Ben Evans finally came to the end of an emotional roller coaster in Hong Kong today with a European Tour card safely secured for the 2016 season.
The 28 year old Englishman arrived at the UBS Hong Kong Open in 118th position on the Race to Dubai and needing a top ten finish to climb into the top 110 and secure his playing privileges for next year’s campaign. But over the course of four days he was in-out-in-out with dizzying regularity before the cards finally fell in his favour.
First goal was to make the cut, a feat achieved right on the line. Hopes were still alive…just. A third round 66 moved him up the field and hopes started to grow but then a shoulder injury seemed to dash his chances.
“I must have leant on it awkwardly but I could hardly move it on Saturday night,” said Evans. “It was a bit better in the morning and Philippa the physio was amazing, got the shoulder moving and I felt I could just about make it round.”
And make it round he did, coming home in a brilliant 31 strokes for a closing 65 and nine under par total, but would it be enough?
“I didn’t feel that much in control of my swing and was purely playing on instinct,” he said. “Fortunately luck went my way and I managed to hole a few putts.”
The best of them was on the last, after he found sand with his approach but saved his par. “I knew I had to make up and down at the last to have any chance,” he recounted.
It’s certainly been an extreme roller coaster - Evans
As he signed his card he was in tied eighth place, just inside the top ten he needed, but over the next anxious two and a half hours he slipped back to 11th, then back to tenth as his card hung in the balance.
“Any one of five players coming up the last could have dropped a shot and I would have been in but they all parred.”
The last player on the course who could affect his position was Lahiri and there was a flicker of hope as the Indian, who has enjoyed a brilliant rookie season, found trouble. “He needed to get up and down to keep me out of the top ten and he did it.”
Evans had finished with a highly credible share of 11th which moved him up seven places into 111th spot - just 1,007 points below Renato Paratore – but as he left the course to see the sights of Hong Kong with his Dad he knew he was one shy of keeping his card.
However, the thoughts of a return to the Qualifying School evaporated overnight with news that Brooks Koepka had withdrawn from the WGC - HSBC Champions and DP World Tour Championship, prompting the American’s removal from the Race to Dubai for not playing the minimum requirement of 13 events. As a result, all those below him shifted up a position and Evans was elevated to 110th and safety.
“I woke up to a tweet from Chris Paisley, which said I had moved up to 110,” explained Evans.
“I had no idea what was going on, checked the Tour website which had me at 110 but it wasn’t until I had a call from David Park at the Tour that I had it confirmed,” he said. “It was brilliant news and I can really plan for next year now. It’s certainly been an extreme rollercoaster so I think I’ll have a week off now.”
