Bob May secured his first success as a professional when he captured the Victor Chandler British Masters at Woburn Golf and Country Club. The 30-year-old from Las Vegas compiled a final round of 67 on the superb Duke’s Course for a winning 19 under par total of 269 – one ahead of defending champion Colin Montgomerie, three in front of Christopher Hanell and five ahead of Greg Owen and Lee Westwood.
May, a member of the 1991 United States Walker Cup Team, earned 166,666 euro (£119,047) for his victory and climbed from 20th to tenth in the Volvo Order of Merit with 537,671 euro (£384,050). Montgomerie, who will now seek a record-equalling sixth victory in a single European Tour season when he plays in this week’s Trophée Lancôme at Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, remains number one in the Volvo Order of Merit with 1,665,387 euro (£1,189,562) – ahead of Lee Westwood (1,147,272 euro; £819,480), Sergio Garcia (856,282 euro; £611,630) and Open Champion Paul Lawrie (825,391 euro; £589,565).
Meanwhile, Hanell, who graduated from the European Challenge Tour last year, completed a personal best European Tour performance with a closing 67 to climb from 87th to 53rd in the Volvo Order of Merit and Owen moved closer to securing Tour membership for the year 2000 when he chipped in from 50 yards for an eagle three at the last for a 66 to tie for fourth place with Westwood. The 27-year-old from Mansfield, seventh in this tournament last year, earned 46,200 (£33,000) to move from 127th to 96th. “This week has proved to me that I can do it,” said Owen.
May achieved his maiden victory in front of 15,250 spectators on Sunday as the attendance for the 1999 Victor Chandler British Masters reached 41,403, compared with 29,335 in 1998. He trailed Montgomerie by three shots entering the final round, but swept ahead with an outward 30 to his rival’s 36. Montgomerie closed the gap to two with an 18-foot birdie putt at the 16th and he made another birdie at the 18th where May holed from two feet to secure his success.
May said: “It feels incredible. I consider Colin to be one of the best players in the world, if not the best. I have the utmost respect for his game and so I knew I was going to have to be on mine.
“After the Walker Cup, I had high hopes for my professional career and hopefully this will be the stepping stone to get me up to where my expectations are. I will certainly never forget the Victor Chandler British Masters.”
Montgomerie told the huge gallery at the prize giving: “This was Victor’s Chandler’s first year as sponsor of the British Masters and on behalf of the European Tour I would like to thank them for their support and we all look forward to them being with us for a long time. I look forward to returning next year.”
