Hennie Otto wins Open D’Italia

Hennie Otto of South Africa held off the charges of England’s David Howell and Stephen Gallacher of Scotland to win the 71st Open D’Italia Presented by DAMIANI at the Circolo Golf Torino.

Hennie Otto of South Africa held off the charges of England’s David Howell and Stephen Gallacher of Scotland to win the 71st Open D’Italia Presented by DAMIANI at the Circolo Golf Torino.

Otto produced a final round of 68 to finish two clear of Howell, on a four-round total of 20-under-par. It was the second time Otto has claimed the Italian Open title, as he also won the event in 2008.

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher needed to finish in first or second place to secure a place in Paul McGinley’s Ryder Cup side for Gleneagles. Despite a fabulous final round of 65, the Scotsman was only able to haul himself up into third spot and will now have to rely on a captain’s pick to make the team.

"It was a tall order but I am proud of myself, the way I have played," Gallacher said.

Gallacher would have been runner-up had it not been for an outstanding final round by David Howell. The Englishman opened with an eagle three and then fired seven birdies in the space of nine holes from the 7th. He surged up the leaderboard to take the clubhouse lead on 18-under-par.

Otto, who had begun the day two clear of Richie Ramsay, wasn’t deterred though. He held steady through the last 18 holes and he completed the final round in 68, without dropping a shot. It was a remarkable win for the 38-year-old considering it was only his second event back after recovering from two back operations.

"I was playing well before the injury but it is a surprise to win so soon," he said. "Golf is not perfect and to come back after the operations and win in my second week, I will take that any day."

Another Ryder Cup hopeful, Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, also carded a closing 65. That effort pushed him into a tie for fourth with Scotland’s Richie Ramsay.

71st Open D’Italia Presented by DAMIANI Circolo Golf Torino, Fiano, Torino, Italy Aug 28-31, purse €1,500,000, par 72

1    Hennie Otto (RSA)    67    62    71    68    268    €250,000 2    David Howell (Eng)    73    67    67    63    270    €166,660 3    Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 72    65    69    65    271    €93,900 T4    Joost Luiten (Ned)    69    68    70    65    272    €69,300 T4    Richie Ramsay (Sco)    67    69    66    70    272    €69,300 6    Bernd Wiesberger (Aut)    66    66    71    72    275    €52,500 T7    Andreas Harto (Den)    70    69    70    67    276    €36,525 T7    Simon Dyson (Eng)    71    68    69    68    276    €36,525 T7    Ross Fisher (Eng)        69    66    70    71    276    €36,525 T7    Lee Slattery (Eng)    70    68    67    71    276    €36,525

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage