J.C. Ritchie wins the'Italian Challenge Open

In Sutri, J.C. Ritchie left the competition no chance. Co-leader of the Italian Challenge Open along with Robin Petersson at the end of the “moving day”, the South African began the fourth round in extraordinary fashion, posting seven birdies in the first seven holes and immediately taking the lead alone.

After this explosive start, the 31-year-old golfer, already a winner last week in Portugal, slowed down: for him also a bogey and especially a triple bogey at the 18th.

However, this final scare did not stop Ritchie, author of a final-round 68 (-20 total), from claiming his second victory in seven days on the HotelPlanner Tour. It is his seventh career success in Europe’s second division and, more importantly, his third of the season. An achievement that earns him immediate promotion on the DP World Tour.

“It is a dream come true – he admitted -The little incident on 18 spoiled the party a little bit’ but this week I felt really close to my best level. I knew the first few holes were good for birdies, and I had a feeling that if I played them well, I would be in the lead for the day. The next ones were some of the best I’ve ever played, from tee to green, as an execution, and then I holed putts from distances I don’t even remember. Those were incredible putts, it was a lot of fun”.