Viva Espana Historical First Double Victory in Morocco

VIVA ESPANA Historical First Double Victory in Morocco, Royal Dar Es Salam Golf Courses, Rabat

On April 29, 2019 European Tour’s 46th Trophy Hassan II, Ladies European Tour’s 25th Lalla Meryem Cup at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Rouge and Blue Courses), Rabat, Morocco saw Jorge Campillo and Nuria Iturrios victorious marking the first time two nationals have won major European titles at the same time, same venue.

His Royal Highness Morocco’s Prince Moulay Rachid, who awarded the trophies, is passionate about golf, supporting it throughout the country and internationally for men and women. Spain’s Jorge Campillo’s first win after 11 years on tour and 23-year-old Mallorcan Nuria Iturrios’ superb second win at the 450,000 Euro 46th Lalla Meryem Cup over the revamped Blue Course (par-73) three years after her first victory as a rookie. With a closing 70, she won by seven shots beating Swede Lina Boqvist, who had been tied for the lead teeing off Sunday morning with Nuria at -10, and Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall. On the front the lead changed, but Lina’s double bogey on the 10th put Nuria four up. Sadly, Lina dropped a few more coming in to tie for second while Iturrios finished at -13. She was the only player to play all rounds under par on the tough Blue Course. Happy Nuria shared, “It’s amazing for me to win again here. I’m so happy to be here and I hope to keep it going.” Nuria tied for second at 2019 Australian Ladies Open, Bonville Golf Resort earlier this year. Her coach, Jose Luis Palacios, also caddied for her in her first W, too. She told him on the 18th, “We are getting so close,”. She was nervous but thought they did a great job. With her win, a beautiful jeweled evening purse, 67,500 Euro check; she vaults 29 places up to ninth in European Solheim Cup points list. Plus, she makes history being part of the first Spanish duo victory. A new course record -64 was set by Lalla Meyrem’s defending champion Sweden’s Jenny Haglund. Her -9 was brilliant including a hole-in-one on the sixth (173 yds) tying for eighth place with last year’s runner up Australia’s Sarah Kemp. Jenny said: “I got off to a good start and that helps. Today was a good day so I’m happy and I’ll take away more good memories from Morocco. It felt like I could make birdie on every hole and it’s not often that happens. Holing out for a hole in one (no special prize) on top of that was really nice.” It was Jenny’s 5th hole in one! At 2019’s Australian Open, she had her fourth winning a Genesis car which she sold. Jenny arrived from Hawaii’s LPGA Lotte Championship jetlagged - not an easy start to the week as defending champion with lots of protocol activities. She loved the changes she discovered on the “Blue” making it a bit wider from the tee with the greens being more undulated. Lalla Meyrem Cup’s 2018 runner-up Sarah Kemp, on Tour for over a decade, shared her hopes on Tuesday. She hired Abdul, her favored local caddy from 2018 with his great local Story by Susanne Kemper • Images courtesy of Tristan Jones, Ladies European Tour, ATH, European PGA Tour, Hassan Trophy II

knowledge plus knowing her game. “The Blue is very tight off the tee, which suits me. The course, and its rework suit my eye, looks great this year. A straight hitter it’s great for me this layout. I’m happy about my 2019 start - Vic Open nailed a second with top play plus solid play at home. Got some invites to LPGA events early, I’m happy about them and will try to play all when I can to get my ranking up. Being from New South Wales, I grew up with the wind and adore it; so I love playing Europe but particularly in Scotland and links golf. The “Ana” is my favorite major- love it.” Sarah bases herself in Orlando, loves their great coffee! But her passion is “Jazz” her one-year old puppy. Sarah shot 69 Sunday finishing tied eighth. Of six Australians in the draw, only Rebecca Artis made the cut with Sarah; Rebecca finished with a 77. On Thursday Rebecca wasn’t happy; she hadn’t played here for three years. “A grind,” she said. “The new greens are bigger, lots of extra sloping but I like the layout” she shared. “I took a break during our Aussie summer” and felt she needed it. A rare ‘fairy tale” story on Tour - America’s Natalie Sheary was injured dropping off the LPGA after her rookie 2014. During recovery, she works as a caddy at Bay Hill and several prominent Florida clubs while trying to get back to the LPGA. For the past two years she has caddied for His Highness Prince Moulay Rachid during his Florida visits; this year at Bay Hill, he inquired if she would like to play in Rabat. Days later she had her invitation. “Teeing it up was so special here, to discover Morocco, and the LET, and all. He is so kind, generous. I like the course; it is really fair,” smiled the Wake Forest graduate, pro since 2011. She made the cut; closed with 71, tied 36th. “Such an experience, discovery, a great week. Saturday’s Gala dinner was amazing, unforgettable! As was all…” 46th Trophy Hassan II, Red Course, 2,500,000 Euro prize money Overcoming the favorites plus testing cool, windy conditions 32-year-old Jorge Campillo triumphed for his first European Tour victory over favorites like defending champ France’s Alexander Levy, Italy’s Eduardo Molinari and some big hitters. Levy wowed all in Tuesday’s Exhibition Match by having a holein-one on the Red Course’s spectacular island 9th--for Team Europe to win. Pushing up his odds until he missed the cut! With variable weather - rain, wind, cold - scores varied from morning to afternoon. Jorge was steady, playing solid golf in his 229th event. He has been runner-up on six occasions with two second place finishes last month. Jorge regained control to claim victory and the coveted bejeweled dagger from the rough on 16 with a brilliant shot keeping the lead. His fourth birdie of the day followed on the 17th for a two-stroke lead. He pulled his drive off the parfive 18th tee, finding a bunker. With par on the final hole, he finished on 283 (-9), two strokes ahead of South Africa’s Erik Van Rooyen, Americans Sean Crocker and Julian Suri. Van Rooyen moved up with top play Saturday to claim top spot going into Sunday. US’s Sean Crocker - a Challenge Tour Nuria Iturrios and Gorge Campilo of Spain, winners of the Lalla Meryem Cup and Hassan II Trophy

Womens Runner Up, Lina Boqvist standout - got in the hunt with an opening 67 and played his way into the final grouping on Sunday. Sunday’s back nine was dramatic for all... "It's hard to describe. It's been a long road,” smiled Jorge. “Grateful, but it's been way too long. Too many hours of work since I was a boy until today. I'm just proud that I can say I'm a winner on The European Tour. I didn't start good, missing shots. I didn't have my A-Game with me. But after making that 12-foot putt on the 7th...” Jorge recovered. “I just love the game. I love competing. Most people say, maybe I'm not a winner. I was when I was an amateur.”

Runners-up included US’s Sean Crocker and Julian Suri, Erik Van Rooyen on 285 (-7). Three Australians made the cut - Wayne Ormsby (291), Jake McCleod (294), Dimitrios Papadatos (292).