Another exciting chapter has been written in the rivalry between Peter Baker and Adilson da Silva after last year’s two greats clashed in a sudden-death European Legends Cup qualifier in Spain, with the Brazilian coming out on top this time. event.
Both players bogeyed the par-5 18th at Golf Almerimar in regulation and revisited the finisher to decide the fate of the title. Da Silva was on the greenside in two shots, with Baker facing a huge eagle putt. Remarkably, both left the same three-foot birdie putt.
Da Silva went first and closed his mouth before Baker got out of the mouth, giving the Brazilian his seventh Legends Tour title. It’s a win that sees him top of this year’s MCB Road to Mauritius, as he finished second on the Order of Merit for the entire season in 2022 and 2023.
Baker, who won last year’s Order of the Deaf, topped the field with a closing 65 – the best round of the week. The former Ryder Cup player birdied five of the first seven holes to move into contention after starting the day four shots short. He traded birdies on 10 and his one of the day on 11, before again birdying 15 and 18 to post a clubhouse target of 9.
Da Silva was playing in the final round alongside overnight co-leaders Paul Lawrie and Phillip Archer. He bogeyed the first three holes and stood on the 18th tee knowing he needed a birdie to force a playoff after making a couple of birdies and a couple of bogeys around the opportunity. He duly delivered the four he needed after hitting a fine second shot onto the green from 230 yards, before claiming his second win of the season on the first extra hole.
“Wow, it’s amazing,” said Da Silva. “I recorded at the top of the leaderboard towards 17 and 18. I don’t usually do it, but I knew things were close. I had a birdie opportunity on the 17th and I didn’t get it, so I knew I had to make something happen on the 18th, and I got a birdie to get into the play-off.”
Da Silva added: “This year it’s really my goal to do my best to finish at a high level at the end of the season. I will continue to work hard. The competition is very tough out there – the guys are playing very good golf. I have to keep going.”
Phil Archer held the lead for most of the day before a bogey on 15 and a double-bogey on 17 after getting wet off the tee on the par-3 put him out of contention. He bogeyed the final hole to shoot a 71 and finish tied for third at -7 alongside Keith Horne and Andrew Raitt, who had rounds of 69 and 68 respectively.
For all European Legends Cup scores, click here.
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