Buenos Aires, Argentina (November 21, 2009) – Once again Argentina’s Fabián Gómez proved his star power by charging on the back nine to claim a solid two-stroke victory at the V Roberto De Vicenzo Classic Copa NEC. The twelfth official tournament of the 2009 Tour de las Americas, a co-sanctioned affair with the TPG Tour of Argentina, finished under heavy rain and plenty of excitement this afternoon at the San Eliseo Golf & CC.
Fabián Gómez, Argentina
Tied for the lead with his countrymen Sebastián Fernández and Mauricio Molina with only nine holes left to play, Gómez secured his escape by going birdie-birdie-par-birdie-birdie between holes 11 and 15. He ended up posting a 69 to close the week at 9-under par 279.
“I did great on the back nine and that made the difference,” said the 31-year old winner of the event promoted by Golf Play and the host club. “This is a very special tournament. It’s different to all the others because it honors Argentina’s greatest player ever. You know, you don’t get to be presented with a trophy by De Vicenzo that often!”
This turned out to be Gómez’s fourth career win on the Tour de las Americas, where he previously won the 2006 Venezuela Open, the 2008 Torneo de Maestros and the 2009 Abierto del Centro. This season he also won the Abierto Norpatagonico on the TPG Tour, where he leads the ranking with three wins in as many starts.
A man of few words and now a consistent winner, Gómez made his return to Argentina after finishing 27th on the Nationwide Tour's Money List. A heartbreaking finish, just two spots outside the top 25 players who made it into the 2010 PGA TOUR.
“This has been my best season as a professional, there’s no doubt about it! I came quite close to making it into the PGA TOUR, but I still have another chance left at Q-School. I believe that if I keep playing like this I will be able to reach that dream of mine, of any golfer out there,” added the champion, set to compete on the PGA TOUR’s Qualifying School Final, December 2-7. That event will prevent him from defending at the Torneo de Maestros, the following event of the series co-sanctioned by the TLA and the TPG.
Fernández, overnight leader by one, got off to a slow start and then only managed to make one birdie on the back. With Gómez running away with the title, he ended up posting a frustrating 72 to take the solo second. Mauricio Molina, coming from behind to tie Gómez and Fernández after the front nine, had an even more frustrating performance on the back nine. A couple of bogeys cost him a 73 to finish third by five strokes.
Competition for the top players from the Tour de las Americas and the TPG Tour will resume in December with the final three events of the 2009 season. The tournaments remaining on the schedule are the Torneo de Maestros, December 3-6 at Olivos GC; the 104th VISA Open, December 10-13 at Nordelta GC; and the Abierto de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, December 18-21.
Gregory Villalobos TLA Media Relations Manager gvillalobos@tourdelasamericas.com
