China Fleet Glory For Willey - 13/12/2007

ANDREW WILLEY has won The China Fleet International Open, with a final round of 68 seeing him take victory by three shots at -14.

Willey began Friday's final round tied for the lead with Phil Worthington and Martin Sell but pulled clear to take victory.

The Ramsdale Park star began slowly, including two bogeys in his opening four holes, but a run of five birdies inside nine holes took him away from the chasing pack.

"I'm very chuffed because I've been playing well for a few weeks and not had the results," said Willey, who lost a play-off at Heydon Grange earlier this year.

"I've been putting a lot better recently and knew it was a matter of not dropping shots today and keeping bogeys off the card - perhaps it was fate that I had two early on!

"I went through the back of the green on the first and then bogeyed the fourth and thought 'here we go', but I managed to turn it around.

"I hit some great shots and knew when I chipped in at the 17th that I was three shots clear and only really needed to par the last.

"This is my second year on the PGA EuroPro Tour and I'm hoping for a top-five finish, so that I can move on to the Challenge Tour if I don't make it through the European Tour Qualifying School." 

Worthington had been in contention at -2 for his round until a nightmare at the par four 16th, where he shot a seven, effectively ended his challenge.

Sell produced a consistent first 11 holes, with one birdie and ten pars, before he hit three bogeys to see his round fade away, although a birdie at the 18th gave him a share of fifth place alongside Worthington.

Dutchman Inder Van Weerelt put pressure on Willey with an excellent 67, with two birdies in the final three holes giving him second place at -11.

Ultra-consistent Erewash Valley star Mark Smith and Woodcote Park's Ben St John were a further shot behind after respective rounds of 69 and 70 on Friday.

Seven players ended the tournament six shots behind Willey at -8, with 40 players overall breaking par for the event.

The China Fleet International Open - Final Round Leaderboard