The Debrief: 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open

Everything you need to know from an absorbing week at Aphrodite Hills Resort.

Callum Shinkwin sealed maiden win, Finns were flying and Cyprus showcases its stunning scenery during historic first European Tour event.

Everything you need to know from an absorbing week at Aphrodite Hills Resort.

Shinkwin's late show sets up play-off victory

The Englishman was two shots behind Finn Kalle Samooja with two holes remaining in the final round and although he rolled in a birdie at the 17th, victory still seemed unlikely when he found the rough with his tee shot at the par five last. Shinkwin somehow found the green with his second but was 54 feet from the cup for a monster eagle, but...

Samooja - playing in the final group - had an eagle chance of his own at the last from similar range but could not match Shinkwin's Herculean effort but forced a play off with a birdie. They went down the 18th again with the Englishman finding the greenside bunker with his second shot before getting up and down for a gain. However, Samooja's three putt from the fringe was enough to hand Shinkwin his maiden European Tour title at the 112th attempt. The 27-year-old burst onto the scene as an amateur before graduating from the Challenge Tour in 2015 and missed out in a play-off to Rafa Cabrera Bello at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open when a par on the 72nd hole would have handed him the title in the following season. He lost his card in 2018 but bounced back with five top tens in 2019, helping him regain his place on Tour. He also changed his caddie this season as he became the 11th first time winner on the 2020 Race to Dubai. He said: "It’s something I’ve always wanted to do (win on the European Tour), and now I have. It’s been a bit of a shock, but it feels great. Dug deep in 2019 and got my card back, and this year obviously with what has gone on, I’m happy to win. I changed caddies this year – I try not to change caddies at all, really. Changed caddies this year to try to help me on the greens more. I’ve done that with Sam (Robertshawe), he’s a great green reader with his own method. I’ve trusted him and he’s basically taught me how to read greens better."

Flying Finns in Cyprus

Samooja was not the only Finnish star to make an impact at the top of the leaderboard as Sami Välimäki registered his third top 20 finish in his last five events to climb up to 15th on the 2020 Race to Dubai standings with a sixth placed finish. Välimäki already has a European Tour win to his name when he claimed the 2020 Oman Open on only his sixth start as he edged out Brandon Stone in a play-off. For Samooja, he climbs up to the 36th in the Race to Dubai ladder following his best result on the European Tour in an impressive season which has seen him claim a top ten finish at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and a tie for third at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Donaldson rolls back the years

Jamie Donaldson has been in fine form since the resumption of golf in July following the four month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic and he produced his best result of the season in Cyprus. The 2014 Ryder Cup star, who held a one shot lead with 18 holes remaining for the first time in seven years, eventually came in a tie for third in Paphos to rack up his fifth top 15 finish in his last ten starts. You deserve a rest, Jamie!

Somehow no ace in the pack

There was not a hole-in-one during the week but that was not without close encounters. The fifth was inviting plenty of birdies on Saturday with the slope bringing the ball towards the hole but David Drysdale did not need the slope for his. What a shot.

Ahead on the seventh, Jordan Smith was also taking the direct route on Saturday. Sort out that pitch mark, Jordan.

And Donaldson could not get any closer without landing in the cup at the same hole during the final round on Sunday.

Golf is cruel

Having the ability to attack the pin is something all golfers aim to do. But who would want to be a professional golfer when this happens? A penny for Shubhankar Sharma and Robert MacIntyre's thoughts.

Stunning scenery in Cyprus

After the cold and autumnal conditions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England in recent weeks, the players enjoyed a bit of late year sunshine in Paphos. In addition to the welcomed heat, Aphrodite Hills Resort also showcased the stunning scenery of Cyprus in the first European Tour event to be held in the country. Shall we stay here for another week? Go on then!