Mexico’s Antonio Maldonado celebrated winning the 48 Abierto Mexicano Corona, the first event of the 2006 European Challenge Tour season, in some style with a final round of four under par 67 at the Club de Golf La Hacienda which secured his place on the Challenge Tour for the next 12 months as a tournament winner.
Not only that, but by winning the first prize of US$48,000, the 38 year old has given himself the perfect start to the new Challenge Tour season. Maldonado has yet to officially take up Challenge Tour Membership, but when he does he will shoot to the top of the 2006 Rankings as the new Challenge Tour Number One.
He will lead the Frenchman Mikael Dieu and the 2004 Abierto Mexicano champion Rafael Gomez of Argentina on the first Rankings of the season after Dieu and Gomez finished in a tie for second place at the Club de Golf La Hacienda.
Respective final rounds of 71 and 69 ensured that Dieu and Gomez would finish one stroke off of the winning nine under par pace, with Mexico’s Octavio Gonzalez, who was tied for the lead with Dieu at the beginning of the day, holing an unbelievable 50 foot putt on the 18th green to take fourth place.
Maldonado began the final round three strokes off the lead in fifth place, but got into contention with a brilliant birdie-birdie-par-birdie start to his round. Another birdie at the ninth ensured he got to the turn in 31 and into a share of the lead with Dieu.
He then made his move for the clubhouse, finishing birdie-bogey-par to set the nine under mark for both Dieu and Gomez to try and beat. The Argentine, who bogeyed the 17th to fall one shot behind Dieu and Maldonado, reached the final green in three and had to watch on agonizingly as his 45 foot birdie putt came to rest an inch from the hole.
Also needing a birdie at the 72nd hole for victory, Dieu found trouble as his approach flew over the green and landed in a bunker. He made a great save and almost holed out for the win, but missed from ten feet to spark scenes of unbridled joy amongst Maldonado’s army of local supporters.
“I’m very happy because this is a very important win for me,” smiled Maldonado after receiving his trophy and winners cheque. “I used to dream about winning this event someday, and now that dream has turned into a reality,”
