PATHUM THANI, THAILAND - OCTOBER 09: Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra of Fireballs GC celebrates with the trophy after winning the individual award during Day Three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Bangkok at Stonehill Golf Course on October 09, 2022 in Pathum Thani, Thailand. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
9 OCTOBER, 2022 - SHANK MEDIA, BY MATT HOOPER: EUGENIO LOPEZ-CHACARRA PRODUCED A HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE AT STONEHILL GOLF CLUB IN THAILAND TO WIN THE LIV GOLF BANGKOK INVITATIONAL BY 3 SHOTS FROM PATRICK REED. THE 22-YEAR-OLD SPANIARD SHOWED GREAT COMPOSURE ON A DAY WHICH PRESENTED CHALLENGES WITH THE WEATHER AND THE OBVIOUS PRESSURE OF CLAIMING A FIRST PROFESSIONAL WIN.
MAIDEN PROFESSIONAL VICTORIES DO NOT OFTEN COME ON A STAGE AS BIG AS THE ONE LIV GOLF PROVIDES, WITH A STRONG FIELD OF MAJOR CHAMPIONS, FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONES AND GLOBAL STARS. THERE IS SURELY LITTLE DOUBT THAT WE WILL LOOK BACK ON TODAY AS A MOMENT TO RIVAL THE DEBUT WINS OF SERGIO GARCIA (1999 IRISH OPEN) AND JON RAHM (2018 FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN), IN THE YEARS AHEAD WHEN CHACARRA IS COMPETING FOR MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS.
HE OPENED THE TOURNAMENT WITH A ROUND OF 65 TO TIE THE LEAD WITH RICHARD BLAND AND BRANDEN GRACE, BUT IF THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE, WHAT FOLLOWED WAS EXTRAORDINARY. HE BACKED UP HIS FIRST ROUND WITH A SECOND ROUND OF 63 TO OPEN UP A FOUR SHOT LEAD HEADING INTO THE FINAL ROUND. PLAY WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO MISS AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS, BUT WITH FOUR HOLES TO PLAY THE PLAYERS WERE STUNNED BY THUNDER AND LIGHTNING, ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAIN, BRINGING PLAY TO A HALT FOR OVER AN HOUR.
ON THEIR RETURN TO THE COURSE CHACARRA FACED A TRICKY CHIP DOWN THE HILL ON THE 15TH, BUT PLAYED IT DELIGHTFULLY TO SAVE PAR AND HE EFFECTIVELY ENDED THE HOPES OF PATRICK REED WITH A STUNNING BIRDIE AT THE 17TH TO EXTEND HIS LEAD TO 3.
LATER ON SUNDAY JON RAHM CLAIMED HIS THIRD SPANISH OPEN TITLE, MATCHING SEVE BALLESTEROS, AND RAHM PAID TRIBUTE TO CHACARRA IN HIS WINNER'S SPEECH.
CHACARRA'S TEAM, THE FIREBALLS, CAPTAINED BY SERGIO GARCIA, EASILY WON THE TEAM COMPETITION AND ARE NOW LOOKING GOOD FOR A TOP FOUR FINISH AFTER NEXT WEEK'S FINAL INDIVIDUAL EVENT IN JEDDAH. THE TOP FOUR TEAMS RECEIVE A BYE TO THE SEMI-FINALS, WITH FOUR TEAMS PLAYING OFF FOR THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP ON SUNDAY IN MIAMI AT LIV GOLF'S INNOVATIVE SEASON-ENDING EVENT.
