Asian Tour Book 2024

MAGIC FINISH LIFTS CAMPBELL TO PLAY-OFF WIN IN MOROCCO KIWI CATCHES CATLIN WITH EAGLE BIRDIE BIRDIE FINISH For Ben Campbell [right] it was his second victory on the Asian Tour, and The International Series. N ew Zealand’s Ben Campbell produced a stunning finish to win the US$2 million International Series Morocco when he made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th to beat John Catlin in the first play-off hole. At the Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, it looked like a done deal for American Catlin, winner of the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the Saudi Open presented by PIF earlier in the year, when he reached the par-four 17th hole on Sunday with a lead of three shots. However, Campbell, who closed with a two-under-par 71, made a sensational eagle on the par-four 17th and a birdie on 18 in regulation play to tie Catlin (72) on 15-under-par, before making the all- important birdie in the first extra hole. “That was a great finish,” said the 33-year-old from Queenstown, winner of the Hong Kong Open in 2023. “I didn’t have my best out there today and I just kept saying to Mike [his caddie], I’ve just got to find something and just stay patient. I told him if I can find a birdie eagle, you never know what can happen. So, I did that, and then to hole a putt like that in the play-off, it’s always good.” American Caleb Surratt (71) and Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra (73) tied for third at 12-under par, three behind the top duo. Chacarra was the only one left in the hunt alongside Campbell and Catlin, but two bogeys coming in – on the 13th and 16th holes – threw a spanner in his works. Catlin led wire-to-wire for 70 holes, opening up with a 64 on the par-73 course and following up with rounds of 71 and 68. A seventh Asian Tour title was denied, but his consolation was that he managed to overtake Carlos Ortiz at the top of The International Series Ranking. Catlin’s only hiccup was a bogey- bogey start to his final round, but with Campbell also matching those numbers having started the day one behind, 67 I N T ER NAT IONA L SER I E S MOROCCO ROYA L GO L F DA R E S S A L AM ( R E D CO U R S E ) , R A B AT J U LY 4 - 7 | P R I Z E MON E Y: U S $ 2 M I L L I ON