Mooney Races Away With Azores Title - 14/09/2007

DAMIAN MOONEY has won the PGA EuroPro Tour's Verde Golf Azores Championship by four shots after a stunning final round of 65 at Batalha GC.

The Northern Irishman had been sat three shots off the pace at +2 going into the final day, following successive rounds of 73.

But he opened with four successive birdies to put himself in a great position, before an eagle at the 13th and two more birdies edged him clear and secured a €15,000 winner's cheque.

"I'm delighted," said Mooney, who represents Nevada Bobs Belfast and was the runner-up in the opening event of the PGA EuroPro Tour season at Wensum Valley last month.

"It's a fantastic start to the year, being in a play-off at Wensum Valley and now winning.

"To be honest, going into today three shots behind and with the rain we had this morning, I thought I'd be playing for second place.

"It's been windy for the first couple of days, but being from Northern Ireland I'm used to that and managed to keep my shots down.

"But today it was the putter which worked for me - especially on those early holes - and it's lovely how the day panned out."

Mooney finished four shots clear of Daniel Gaunt, the joint overnight leader, and Darren Prosser.

Gaunt carded a second successive level par 72, while Prosser's 70 gave him a share of second place.

Euan Little slipped from -1 to level par for the tournament with a 73, and he was joined by Daniel Wood, who shot a 70 on Saturday.

A round of 69 from Brocket Hall's Mark Laskey helped him to take sixth place at one over par.

Former PGA Tour star John E Morgan, on his return to action following illness and injury, finished the event with a disappointing 78 to end at eight over par.

The start of the final round at Batalha GC was delayed by two hours on Saturday morning, after an inch of rain fell in a torrential three-hour downpour.

Verde Golf Azores Championship - Final Result