by ldh2013 » Wed Jul 06, 2016 8:27 am
SHENZHEN, China -- Alexander Levy was so relaxed on the course at the China Open on Sunday, not even a double bogey that erased his comfortable lead could wipe the grin from his face. . Rather than get down over what could have been a costly mistake, the 23-year-old Frenchman recovered with back-to-back birdies on his final two holes to capture his maiden European Tour title by four strokes over Tommy Fleetwood. The smile, he said, was the key to victory. "You need to take the pleasure on the golf course and keep the smile because if you are upset about a missed shot or not lucky because you make a lip out or something like that, its not good to have this feeling on the golf course," he said. "You need to enjoy and have the smile." Levy, playing in just his second year on the tour, vaulted into the lead with a career-best 10-under 62 in the second round and looked to be headed for a runaway victory after making a birdie on the 13th Sunday to extend his lead to five shots. But then he ran into trouble on the par-4 15th. After hitting his approach shot well past the green, he putted from the fringe and sent the ball off the other side of the green. He chipped back to the green and two-putted for a double bogey, allowing Fleetwood back within two strokes. Fleetwood, playing in the group ahead of Levy, then tightened the pressure further with a birdie on the par-5 17th to pull another shot back. Levy responded, however, with a flawless 3-iron approach shot over a lake on the same hole to set up a three-foot birdie putt. "I just closed my eyes and got one of the best shots of the week to the green," he said. After Fleetwood bogeyed the 18th, Levy sealed the win by dropping another perfectly placed approach shot three feet from the pin for another birdie. He shot a final-round 69 for a 19-under 269 overall. "We aim for wins, but today I didnt really have a chance. I had to play outstanding golf, but Alex has led from Friday, and thats one of the hardest things you can do," Fleetwood said. "What a performance from him." Levy has faltered under pressure before. Last year, he was tied with Ernie Els entering the final round of the BMW International Open in Munich but let the title slip away with four bogeys on the back nine. He ended up in third, his previous best result on the tour. Since then, however, he said hes been inspired by the success of his good friend and compatriot, Victor Dubuisson, who beat Tiger Woods to win his first European Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open in November and then was runner-up to Jason Day at the Match Play Championship in February. The other French players have given him plenty of encouragement as he chased his first tour victory this week, too. Dubuisson has sent him text messages throughout the week, and the French contingent in Shenzhen doused him with celebratory champagne after he sank his final putt on the 18th. "We have some great players in France, both young and old, and we all have a great relationship," Levy said. "There are some very good players and have been some great wins for Victor, Julien Quesne, Greg Bourdy, Raphael Jacquelin over the past couple of years which is great for French golf and great with the Ryder Cup coming to France in 2018." Fleetwood was second at 15 under and Alvaro Quiros of Spain was third, another two strokes back. No. 3-ranked Henrik Stenson, who was bedridden with the flu earlier this week, finally put together his first solid round of the tournament, with seven birdies and no bogeys for a 65. The Swede improved to joint fifth place but still fell short of the win he needed to overtake Tiger Woods at the top of the world rankings. "Its really tight and I just need to play better if I want to get to that spot. And I should have to play better than I have done earlier on this year if I want to get to world No. 1, thats for sure," he said. PGA champion Jason Dufner opened with a birdie-eagle on his first two holes before slipping back to joint 54th with two double bogeys and a triple bogey on the 17th. . - The Atlanta Falcons have signed former offensive lineman Gabe Carimi. . Totti had to be replaced after 30 minutes in Fridays 2-0 win over Napoli with a right thigh muscle problem. . - The Baltimore Ravens and left tackle Eugene Monroe reached agreement on a five-year contract Friday.BOSTON -- Strong outings are becoming a habit for Yovani Gallardo and the rest of Milwaukees rotation. In the Brewers six games this season, no starter has allowed more than three runs. "We see the guy in front of us do a great job and we want to do even better," Gallardo said after the Brewers beat the Red Sox 4-0 on Sunday, his second straight scoreless start. Milwaukee swept the three-game series against the Red Sox, who were swept just once last year when they won the World Series. That was at Texas from May 3-5. Sweeping the Red Sox in front of their passionate fans at Fenway Park is even tougher. "Any time you come in here and win a series, whether its three games or just two games, its a great series," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. The Red Sox, who never had a losing record last year, fell to 2-4 and matched their longest skid of 2013. Gallardo (2-0) pitched six innings in Milwaukees 2-0 win over the Atlanta Braves in the season opener. He and starters Kyle Lohse, Matt Garza, Marco Estrada and Wily Peralta have a 1.65 ERA, the bullpen has a 1.02 ERA and 12 2-3 consecutive shutout innings, and the team ERA is 1.45 with just 38 hits allowed in 56 innings. "Its been outstanding," Roenicke said. "Hopefully, this is a sign that its going to be a great year on the mound and I think it is going to be." The Red Sox had nine hits but stranded nine runners as they lost their first three home games for the first time since 1984. "When we did get people on, Gallardo was able to get the ground ball," Boston manager John Farrell said. Of the 20 batters Gallardo retired, 11 were on ground balls. Gallardo allowed seven hits, walked none and struck out three in 6 2-3 innings in the interleague game. "We dont get to come here very often," he said. "The fans cheer their team on nonstop and youve got to calm yourself down." Jon Lester (0-2) pitched well for his second straight start but received little support again. In Bostons opener, he allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, but the Red Sox lost 2-1 at Baltimore. On Sunday, he gave up two earned runs in 7 1-3 innings. "I know our hiitters are up there grinding out at-bats," Lester said, "The efforts there. . Obviously, they dont want to not get any runs on the board." The Brewers got all the runs they needed in the second. Jonathan Lucroy led off with a double and took third on a bunt single by Khris Davis. Mark Reynolds then singled in front of right fielder Daniel Nava, scoring Lucroy. And when the ball got by Nava for an error, Davis scored and Reynolds took second. Then Lester settled down, retiring 15 straight batters before Davis doubled with one out in the seventh. Reynolds walked, Lyle Overbay struck out and Jeff Bianchi singled in Davis, making it 3-0. Davis went 2 for 4 after getting four hits in a 7-6 win in 11 innings Saturday night, when he scored the winning run after his double. The Brewers made it 4-0 in the eighth on an RBI single by Aramis Ramirez off Edward Mujica. The Red Sox threatened in the seventh after Gallardo retired the first two batters. Jackie Bradley Jr. doubled and took third on an infield single by David Ross. Zach Duke replaced Gallardo and ended the threat by retiring Nava on a fly to centre. Tyler Thornburg pitched the last two innings. Farrell challenged a call for the first time this season, but replay showed umpire Tim Timmons was correct in calling Bradley out on a close play on a ground ball in the second. Ryan Braun reached on an infield single with two outs in the first, ending a 0-for-14 slump, but was stranded. He singled again in the eighth, stole second, took third when catcher Ross throw went into centre field and scored when Ramirez singled. NOTES: Of Lesters first eight pitches, six were strikes and two were outs. ... Boston 3B Will Middlebrooks went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf. ... The Red Sox open a three-game series at home Monday night, with John Lackey (1-0) pitching against Tanner Scheppers (0-0) of the Texas Rangers. The Brewers game scheduled in Philadelphia on Monday was postponed because of expected inclement weather. .. Milwaukees Carlos Gomez was hitless in five at-bats after going 6 for 10 in the first two games. ' ' '
