Madeira joy for Mitchell
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Your support makes all the difference.Peter Mitchell, a 38-year-old Londoner, played the shot of his life at the final hole to win the Madeira Island Open yesterday and then gave heartfelt thanks to his caddie, Brendan McCartain.
Mitchell, who shot a final-round 71 for a 54-hole aggregate of 204, came to the last needing a birdie three to beat Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson. He hit his drive down the middle and then asked for a nine iron to play the 130-yard approach shot to the green. But Mitchell admitted: "Brendan told me the hole was playing short and all I needed was my wedge. So I took his advice and my ball finished just 12 inches from the flag."
Jacobson began the day eight shots behind Mitchell but, playing three holes ahead of the Englishman, shot an eight-under-par 64 to finish on 205. Mitchell, out in 35, was still four shots ahead of the field after 10 holes but dropped shots at the 11th and 15th allowing Jacobson, Andrew Coltart, the first-round leader, and Andrew Sherborne to close the gap. But Mitchell made par at the 16th and 17th and then came his magnificent final hole, enabling him to gain his second European Tour victory.
Mitchell's win, which earned him a pounds 50,000 first prize, took him to tenth in the Ryder Cup points table and 11th in the Volvo Ranking: "I'd like to get into the Ryder Cup team but I think I will have to win at least one more tournament and keep playing well for the rest of the year," he said.
Coltart shot a 68, finishing on 206 for third place, while Sherborne played a superb chip for par from just off the final green for a 70, securing fourth place with a 207 total.
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