England's Laurie Canter wins first DP World Tour title after four previous second-placed finishes; compatriot Cara Gainer comes fifth in Ladies European Tour event in Sweden - watch Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, live on Sky Sports from 12pm Thursday
Sunday 2 June 2024 21:51, UK
England's Laurie Canter clinched his maiden DP World Tour title with a two-shot victory at the European Open but compatriot Cara Gainer finished fifth at the Helsingborg Open on the Ladies European Tour.
Canter shared the lead with Guido Migliozzi on 12 under heading into the final round in Hamburg and shot a one-under 72 on Sunday to take his first trophy after four previous runner-up finishes on the DP World Tour.
The 34-year-old birdied his first hole of the day but then bogeyed five and 10 around a glut of pars before he fired on his back nine with gains at 11, 15 and 16 - the third of those secured with a 36-foot putt - moving him three strokes clear of Bernd Wiesberger.
Canter proceeded to bogey 17 but then parred 18 to finish on 13 under, clear of Wiesberger and Thriston Lawrence on 11 under, with Wiesberger's hopes ended when, like Canter, he also bogeyed his penultimate hole.
An emotional Canter fought back tears afterwards, telling Sky Sports: "It's all I've wanted to do since before I turned pro so it's hard to rationalise now, but I'm really happy.
"I tried to just not get caught up in the tournament, keep it as factual as possible. It went my way today and in the past it hasn't.
"It's a great feeling and it will probably take a while to totally digest everything that happened.
"Now that I've done it, it's going to open up some opportunities for me - in July I think I can play the Scottish Open, which is great.
"Ultimately if I'm going to climb the world rankings and play the biggest tournaments in the world you have to know how to win and you probably only get that belief once you do it.
"Hopefully it means I can push on and go from strength to strength."
South African Lawrence shot the round of the day, a five-under 68, to move 12 places up the leaderboard, with Italian Migliozzi forced to settle for a share of eighth spot on seven under after a five-over final round which featured four bogeys and a double bogey.
On the Ladies European Tour, Gainer's hopes of a maiden title faded in Sweden as the 28-year-old - co-leader after two rounds on eight under par with India's Pranavi Urs - carded a one-under final round to finish two shots off the pace.
France's Perrine Delacour claimed her first title on the circuit, beating German amateur Helen Briem in a play-off.
The players were locked at 11 under after 54 holes, with Delacour recording a five-under 67 on Sunday and Briem registering an eight-under 64.
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Watch the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, an event co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour, live on Sky Sports from Thursday. Coverage begins at 12pm on Sky Sports Golf.
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