Cesar Monasterio of Argentina secured his maiden European Challenge Tour victory at the Abierto Telefonica Moviles de Guatemala with a sudden-death play-off victory over Irishman David Higgins before being presented with the first prize by the President of Guatemala, Oscar Berger.
Monasterio and Higgins finished the regulation 72 holes at the Hacienda Nueva Country Club on 19 under par 269, with defending champion Daniel Vancsik of Argentina just missing out on the play-off after a bogey five at the 18th saw him finish on 18 under par.
England’s Richard McEvoy took fourth place after a second consecutive round of six under par 66, while his fellow countryman, James Hepworth, who led the tournment for the first two rounds, carded a final day 70 to share fifth place with the Argentine duo of Pablo Del Grosso and Miguel Rodriguez.
Monasterio had started the day tied for first place with fellow countrymen Rodriguez and Andres Romero, who posted respective fourth round scores of 71 and 74. Monasterio, who had scored three consecutive 67s before the last round, finally arrived on the 18th tee with an opportunity for victory after Higgins had posted the leading clubhouse score of 19 under par 269.
The 41 year old from San Miguel de Tucuman in Argentina just missed out on a birdie at the last to ensure the 2005 Abierto Telefonica Moviles de Guatemala would go to extra holes.
With the extra pressure of the play-off, both players missed the 18th green with their approach shots at the first extra hole, leaving Higgins to pitch his ball to six feet and Monasterio to leave his ball just a foot from the cup. The Irishman missed his par putt, leaving the Argentine to tap in for the title, and the €15,296 first prize.
“I have been waiting for a long time to get a title on the Tour so I am very happy,” said Monasterio. “When we reached the 18th, I told my caddie we needed one more birdie to shoot 67 for the fourth straight day. I still can’t explain it myself how that ball didn’t go in!”
Higgins was philosophical in defeat, saying: “That’s golf. I had back luck at the end. It was Cesar’s day. I will have my day. I just have to hang in there,” said the Irishman, who produced a brilliant seven under par final round of 65.
As Guatemalan President, Oscar Berger, presented Monasterio with his trophy, he commented: “For our country it is a big honor to have an event of this caliber being played here for the fourth consecutive year.”
Henrique Lave, Commissioner of the Tour de las Americas (TLA), was also delighted at the success of the TLA’s joint-sanctioned events with the Challenge Tour.
“The experience of co-sanctioning events with the European Challenge Tour has been a great success for the Tour de las Americas. We have been able to show the European Tour, and the rest of the world, that the TLA is being managed in a very professional way and that our players have the opportunity to grow playing these events. All of these events help to recognize ourselves as the Latin American Tour.”
After six joint-sanctioned events with the TLA, the Challenge Tour Rankings have a truly international feel with players from Argentina, Northern Ireland, England, Paraguay and the USA all making their mark on the current top 15.
Rafael Gomez of Argentina leads the way in first place with earnings of €52,514, with Higgins and Monasterio respectively moving to fifth and sixth positions after their second and first place finishes in Guatemala.
