Willey Wins PartyPoker.net Tour Championship - 19/02/2007

ANDREW WILLEY has won the 2007 PartyPoker.net PGA EuroPro Tour Championship, taking a two-shot victory from Matthew Cort at Fairmont St Andrews.

Click here for the Final Result" target="_blank" www.pga-tic.com/tic/tmresult.cgi?tourn=2314~result=PF~dc=N~cardlink=Y~~season=2007~style=12~groupties=Y~pr=Y~textout=N~bordersize=1~fontsize=M~winfocus=Y~]Click here for the Final Result[/url]  

The tournament was reduced to just two rounds due to the disruption of round one following strong winds across the Torrance Course.

Willey was the only player below-par following round one, and he produced a superb second round 69 to take the £20,000 title.

Seven successive pars for Willey held his advantage before he produced three birdies in four holes around the turn - at the eighth, tenth and 11th - which proved decisive.

He played out the final seven holes at level par to finish with a 69 and end the tournament at -4.

Matthew Cort was his closest challenger, following up his level par 72 opening round with a 70 for second place.

He dropped two shots on the final day, but landed four birdies - including one at the last - to take a £10,000 prize.

Robert Steele and Graeme Clark both finished with eagle threes at the 18th to tie for third place at -1, a shot ahead of Neil Walker, Alan Murray and Tom Haylock.

Matthew Ford hit the tournament's best round with a 66 on Friday, opening with a birdie and matching that at the seventh as well as landing eagles on the eighth and 18th, finishing at one over par following an opening round 79.

Chris Hanson, Lee Harper, Ian Ridgway and Matt Morris joined him at +1, with Adam Frayne, Daryl Ley and Rob Harris a further shot back.

Willey's win has earned him a Challenge Tour Card for 2008, after lifting him to second in the PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit.

Graeme Clark will join him on the Challenge Tour after finishing as the Order of Merit leader on £43,688 for the year.

Neil Walker finished third, and he will be joined by Colm Moriary, Matthew Woods and Daniel Wardrop on the Challenge Tour.

Moriary's victory on the Challenge Tour earlier this year had already won him a Card for 2008, meaning that sixth-placed Wardrop also won a place.

"I'm delighted for Andrew Willey and all of us at the PGA EuroPro Tour congratulate him on his success," said PGA EuroPro Tour Managing Director Eddie Hearn. "He has been a top player for a number of years now and this is a great reward for his performances.

"I'm sure the experience he has gained on the PGA EuroPro Tour has given him the experience and confidence to progress now on the Challenge Tour next year and hopefully move onto the European Tour.

"2007 has been a great year for the PGA EuroPro Tour and we would also like to congratulate Graeme Clark on winning the Order of Merit after taking three tournament victories during the season.

"We wish Graeme and all six players the best of luck on the Challenge Tour next year and are sure they will be keen to progress even further now."

Click here for the final 2007 PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit" target="_blank" www.europrotour.com/OrderOfMerit.asp]Click here for the final 2007 PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit[/url]