ALEXANDER LEVY NAMED RACE TO DUBAI EUROPEAN TOUR
GOLFER OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL
Alexander Levy has been named The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for April following his stunning birdie-birdie finish with which he secured victory in the Volvo China Open at Genzon Golf Club, Shenzhen.
The 23-year-old Frenchman, who receives an engraved alms dish and a Jeroboam of Moët & Chandon champagne, gained his maiden win on The European Tour International Schedule with rounds of 68-62-70-69 for a 19-under par total of 269 – four ahead of England’s Tommy Fleetwood and six in front of Spain’s Alvaro Quiros with Ryder Cup men Francesco Molinari, of Italy, England’s Ian Poulter and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson all claiming top five finishes.
Levy said: “I don’t think I actually realise quite what has happened to me over the last few days, but to win this title is an amazing thing for me.
“I’m very proud to be named Golfer of the Month, especially ahead of Miguel Angel Jiménez and Lee Westwood, two of Europe’s best players. It’s very nice. This is all very new for me, but I’m really enjoying it and I’m very happy to win this award.
“I don’t think I’ve slept much the last few days after the win. It was tough getting that victory in China, but I’ve worked hard on my putting this year and that helped me.”
The European Tour Golfer of the Month Panel, comprising members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as commentators from television and radio, focused their attention on winning and exceptional performances in The Race to Dubai on The European Tour International Schedule – Italy’s Marco Crespi became at the age of 35 years and 152 days the oldest rookie winner with his success in the NH Collection Open and England’s Lee Westwood captured the Maybank Malaysian Open the week after finishing tied seventh in The Masters Tournament – while also taking into account events worldwide.
Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez was highly commended for following his fourth place in The Masters Tournament – he became the first player aged over 50 to record a top five finish at Augusta National since Sam Snead in 1963 – by winning the Greater Gwinnett Championship on his US Champions Tour debut and others to be considered included Sweden’s Jonas Blixt and England’s Luke Donald, runners-up in The Masters Tournament and the RBC Heritage respectively, and South Africa’s Jbe Kruger, winner of the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe Open.
Derek Lawrenson, Golf Correspondent of the Daily Mail and Chairman of the Association of Golf Writers, said: “A good month for two of the European Tour stalwarts as Miguel Angel Jiménez and Lee Westwood both followed up excellent performances at The Masters with victories the following week. It was also a fine month for the game’s younger generation and Alexander Levy certainly played his part against a strong field that included the likes of Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson. Victor Dubuisson is clearly not going to be the only French poster boy in years to come.”
Miguel Angel Jiménez (December), Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher (January), France’s Victor Dubuisson (February), Welshman Jamie Donaldson (March) and Levy will all be considered with the next seven monthly winners for The 2014 European Tour Golfer of the Year Award which was won in 2013 by Henrik Stenson following his DP World Tour Championship, Dubai triumph which secured the Number One spot in The Race to Dubai.
