Romain Langasque finished a shot back in second and Julien Guerrier was a further two strokes back in third; Adrian Meronk carded a two-under 69 in the final day at Marco Simone Golf Club to secure a third DP World Tour victory
Sunday 7 May 2023 18:24, UK
Adrian Meronk bolstered his hopes of securing a Ryder Cup debut this autumn after claiming an impressive one-shot victory after a thrilling final day at the DS Automobiles Italian Open.
The 29-year-old, the highest-ranked player in the field, mixed six birdies with four bogeys during an eventful final-round 69 at Marco Simone Golf Club.
Meronk birdied two of his three last holes to end the week on 13 under and pull ahead of French duo Romain Langasque and Julien Guerrier, who both topped the leaderboard at various stages of a gripping Sunday.
Victory is the Polish player's third on the DP World Tour and follows wins at the Horizon Irish Open and ISPS Handa Australian Open, with his latest success increasing the prospect of him playing for Team Europe when the Ryder Cup is held at the same venue later this year.
"That was a tough day," Meronk admitted. "I didn't play as good as previous days off the tee and tee-to-green, so I had to scramble a bit. I'm super happy and it's such a relief to come on top - I'm very proud of myself."
Guerrier took a one-shot lead into the final round but opened with back-to-back bogeys, as Meronk - playing in the group ahead - rolled in a 10-foot birdie at the first to briefly go one ahead.
Meronk responded to missing from six feet to save par at the third by birdieing the fifth to go ahead of Langasque, who opened with eight straight pars before taking advantage of the par-five ninth to close a front-nine 34.
Guerrier followed a brilliant tee shot and close-range birdie at the seventh by bogeying the eighth, while Meronk cancelled out a birdie at the ninth by starting his back nine with a bogey to drop back alongside Langasque on 12 under.
Langasque rolled in from 15 feet at the 11th to match Meronk's birdie on the same hole before both three-putted the par-three 13th, with a poor chip from the rough seeing the Frenchman join Guerrier in making another bogey.
Meronk bounced back from a dropped shot at the 15th to make a tap-in birdie at the driveable 16th hole, where Langasque failed to get up and down from the rough, then holed from 15 feet to save par from the fringe at the next and remain ahead.
A two-putt birdie from long-range at the par-five last was enough for Meronk to set a winning total, as Langasque made a stunning chip-in birdie at the 17th but was unable to find a final-hole eagle to force a play-off.
Langasque holed a 20-foot birdie at the par-five 18th to post a final-round 70, while Guerrier ended the week on 10 under and three strokes back in third after a two-over 73.
2021 champion Nicolai Hojgaard carded a round-of-the-day 65, lifting him into tied-fifth with Daniel van Tonder and Max Kieffer, as Eddie Pepperell marked his first start since February by claiming a share of ninth.
The DP World Tour heads to Belgium next for the Soudal Open, held at Rinkven International GC in Antwerp. Live coverage begins on Thursday from midday on Sky Sports Golf.
