Christian Cévaër wins the European Open!

Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images. Click to enlarge.

Christian Cévaër, Stanford All-American from 1989-92, had the finest moment of his 16-year pro career in winning the European Open, gaining him a 5-year European Tour exemption and $559,805 (341,220 euros). His world ranking leaped to 129th from 449th. Full details on the prestigious event played against the best in Europe can be found at http://www.europeantour.com.

Here's an excerpt from the European Tour's reporting on the event as can be found at the above link:
Christian Cévaër, the World Number 449 and without a top 30 finish in his last 15 tournaments, overcame a star-studded field and one of the toughest holes in golf to win The European Open.

After an amazing weekend which saw no fewer than 45 changes of the lead, the 39 year old, whose only previous European Tour victory was the 2004 Open de España, beat England's Steve Webster, Scot Gary Orr and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros by a shot.

His winning total of 281, seven under par, was 13 strokes more than Ross Fisher took on the same The London Golf Club course last year - and his 74 was the highest last round by a winner all season.

But while Webster and Quiros both became more victims of the 471 yard last when tied for the lead - both carved their drives into the crowd, with Quiros hitting spectators with his first and second shots - Cévaër kept his nerve.

During the week the par four played to an average of nearly 4.7, with 154 bogeys, 48 doubles and 26 sevens or worse, but Cévaër parred it the first two days, birdied it in the third round and finished with the par he needed.

"I'm not a long player, but I used my utility club and it worked out great," he said after being showered with champagne.

"I made a point that no matter what happened just enjoy my golf, enjoy my skills and hang in there."

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Christian Cevaer gives an update on his European Tour career

Editor's Note about Christian great career: Letter winner 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992. Honorable mention All-American 1990, 3rd team All-American 1992. 1st team all conference 1989 & 1990. Individual conference champion in 1989 & 1992. Member of European PGA Tour. christian-cevaer.com. | Wikipedia biography.



Hello Cardinal,
First of all, congrats on another successful season. To almost defend the NCAA title and finish second is an amazing accomplishment for all of you guys.

Second of all, I am on a 2 weeks break from Tour so here's a wrap up of my professional play for your website (thx for including the link of my website. For a little french practice ?!!) :

After graduation, I couldn't turn pro right away as I had to do my french military service but did it within a national athletes' section so ended up golfing most of the time for the french golf federation.
I turned pro in september 1993 and won my first pro tournament on an invitation, the 1993 French Professional Championship.

Played first season on European Challenge Tour (secondary tour like Nationwide tour) in 1994.
Got my card for European PGA Tour 1995 season by finishing 2nd at Tour School.
Nice rookie season finishing 72nd on order of merit.

Lost card in 97 but gained it back on Challenge Tour winning the Finish Open (Finland, which got me an invitation to play in the Gene Sarazen World Open in Atlanta the following year).

Went for swing improvements for more distance in 98/99 winter which saw me struggle through an adjusment period, the 1999 season losing my card. But the dividends came in 2000 finishing 8th on final in order of merit, winning in the process the Finish Masters (yes I know ! again in Finland ! I should buy a house and retire there !).



Other than missing the 2002 season due to the bright idea of trying snow boarding thereby breaking my right elbow, I have been solid on our Tour since 2001. My best year so far has been 2004 winning the Spanish Open (like Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and others), finishing 5th at our year end Volvo Masters and 41st on final order of merit.
Played in the 2004 British Open at Royal Troon and 2007 US Open at Oakmont.

Best so far this year is a 7th place at the Qatar Masters. For total career results, click on "Palmares" on my french website www.christian-cevaer.com.

Met my lovely french wife Fabienne at the 1996 French Open, we married in 1999, have one son, Damien, born in oct. 2001. After having lived in France and my native country down the South Pacific, New Caledonia, we have been living in Switzerland near Geneva for the past 4 years. Nice view of the Mont Blanc !

Enjoyed hooking up again with Notah Begay III while he was over here on our Tour for a bit.
Also have been in touch (but haven't met him in person yet) with Phil Rowe.
Go cardinal !
Christian