Sunday 29 March 2015 20:59, UK
Richie Ramsay was delighted to overcome a tough final round at the Hassan Trophee II to hold on for a narrow victory.
The Scot recovered from seeing a three-shot lead disappear in the space of two holes to finish one shot clear of Frenchman Romain Wattel at Golf du Palais Royal.
Ramsay posted four consectuive birdies on the front nine before three-putting the seventh and posting a triple bogey on the eight, but recovered to make three gains on the back nine to seal a first Tour win in three years.
Asked about his triple bogey on the eighth, the former US amateur champion told Sky Sports 4: "I just didn't execute the shot exactly as I wanted to. Hit a poor chip, rolled back into a divot, didn't come out, hit it back on, two putts, easy six. It's one of those courses that has so many holes like that.
"I knew I was still in the mix and walking down nine I was still level par for my round and I knew the back nine was very scoreable. I made great putts on nine and 10 just to keep the momentum going and then I stood over a putt on the 12th and felt my putter feels absolutely great.
"I said to myself 'just go for it, this is your time', and pretty much took it by the scruff of the neck in the next two holes."
An emotional Ramsay, who had missed the cut in four of his five events this season and withdrew from the other after three rounds due to illness, dedicated the win to his wife Angela and brother Robin.
"It means a huge amount," Ramsay added. "My brother has supported me since I was so young. This one's for him and Angela. I know they are all back home and probably going crazy at the moment.
"I've gone through some tough times with injury but kept believing and they were at my back and said just go out there and play golf and that's what I did today. It was so much fun out there."
Missing the Masters
South African George Coetzee, who had needed to win to move into the world's top 50 and qualify for the Masters, was one of six players to share third place on eight-under, while Tommy Fleetwood finished joint-17th in his attempts to win and secure a trip to Augusta.
“It’s been a long stretch and I’d like to have pulled it off but that’s just the way things go,” Coetzee said. “You can’t not watch a major if you’re not playing in it, but I’ll be wishing I was there.”
