ISPS Handa World Invitational ends with a surprise winner and a playoff


Anything can happen in golf when you post a number.

Daniel Gavins, who started the day seven shots off the lead, carded a 5-under 65 in the final round of the ISPS Handa World Invitational – the tri-sanctioned event in Galgorm, Northern Ireland, this week with the European Tour, LPGA and Ladies European Tour all playing on the same course – to finish an hour ahead of the final group and post the clubhouse lead at 13 under.

After Englishmen Jordan Smith and David Horsey, Nos. 1 and 2 on the leaderboard entering the final round, each struggled down the stretch, Gavins was able to earn his first European Tour win without a playoff.

“I’m speechless, I don’t really know what to say,” said a seemingly shocked Gavins in his post-round interview, further noting, “seven shots behind I didn’t really think I was within a chance of winning, so there’s maybe a bit less pressure there.”

Despite entering the week as No. 453 on the Official World Golf Ranking, the 30-year-old from Leeds, England, has been on a good run of form, with two top-10 finishes last month at the Italian Challenge and Euram Bank Open.

Horsey (2-over 72) finished second at 12 under, with Smith (4-over 74) T-3 at 11 under alongside Alejandro Canizares, Masahiro Kawamura and Daniel Hillier.

On the women’s side of the event, both Pajaree Anannarukarn and Emma Talley entered and finished the final round with a share of the lead, forcing a playoff that lasted two holes. Anannarukarn had a slight advantage on the second playoff hole when her third shot found the green while Talley missed right. The 22-year-old Anannarukarn finished the job with a clutch putt from nine feet to win with par.

Jennifer Kupcho, who also was tied for the lead to start the day, finished third at 15 under, missing the playoff by just one stroke after a bogey on the par-5 18th hole.





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