Italy’s Filippo Celli made an electric start and then hung tough over the final 54 holes Saturday to win the European Amateur Championship at Parador Campo de Golf El Saler near Valencia, Spain.
Celli, 21, of Rome, shot 8-under 280 for a one-stroke victory to become the third Italian winner in the past eight years and fourth in the tournament’s 35 editions. With the triumph, he earns a spot in the 150th Open at St Andrews next month.
Celli, a rising junior at Texas Christian University who is No. 149 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, made a sensational start last week, carding seven birdies and an eagle in a first round 8-under-par 64 that was good for a three-shot lead.
However, his advantage would have been four but for a three-putt on the 18th green, and he extended the regression with a 2-over 74 in gusty second-round conditions as he conceded the lead to compatriot Pietro Bovari.
As the wind continued to blow in Friday’s third round, Celli shot 1-over 73 that was good enough to leave him sleeping on a one-stroke lead heading into the final lap as four players – Bovari, home hope Javier Barcos Gabayo, Australia’s Samuel Slater and Germany’s Yannick Malik – shared second.
Celli found his tenacity tested again when he started the final round with a bogey at the first, but he was soon making the most of the improved weather, ticking four par-breakers before the ninth tee to sneak two blows clear of the field.
After the turn, however, a two-way threat emerged.
“This morning I woke up and told myself, ‘Filippo, enjoy the day. You are living for competition and to feel under pressure.’ I love to feel the pressure. So, I just said, ‘Have fun and see what happens.’ And this is what happened.”
In the first instance, Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, playing 40 minutes ahead of the pre-final-round leaders, thrashed a 5-under 67 to set a stiff clubhouse target of 7-under 281.
And then the wind got up again.
Celli passed his final test of the week, completing the back nine in level par to card a 3-under 69 that confirmed his one-shot victory. Scotland’s Calum Scott, who is based at the blustery Nairn Golf Club in North Scotland, claimed solo third on 6-under 282.
“I’m just feeling really, really happy,” Celli said. “I’ve been waiting to win a trophy like this all of my life. I don’t have the words to describe my feelings right now.
The name of Celli will be added to those of Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Carl Pettersson, Victor Dubuisson and Nicolai Højgaard on the trophy.
Since 2017 the championship has been held earlier in the season, allowing the winner to play in that summer’s Open, and two of those recent winners went on to claim the silver medal for low amateur: England’s Alfie Plant in 2017 and Germany’s Matti Schmid last year. Should Celli emulate them, he would join Matteo Manassero as the only Italian winners of the medal.
Next year’s European Amateur Championship, the 36th edition, will be hosted by Pärnu Bay Golf Links in Estonia.
Matt Cooper