- Dale Whitnell clinches maiden DP World Tour title
- Anne Van Dam ends the week in T3 as top female
Dale Whitnell produced a final round of 70 (-2) to win the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed with a total of 21-under-par.
The Englishman led from the halfway stage after a second round of 61 (-11) and held a four-stroke lead coming into the last day.
Whitnell dropped a shot on the fourth but bounced back with birdies on five and six, he rolled in another on the 11th before making a bogey on hole 13.
However, a birdie on 17 meant the 34-year-old could relax coming into the final hole where he made par to triumph by three strokes at Ullna Golf Club.
“It’s awesome,” said Whitnell. “Obviously, Sweden is a great host for a tournament like this. It was great playing with the women. I can’t thank everybody enough.
“It tested me out there. [My caddie] Gaz was great. It’s been a long road for me. I’ve got so many people to thank. My fiancée Angie, our little dog, obviously! My coach who I didn’t know flew out today. My mum and dad. All my friends and family. This means everything to me.
“I’d like to obviously thank all the ladies and Ladies European Tour. It’s great to play against the women but I managed to come up trumps this time. Hopefully, you can get us back again next year. I think I’m going to have a good celebration next week!”
American Sean Crocker finished in second place on 18-under-par after a round of 65 (-7) on the final day which included two eagles, four birdies and one bogey.
Dutch star Anne Van Dam finished as the leading female in a tie for third place on 15-under-par alongside Germany’s Yannik Paul.
After her round of 63 (-9) on moving day, Van Dam followed it up with a round of 69 (-3) to end her week in Sweden six shots behind the winner.
“It was always going to be tough to follow up a performance like I did yesterday,” said the five-time LET winner. “I just tried to start my round with a clean slate.
“The front nine I actually played good, I had a lot of chances and the back nine I was on top of my game, so it was nice to hang on in there and then the birdie on 18 feels extra special.
“I was 14 shots behind going into the weekend, so I knew I had to play a little bit more aggressive. Today as well, even not having my best game, you have to keep going. You have to stay aggressive and see if you can make some chances.
“My putter wasn’t that good today otherwise I feel like I could have pushed a little bit harder. It’s been a fantastic week and hopefully, I’ll be back here next year.”
Four players finished in a share of fifth place on 14-under-par including England’s Gabriella Cowley, who produced a final round of 69 (-3).
The 27-year-old had another eagle on her scorecard, as well as four birdies and three bogeys to seal her best LET result of 2023.
“It was a great week. I played really solid,” said Cowley. “It was just a good day. Playing with Maddie we shared a lot of fans and support, so it was nice to obviously be a part of that and play well too.
“I’ve been playing pretty good but just haven’t really had it [a low finish], so to actually do it in a four-day tournament and produce the shots that I need hit when I needed it most was a big thing for me.
“My dad who caddied is a massive part of golf, and obviously my life too. The help that gives me on and off the course, but especially this week, was really good. Playing these sorts of weeks gives you so much confidence. It’s a big confidence boost and a stepping stone in the right direction.”
Cowley finished on 14-under alongside England’s Paul Waring, Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay.
Sweden’s Alexander Björk and England’s Matthew Jordan rounded out the top 10 one shot further back, while Sweden’s Hugo Townsend finished the week as best amateur in 11th place.
In the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol, the top of the rankings stays the same with India’s Aditi Ashok leading, Spain’s Ana Peláez Trivino in second and Sweden’s Linn Grant in third.
With her third-place finish at Ullna, Van Dam jumps from 21st place to ninth and now has 571.50 points to her name, while Cowley has also made a big move in the rankings climbing from 47th place up to 26th off the back of finishing fifth.
