Breakthrough win for Paratore at Nordea Masters

Renato Paratore showed his mettle to hold on and claim his first European Tour title in the Nordea Masters. The Italian finished one shot clear of Englishmen Chris Wood and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Renato Paratore started the final round of the Nordea Masters at Barsebackk G&CC a stroke behind England’s Chris Wood but he beat the Englishman by two shots on the day to win his maiden European Tour title.

Paratore got back into contention with birdies at the 8th and 9th holes setting up a tight battle down the stretch. Paratore moved in front with birdies a the 12th and then 14th holes but Golf Monthly playing editor Wood moved back into a share at the top with a birdie on the 16th. Paratore held his nerve to finish with three pars but Wood couldn’t do the same. On the home hole, his tee shot found trouble in the trees and the resulting penalty drop cost him a playoff spot.

“It feels amazing, I’m very happy right now,” said the 20-year-old Paratore. “Amazing to be in the winner’s circle with Italians like the Molinaris, Manassero and Rocca.”

Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick fired a fined final round of 68 to end the week tied with Wood in second place.

3 Talking points from the Nordea Masters

1 – This was Renato Paratore’s first European Tour win. The 20-year-old claimed his maiden win in his 83rd appearance on the circuit, he will climb into the top-150 on the Official World Golf Ranking. “It was a little bit stressful for me at the end. Chris is a really solid player so I was expecting a play-off. Then when he made a bogey I was a little bit less stressed,” he said.

2 – Matt Fitzpatrick put up a valiant defence of his title with a solid closing round of 68. “I managed to battle back, and I’m delighted the way I have done and come back by giving myself some great chances and managed to make them,” he said. “It’s the best I’ve played in quite a while.

Matt Fitzpatrick on life on the Tour:

3 – George Coetzee of South Africa raced up the board on Sunday. In testing conditions, he recorded a seven-under-par 66 – a course record. He moved up to a tie for fourth. “I’ve been thinking all week that this golf course really suits me and I should be playing better. Luckily I got it in just before the end of the event,” he said. “It’s always nice to get a course record. I haven’t done it for a while. It’s nice to get your name up on the board.”

Nordea Masters Barseback G&CC, Malmo, Sweden Jun 1-4 Purse: €1,500,000 Par: 73

1    Renato Paratore (Ita)    68    72    71    70    281 T2    Matthew Fitzparick (Eng) 73    70    71    68    282 T2    Chris Wood (Eng)        74    68    68    72    282 T4    George Coetzee (RSA)    73    71    73    66    283     T4    Thorbjorn Olesen (Den)    72    70    70    71    283 6    Matthieu Pavon (Fra)    74    69    74    67    284     7    Jamie Donaldson (Wal)    69    69    75    72    285     T8    Marcel Siem (Ger)    74    73    71    68    286 T8    Andy Sullivan (Eng)    73    71    73    69    286 T8    Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)    73    72    72    69    286 T8    Austin Connelly (Can)    72    70    73    71    286 T8    Eddie Pepperell (Eng)    70    74    71    71    286 T8    Jeunghun Wang (Kor)    72    71    70    73    286 T8    Benjamin Hebert (Fra)    70    71    70    75    286

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage