MCP Classic Title For Morgan - 10/06/2007

JOHN E MORGAN grabbed his second PGA EuroPro Tour victory of 2006 with a seven-shot triumph in The MCP Classic at Ufford Park.

Morgan shared the first round lead in Suffolk before pulling clear on Thursday with a round of 63 - including a hole in one at the 16th - to move out to -11.

The Bristolian braved torrential rain in Friday's final round to hold his nerve and back up his win at The Players Club earlier this year with another title.

After opening with a birdie, bogeys in two of the next three holes saw Morgan move back towards the pack.

A birdie at five settled any nerves and, as the rain set in over Ufford Park the prospect of any serious challenge quickly faded.

Birdies at 16 and 17 put him out of reach but Morgan was forced to wait to officially seal the win, being delayed by a suspension in play due to another heavy downpour whilst on the 18th fairway.

He went on to make a bogey six and complete a second PGA EuroPro Tour win of 2006.

"I'm obviously delighted with the win but I did it in style too, which was nice," said Morgan, who represents Clevedon.

"It wasn't easy for people to come and get me on a day like today. It was a tough day to post a good score so I had to keep my head and relax.

"Luckily the weather was too fierce for anybody to make a challenge. The weather definitely helped me out, it was windy and rainy and I feel sorry for the green staff as well as the players!

"I can give myself a good pat on the back for this week, it's been a gutsy performance and hopefully it will stand me in good stead for the rest of the year.

"Roll on the Tour Championship in the Azores now, hopefully I can finish with a grand finale."

A level par final round of 70 saw him take victory by seven shots ahead of Mark Smith and Kevin Harper, who finished at -4 for the tournament.

East Devon's Harper, who won at Marriott Hollins Hall earlier this year, finished the tournament with a level par round of 70, after hitting 68 on Wednesday and Thursday.

2005 Tour Champion Smith was one of just three players to record a below-par round on the final day to join Harper at four-under-par.

"For me personally it was a massive struggle," admitted Harper, who is battling with Matthew Richardson and Chris Hanson for the "Rookie of the Year" title.

"For the first 13 holes it was the wind which affected you and then it was heavy rain for the last five.

"I had a few bogeys in the first few holes and was two shots over after nine holes of the final round but I had a great birdie on ten, which was one of the toughest holes.

"I had a steady back nine and managed to get a good long putt in on 14 and held it together on the last four holes.

"It was John's tournament to lose to be honest. I was seven shots behind him at the start of the day and anything can happen in these conditions but I would have needed a miracle!

"Second is a great result for me anyway in terms of getting into the top five players at the end of the season."  

A bogey at the last denied Roger Winchester a share of second place, and he finished level with Welshman Craig Smith at -3.

Darren Prosser, who began the final day in second place, slipped to -2 for the tournament with a 74 on Friday, with Doncaster's Graeme Clark matching that final score.

Matt Morris' 73 saw him fall back to -1, while Ian Parnaby (67) and Paul Doherty (68) ended the tournament at level par following superb efforts in Friday's tough conditions.

The MCP Classic - Final Result

The top 50 players from the Order of Merit qualify to play in The Azores Tour Championship.