One “heavy handed” chip cost Calum Hill a chance at his first European Tour title but the Perthshire golfer continued his 2021 surge in form in Kenya with a first victory surely not too far away.
Hill’s only bogey in the furious final round at the Kenya Savannah Classic in Nairobi came on the final hole. Excruciatingly, it knocked him out of the play-off won by South Africa’s Daniel van Tonder over Jazz Janewattananond.
SO, SO CLOSE..🤷🏼♂️
A heartbreaking finish to come up just short for @CalumHill_golf at #SavannahClassic in Kenya
A final day 64 (-7) for -20 tied 3rd incredibly just not quite enough for the W but another very strong week as he continues to impress on @EuropeanTour👏🏽👏🏽
⛳🇰🇪🏌🏼♂️😎 pic.twitter.com/9CgsDxYrcl
— Bounce (@bouncespmgt) March 26, 2021
The Crook of Devon-based player finished in a tie for third place after a final round 64 – he had a 65 in the third round for 13-under figures in the final 36 holes, 20-under for the tournament.
However that one bogey at the 18th, after he went too long squeezing his approach under overhanging trees, made the chop and then missed from six feet for par, was the one that counted for the 26-year-old, who plays out of Gleneagles.
Playing partner van Tonder goes on to win
It was his playing partner on the final day van Tonder who holed across the 18th green for birdie for his own 64. The South African then bested Janewattananond with a birdie on the third hole in the play-off.
What a time to do it! 🔥
van Tonder ties the lead with a huge birdie putt at the 18th. #SavannahClassic pic.twitter.com/OdmiRuZ7mP
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 26, 2021
The pair had pushed each other all day and someone was likely to finish on top, reckoned Hill.
“Danny and I had a great battle going throughout the day,” he said. “Lots of fun, lots of birdies, a bit of a salty way to finish it, for me.
“Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes you’re a bit heavy-handed on the chip,” he added ruefully.
Nevertheless it’s Hill’s third top ten finish of the young 2021 season. Following on from his fourth place at the lucrative Saudi Invitational event in February, he was tied eighth in the first of the Tour’s Kenyan doubleheader last weekend.
‘There are lots of positives from the week’
“All aspects of my game were pretty solid,” he said. “I didn’t really do too well in the first two rounds this week, but the final two rounds were great. There’s lots of positives from the week.
"Better than phenomenal"
Calum Hill is making birdies from everywhere. #SavannahClassic pic.twitter.com/wxRSYVPR6E
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 26, 2021
“I’ve really liked this course. Everything about it is a lot of fun. It’s a golf course that tests a bit of everything.
“You have to hit it very straight, control your distances into the greens, they are undulated, the Kikuyu (grass) around the greens is tricky to chip from. It tests everything”
Hill pocketed just short of $50,000 (£35,500) for his finish but more crucially moves up into 16th place on the Race to Dubai. That’s currently just a place behind countryman Robert MacIntyre, although the lefty is likely to cash more points from the ongoing WGC Dell Matchplay in Texas.
Good week for Drysdale
Although early in the season, there are nine Scots inside the Top 75 of the Race to Dubai already. David Drysdale, seeking that elusive first Tour win in 519 starts of Tour (it was only Hill’s 31st) eventually had to settle for fifth with a final round 67.
“Overall, it was a good week,” said the veteran. “I hit some good shots today but didn’t putt particularly well. There were a couple of missed chances on the back nine.”
Liam Johnson finished in a tie for 26th on -13. Richie Ramsay ended on nine-under in a share of 42nd.
The Tour now goes into a three week sabbatical before re-emerging at the re-scheduled Austrian Open on April 15.
