John Catlin of America hits driver during the final round of International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course) on 7 July 2024. Photo by Asian Tour.
Ben Campbell snatched a surprise victory from John Catlin right at the very end to win the US$2million International Series Morocco after a sensational finish here on the Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
New Zealand’s Campbell holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th to win on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off, having been three behind playing-partner Catlin with two holes to play.
Campbell shot a two-under-par 71, helped by an eagle on the par-four 17th and a birdie on 18 in normal time, to tie Catlin, in with a 72, on 15-under.
American Caleb Surratt (71) and Eugenio Chacarra (73) from Spain tied for third, three behind the top two.
Campbell started the final day one behind Catlin – the leader after each of the first three days and chasing win number three of the season – and looked to be just falling short.
He’d made two great up and downs for par on 15 and 16 before holing a 35-foot putt for eagle on the penultimate hole.
On the par-five 18th hole they both faced 10-foot birdie putts, with Campbell holing his first before his American opponent, normally so clinical, just missed his attempt.
“That was a great finish,” said Campbell.
“You know I didn’t have my best out there today and I just kept saying to Mike (his caddie), I’ve just got to find something and just stay patient. I went flag hunting on 16 and leaked it right, and hit a great bunker shot there. I said to Mike, if I can find eagle-birdie, you never know. So I did that, and then to hole a putt like that in the play-off, it’s always good.”
It is his second success on the Asian Tour having won the Hong Kong Open, another event on The International Series calendar, at the end of last year after a similarly last-gasp finish when he nailed a 15-foot birdie to win by one.
The win is another reward for a player dogged by injury through his career.
He said: “I just think it’s been a tough run, and I didn’t give up then and I’m not going to give up now. I just kept saying to Mike just don’t give up out here. I’ve got to find something in my swing. I was feeling great on the range and lost it, sort of, on the course. But, I just said to him and kept saying to myself, don’t give up.”
Catlin had one hand on the trophy with three to go and was a safe bet to claim the seventh Asian Tour title of his career and second wire-to-wire of the season.
Holding a one-shot lead at the start of the day, he surprisingly bogeyed his first two holes, but bounced back to lead by one at the turn before a birdie on 15 left him with that three-stoke cushion. Unfortunately, two closing pars were not good enough to hold off the charging Campbell.
Said Catlin: “I mean, you have to tip the cap. I mean the guy goes two, four, four to finish. I mean, he probably made 130 feet of putts to win on the last three holes. All you can do is shake his hand and say well done. I mean, it is what it is.
“I played great. You know, I never, never gave in; I just kept battling. Kept chipping away. And you know that birdie on 15 gave me a decent little cushion there. I’m very pleased with the way that I played. There’s no doubt about it.”
The 33-year-old has the consolation of taking over from Mexican Carlos Ortiz at the top of The International Series Rankings, while he consolidated his lead on the Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM).
Campbell is now second on The International Series Rankings and third on the Asian Tour OOM.
Surrat, at 20 the youngest player on the LIV Golf League, was thrilled with his week.
“Really good week,” he said. “You know, I didn’t know it was going to be as good as this at my first International Series event, so it was definitely way more than I expected. And definitely gave me something really good to build off of going into next week and Andalusia.”
Malaysia’s Ervin Chang carded rounds of 77-69-73-74 for total one-over 293 and tied 49th position.
The Asian Tour takes a short break now before heading to International Series England at Foxhills Club & Resort, from August 8-11.
It will be the ninth event of the season on the Asian Tour and fourth leg of The International Series.
American Andy Ogletree, who topped the Asian Tour OOM and International Series Rankings last year, is the defending champion.
Scores after round 4 of the International Series Morocco being played at the par 73, 7596 Yards Royal Golf Dar ES Salam course (am – denotes amateur):
277 – Ben Campbell (NZL) 68-70-68-71, John Catlin (USA) 66-71-68-72.
280 – Caleb Surratt (USA) 72-69-68-71, Eugenio Chacarra (ESP) 68-71-68-73.
281 – Stefano Mazzoli (ITA) 73-69-67-72, Travis Smyth (AUS) 69-69-70-73.
282 – Jinichiro Kozuma (JPN) 68-70-74-70.
283 – Junghwan Lee (KOR) 71-72-70-70, Jeunghun Wang (KOR) 74-69-69-71, Rayhan Thomas (IND) 69-73-69-72, Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 67-71-71-74, Pat Perez (USA) 70-71-68-74.
284 – Jose Toledo (GTM) 72-71-73-68, Jaco Ahlers (RSA) 70-71-74-69, Sihwan Kim (USA) 73-73-71-67, Taichi Kho (HKG) 68-74-72-70, Trevor Simsby (USA) 72-70-72-70, Scott Vincent (ZIM) 68-71-74-71, Yurav Premlall (RSA) 72-71-67-74.
285 – Hongtaek Kim (KOR) 70-73-69-73, Branden Grace (RSA) 75-69-68-73.
286 – Angus Flanagan (ENG) 74-72-70-70, Ahmad Baig (PAK) 71-69-75-71, Sanghyun Park (KOR) 70-74-70-72, Gunn Charoenkul (THA) 72-72-70-72.
287 – Jaewoong Eom (KOR) 74-72-70-71, Charlie Lindh (SWE) 69-71-70-77.
288 – Veer Ahlawat (IND) 70-76-69-73, Kieran Vincent (ZIM) 72-72-71-73, Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 69-72-73-74, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 72-74-72-70, Kazuma Kobori (NZL) 66-77-71-74.
289 – Chanmin Jung (KOR) 71-72-73-73, Ian Snyman (RSA) 71-73-73-72, Varun Chopra (IND) 71-74-70-74, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 70-68-72-79.
290 – Rashid Khan (IND) 70-75-71-74, Kosuke Hamamoto (THA) 70-76-69-75, Yeongsu Kim (KOR) 69-77-70-74, Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (THA) 70-73-72-75, Wade Ormsby (AUS) 71-75-71-73.
291 – Lee Chieh-po (TPE) 73-71-72-75, Liu Yanwei (CHN) 68-75-72-76, Hung Chien-yao (TPE) 72-73-73-73, Peter Uihlein (USA) 74-72-72-73, Lachlan Barker (AUS) 72-74-72-73, James Leow (SIN) 72-74-75-70.
292 – Leo Oyo (JPN) 71-74-74-73.
293 – Douglas Klein (AUS) 74-71-72-76, Denwit Boriboonsub (THA) 71-72-74-76, Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA) 73-72-73-75, Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 73-73-73-74, Lloyd Jefferson Go (PHI) 72-74-73-74, Ervin Chang (MAS) 77-69-73-74.
294 – Poom Saksansin (THA) 70-75-71-78, Minhyeok Yang (KOR) 72-70-73-79, Berry Henson (USA) 72-71-72-79, Justin Quiban (PHI) 72-72-74-76, Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA) 70-75-74-75, Davis Bryant (USA) 74-72-73-75, Matthew Cheung (HKG) 73-73-74-74.
295 – Atiruj Winaicharoenchai (THA) 76-70-72-77, David Drysdale (SCO) 72-74-72-77, Justin Warren (AUS) 74-72-79-70.
297 – Nitithorn Thippong (THA) 77-69-71-80, William Harrold (ENG) 71-75-75-76.
298 – Sebastien Gros (FRA) 68-74-77-79.
299 – Sarit Suwannarut (THA) 69-76-78-76.
301 – Harrison Crowe (AUS) 76-70-73-82.
