In a riveting display of golf prowess, England’s Richard Mansell clinched his maiden DP World Tour title at the weather-shortened Porsche Singapore Classic. Despite the challenges of the tournament, including an unplanned reduction to 54 holes due to heavy rainfall, Mansell’s performance was nothing short of exceptional.
The action took place at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club, where Mansell, initially trailing by one shot, showcased an extraordinary run of play. His journey began with a series of three pars, followed by a remarkable sequence of five consecutive birdies starting from the fourth hole. This brilliant play transformed the leaderboard as Mansell swung into a two-shot advantage.
Although he faced stiff competition in the later stages of the round, Mansell demonstrated his mettle during the decisive moments. On the par-5 final hole, his two-putt birdie from over 100 feet resulted in a closing score of 66, pushing him 16 points beyond the provisional leader, Keita Nakajima.
Nakajima had put forth an impressive performance himself, recording a flawless 65 with seven birdies. Yet, even this exemplary performance was insufficient to challenge Mansell’s final hole heroics. As a result, Nakajima had to settle for a respectable second place, finishing at -15.
In a close race for the third spot, Tom McKibbin and Adrien Saddier ended the tournament tied at -14. The 29-year-old Mansell’s day was punctuated by a series of birdies, including a 25-foot birdie on the fourth hole, followed by an 8-foot birdie on the fifth. His mastery of the game continued with a close-range birdie on the sixth, propelling him into the lead.
The seventh hole saw Mansell’s tee shot landing less than two meters from the hole. He then consolidated his lead with a precise putt. He continued his putting mastery on the eighth hole with a long birdie from the collar, taking him to -15, two shots ahead of the competition.
Despite a brief setback with a bogey at the tenth, Mansell swiftly regained his lead with a 15-foot birdie at the thirteenth hole. His near miss for another birdie at the fifteenth did not deter him, and he demonstrated resilience at the sixteenth by saving par after a challenging tee shot that landed in the rough.
On the Italian front, Francesco Laporta emerged as a notable player, finishing in 28th place at -8. Edoardo Molinari and Guido Migliozzi ranked 43rd and 49th respectively, at -6 and -5. However, Andrea Pavan, unfortunately, did not make the cut.
All in all, Richard Mansell’s victory at the Porsche Singapore Classic is a testament to his skill and determination. His exceptional performance under challenging conditions underscores his potential as a rising star in the world of golf.