to get some lost ground back, with birdies on 11 and 12. However, another wayward tee shot on the par-three 15th cost him his final bogey. A rare straight tee shot on the final hole allowed him to go for the green in two on the par-five closer, and two-putt from 24 feet for a safe birdie.
Much of what will please Lombard is that he will climb 114 places on the Race to Dubai rankings to 24th. He will be looking for answers to finding fairways if he is to achieve his breakthrough victory.
Louis de Jager closed with a two-under 70 for a share of 28th on seven-under. George Coetzee and JC Ritchie were in a share of 36th after rounds of 72 and 70 respectively; Shaun Norris and Thriston Lawrence had rounds of 70 and 71 to finish on five-under in a share of 42nd. Oliver Bekker and Justin Walters each battled in their final rounds, carding 74 and 75 to finish in 56th and 68th.
