Pettersson Claims First European Tour Victory

By STEVE WILLIAMS

 Carl Pettersson is a native of Sweden, but he likes calling North Carolina home.

The ex-Greensboro Grimsley High School, ex-North Carolina State University standout reached the pinnacle of his young professional career by winning the Algarve Open de Portugal April 7 at Vale do Lobo.

Pettersson, 24, is just in his second year as a professional and the event in Portugal was only his 37th on the European Tour. He had one second-place finish in his rookie season, but has had several high finishes this year, enough to give him a ranking of sixth on the Volvo Order of Merit. The only players ahead of him are Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, Jose Maria Olazabal, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia.

The victory came in an event shortened to 36 holes because of stormy weather and high winds. Pettersson shot 66-76 and finished tied at 142 with England’s David Gilford, a 36-year-old former Ryder Cup player, who shot 70-72. The tournament went to sudden death and Pettersson emerged victorious on the first hole when he made a routine par after Gilford overshot the green with his approach on the 445-yard 18th hole and then chipped poorly.

“I’m extremely happy, although it’s a shame the tournament had to be cut to 36 holes,” Pettersson told europeantour.com. “I have never felt pressure like I did in the playoff, knowing I had two putts to win. I am normally very calm under pressure but I was shaking a bit today. I had a tricky little one back uphill but that was OK as I didn’t want to leave myself with a short one downhill.”

Since the tournament was shortened to 36 holes the prize purse was cut by 25 percent. Still Pettersson walked away with a check of 125,000 euro, increasing his count for the year to 371,799 euro.

Pettersson said the prize will assist him with his mission to build a new home in North Carolina. He plays out of the Heritage Golf Club in Wake Forest, where he recently posted a course record nine-under-par 63. He plans to build his home there.

“One of my goals this season was to win,” he said. “I was second in the Open de Argentina last year and had some good finishes so far this season. I didn’t mention it much to anyone, but winning was a goal and I’ve achieved it.”

Senior Tour Notes

Walter Hall of Clemmons opened the season with a tie for fifth and a tie for seventh in his first two events but his best mark since then was a tie for 10th at the Toshiba Classic March 10. He’s still picked up $211,552 on the year. He still ranks 20th on the money list after finishing 11th a year ago.

Jim Thorpe of Roxboro is also down some by his recent standards. After a career-best sixth-place money list finish a year ago, Thorpe ranks 26th so far this year with $193,801. His only top-10 was a tie for third in early February.

Joe Inman of Greensboro has picked up $85,416 so far in 2002, highlighted by a tie for eighth in his most recent event, the Emerald Coast Classic that ended March 31.

PGA Tour Notes

Tripp Isenhour of Salisbury has played in just four events and has made the cut in all four, winning $56,157. He finished 11 under par at Tucson and tied for 35th, but his best mark was a tie for 30th at the Buick where he picked up a check for $21,394.

Lee Porter of Greensboro has made eight starts and has cashed five checks for a total of $57,843. His best mark was a tie for 30th in the Honda Classic where he finished 11 under and won $19,495.

Elsewhere

Shortened schedules have limited the opportunities for John Maginnes of Greensboro on the Buy.com Tour and Marcy Newton of High Point on the LPGA Tour. Maginnes has played in only one Buy.com event and tied for 61st in the Louisiana Open April 14, winning $1,282. Newton, who has conditional status on the LPGA circuit, missed the cut in her only event so far.

Mini Tours

Elliot Gealy of Salisbury, sparked by his $24,000 victory at North Augusta in early March, is first on the NGA/Hooters Tour money list with $34,987. He almost got his second win three weeks later but lost on a sudden death playoff after the event was weather-shortened to 36 holes. He picked up $8,500 there.

Winston-Salem native Mark Slawter has played in four Canadian Tour events but hasn’t been able to duplicate the success he had a year ago when he finished fifth on the Order of Merit. He’s 63rd at present with $2,660.

David Mathis of Raleigh is 38th with $52,420 and Drew Scott of Pinehurst is 41st with $4,801.

The Canadian Tour has been playing south of the border so far this year and is camped out in Myrtle Beach’s Barefoot Resort from April 22 to May 5. After a stop in Charlottesville, Va. May 6-12, the Tour heads home for the rest of the year.