Guido Migliozzi held off challenges from South Africa’s Justin Harding and Louis de Jager, and Spain’s Adri Arnaus to win the Magical Kenya Open.
The 22-year-old Italian carded a two-under-par 69 on a tense, gripping final day to win by a single shot. It’s his first European Tour win and his first top 10 on any major circuit having graduated through Qualifying School, prior to which his three victories had all come on the Alps Tour.
‘There was a lot of pressure, obviously,’ said Migliozzi. ‘After the birdie at 12, I was leading, but it was tough. I enjoy [pressure] very much. I’m happy about how I’m playing under pressure. I would like to thank every part of my team.’
Harding, who won the Qatar Masters last week to rise to 52 in the world, produced final-round fireworks yet again, but this time had to settle for a share of second alongside compatriot De Jager, who had held a four-stroke lead at the halfway stage, and Spanish youngster Arnaus.
The latter made two early bogeys, but worked his way back into the mix and was then unable to find the birdie he needed down the stretch.
Migliozzi, who had made the turn in a level-par 35, birdied the 10th and 12th holes to establish the narrowest of cushions, but there were few signs of nerves on the biggest day of his career.
Coming down the last with his one-shot lead intact, the Italian found the fairway before hitting the pin with a fantastic approach that effectively sealed the title.
In seven previous starts this season he’d managed nothing better than 56th place in South Africa, but now he’ll be exempt on the European Tour until the end of the 2020 campaign and into the top 500 in the world rankings.
With his joint runners-up position, all eyes will be on Monday’s rankings to see whether or not Harding will break into the top 50, which carries with it an invite to The Masters.
Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
