Daniel Gavins has won the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in dramatic fashion, defying sending two shots into the water on the final hole to hole a monster title-clinching putt.
The world number 296 put together a clean round with four birdies on Saturday to keep himself in contention in the United Arab Emirates, but his 18 holes during the final round were far more eventful.
After opening with a bogey, the Englishman birdied his next five holes, before playing the following 11 holes in one-under in a run which featured two bogeys.
Ahead of the par-five final hole, Gavins held a three-shot lead, effectively leaving him a solid tee shot and approach away from the title.
However, Gavins sent his tee shot into the water, achieving the same outcome with a shot from the middle of the fairway, and it left the 31-year-old needing to get up and down from the rough to the side of the green to avoid the prospect of a playoff or even losing the tournament.
WOW! 🤯
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 5, 2023
After finding the water twice, @DanielGavins makes a 26ft putt for the clubhouse lead! #RakGolfChamps pic.twitter.com/8VeJh7CuSd
In response, Gavins could only set up a putt from 26 feet six inches as he tried to avoid complete capitulation, but he somehow held his nerve to hole the shot of his career for double-bogey.
Despite that sense of relief, Gavins had to wait to see if Zander Lombard could force a playoff with an eagle on the same hole, eventually witnessing the South African fail to convert from 23 feet seven inches.
Gavins now moves into seventh position in the Race to Dubai standings, as well as earning valuable points towards trying to earn a spot on Europe's Ryder Cup team.
Alexander Bjork finished alongside Lombard in second spot, while Adrian Meronk and Thorbjorn Olesen completed the top five.
Darren Plant
