Adrián Otaegui has clinched a spectacular victory at the Volvo China Open, delivering a final round to remember with seven flawless birdies that propelled him to the top of the leaderboard.
With this triumph, Otaegui becomes the first Spanish golfer to secure a win on the DP World Tour in 2024. This adds to his impressive tally of five titles on the professional circuit, starting with the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play in 2017 and continuing through the Belgian Knockout in 2018, the Scottish Championship in 2020, and the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters in 2022.
A professional since 2012, the Basque player quickly established himself at the top of the leaderboard in a tournament affected by a severe storm at the Hidden Grace GC in the small town of Shenzhen.
The competition was reduced to 54 holes, with the final 18 played using two tee starts and groups of three to expedite the tournament. Despite the challenges, Otaegui shone brightly with his exceptional performance.
Adrián Otaegui, results
The Basque golfer carded 67 and 66 strokes in the first two rounds, showcasing a solid game that produced a flurry of birdies. Remarkably, a bogey on the 18th hole of the second round stands as the only blemish in an otherwise flawless performance.
However, the best was yet to come—a remarkable final round where birdies flooded his scorecard. Four birdies on the front nine (holes 2, 4, 8, and 9) and three more on the back nine (holes 13, 16, and 17) overturned the leaderboard in his favor despite fierce competition from his rivals.
Special mention goes to Swedish golfer Sebastian Soderberg, who briefly shared the lead with Otaegui. The excitement peaked on the final hole of Soderberg’s round, with Otaegui anxiously awaiting the outcome in the clubhouse.
Under immense pressure, Soderberg encountered difficulties on the final hole, ultimately carding a double bogey that paved the way for Otaegui’s victory on the DP World Tour.
Among the other Spanish representatives at the Volvo China Open, Santiago Tarrío and Iván Cantero put up commendable performances, finishing in 27th and 24th place, respectively.
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