Fabrizio Zanotti had the confidence and belief that he could prevail in a playoff Sunday at the BMW International Open to claim his first win and a huge victory for his home country of Paraguay.
After 72 holes, Zanotti was locked in a 4-way tie for the lead at 19-under-par with a crop of world class players: Henrik Stenson, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Gregory Havret.
Zanotti admitted after the round he was just trying to enjoy the moment and each shot but as the playoff continued his confidence grew.
”I started thinking, maybe today is my day,” Zanotti said.
It’s the type of thing his coach Gary Gilchrist often reviews with Zanotti, working with the 31-year old from Asuncion, Paraguay on more than just his swing but also his mental game and how he views himself as a player when the two get together at Gilchrist’s Academy in Florida.
“We often discuss the importance of trusting the process and staying patient,” Gilchrist said. “This has really helped him build confidence during his practice,” Gilchrist said. “During competition, and when I talked him this weekend, we spoke about trusting his decision making and again on being patient. It’s really starting to come together for him, and it’s really great to see. His win is big for him and big for golf in Paraguay.”
Zanotti played a flawless final round at Golf Club Gut Larchenhof in Koln, Germany to force his way into the playoff, notching seven birdies with no bogeys for a 7-under 65. He was able to seal the victory on the fifth playoff hole when Henrik Stenson conceded after failing to make a bunker shot.
Zanotti has been on quite a run of late with with T5, a T14 and a T16 in three of his previous four starts and with Sunday’s win, he also became the first player from the country of Paraguay to win on the European Tour.
”This is huge. I think everybody in Paraguay is going to be so happy,” Zanotti said after winning his first playoff. ”Everybody in Paraguay was awaiting this moment, like me.”
About Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy
The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, located near Orlando, FL in Howey in the Hills, is the world’s premiere junior golf academy. In addition to the junior golf program, GGGA also features summer golf camps, winter golf camps and programs, training and golf lessons for amateurs, professionals and adults.
The Academy is committed to excellence in every facet of golf, fitness, personal development and academics, evident through exclusive relationships with Montverde Academy, an acclaimed private college preparatory school, and the American Junior Golf Association.
Gary Gilchrist, founder of the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, has been recognized as a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher 2013-2014 and as a Golf Digest Top 50 Teacher in America 2012-2013 and 2014-2015. Gilchrist teaches many of the games top juniors and pros at the Academy, including Shanshan Feng (currently No. 7 in OWGR), PGA Tour sophomore Morgan Hoffmann and European Tour winner Fabrizio Zanotti.
