BALCHIK, BULGARIA (June 9, 2018) - Carlos de Corral has successfully defended the European Mid-Amateur Championship in Bulgaria. The Spaniard, who claimed a three-stroke victory on home soil last year, had to play extra holes this year to secure the title.
After opening with rounds of 70 (-2) and 72 (par), the Spanish player fired a final round 69 (-3) to earn himself a playoff with Germany's Michael Thannhäuser. Steffen Alvang and leader after day two, Henrik Henningsson, finished on four-under-par, missing out on the playoff by a shot.
Alvang was awarded the bronze on countback, his final round 69 trumping Henningsson's 72.
The playoff took place on BlackSeaRama's signature par-3 18th hole, which measures 210 metres and is perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Black Sea.
On the first playoff hole, both players made par so it was back to the tee again.
The second time round, de Corral made par while Thannhäuser bogeyed, which decided the championship in favour of the Spaniard.
De Corral becomes the fourth player to successfully defend the the title, and the first Spanish player to do so, since the event was inaugurated in 1991.
Eurpoean Mid-Amateur: Carlos de Corral repeats
In a playoff, Carlos de Corral successfully defended the title he won last year in his home country of Spain