In only his second European Tour event, Welshman David Park won the Compaq European Grand Prix after a final round of 72 gave him a 14-under par total of 274 and one shot victory over England's David Carter and South Africa's Retief Goosen.
Only a week ago the leader of the Challenge Tour Rankings led from the start in his European Tour debut in Morocco only to be denied victory at the sixth hole of a sudden-death play-off by Spain's Miguel Angel Martin. But his outstanding performance at Golf Royal D'Agadir earned him a place at De Vere Slaley Hall and at the second time of asking there he was not to be denied.
Park started the final round tied for the lead with Carter, who defends his Murphy's Irish Open title next week, and after 17 holes the pair were still level. But after eight straight pars on the homeward stretch, Carter missed the green on the 463-yards 18th and, after chipping to six feet, his putt to save par agonizingly lipped out.
Park made no such mistake, two putting for par and a victory that has earned him a 30 month exemption to the European Tour and the 151,660 euro (£108,328) first prize just two days after his 25th birthday.
Goosen, champion here in 1996 and runner-up to following year, forced his way into the chase for the title as he raced to the turn in 32 to move within two shot off the lead and with a back nine of 34 he set the clubhouse target at 13 under. It was to prove one shot too many and for the third time this season, the Novotel Perrier Open de France champion, finished runner-up. However his performance this week moves him back to the top of the Volvo Order of Merit.
