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Sports

Crespi claims NH Collection Open title

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Cadiz, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Marco Crespi carded a 3-under 69 on Sunday to come from behind and win the NH Collection Open.

Crespi earned his first career victory on the European Tour at 10-under-par 278.

"I played very good and I am very happy," Crespi said about his maiden win.

Jordi Garcia Pinto fired a 6-under 66 during his final round at La Reserva de Sotogrande Club de Golf to jump into a share of second place with Richie Ramsay (68) at 8-under 208.

Third-round leader Matthew Nixon tripped to a 1-over 73 to fall into a tie with Felipe Aguilar (71) for fourth at 7-under, while Oliver Fisher (68), Marc Warren (68), Adrian Otaegui (70) and Kristoffer Broberg (69) shared sixth at minus-6.

Nixon entered the final round with a one-stroke lead, but Crespi quickly erased that advantage with a birdie at the first.

Ramsay would birdie his first four holes to make it a three-way tie atop the leaderboard as Nixon traded a bogey at the third with a birdie at the fourth to stay at 8-under.

Crespi broke from the pack with a birdie at the fifth and after Nixon fell off the pace with a bogey at the sixth, Ramsay again grabbed a share of the lead with a gain at the seventh.

Crespi pulled back ahead with a birdie at the eighth before Ramsay handed him a three-stroke lead with a double-bogey 6 at the ninth to fall to 7-under.

Ramsay bounced back with a birdie at the 10th, but Crespi answered with a birdie at the ninth to reach 11-under and retake a three-stroke advantage.

Aguilar, meanwhile, rolled in birdies at the second and ninth during an outward 34 to meet Ramsay at 8-under before taking sole possession of second place with a gain at the 11th.

A two-stroke swing at the 12th pulled Aguilar even with Crespi as Aguilar converted his second straight birdie at the hole, while Crespi tripped to a bogey to leave them tied at 10-under.

After Aguilar and Crespi both bogeyed the 13th to remain tied, Crespi birdied the 14th to grab the outright lead.

Aguilar bogeyed the 14th to fall to 8-under and hand Crespi a two-stroke lead, and no one would get closer than that from there as Crespi parred his final four holes to close out his initial victory.

"I birdied the first and that gave me the confidence to go low," said Crespi. "I just had to manage my pressure on the back nine."

NOTES: Crespi was making his 25th start on the European Tour. His previous best finish was a tie for fourth at the South African Open Championship in November ... Crespi is the first rookie to win on tour since Peter Uihlein at the 2013 Madeira Island Open ... Garcia Pinto's second-place finish was a career best.