Steven Alderson was left fighting back tears after claiming an emotional victory at the G4D Tour @ Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters to become the first autistic winner in G4D Tour history.
The Australian entered day two at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande with a two-shot lead but ended it with a nine-shot victory after a round of 70 left him at seven under.
Affectionately known as Spud, Alderson arrived at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande full of confidence having won the South Australian All Abilities Championship by three shots over the field at Kooyonga in late September.
The 1.4 handicapper is no stranger to big wins, announcing himself to a wider golf audience with victory in the 2020 South Australian Mid Amateur Men's Championship, and last year winning the Webex Players Series South Australia.
It has not been an easy journey for the 44-year-old and he was fighting back tears after claiming victory as he recalled suffering years of bullying due to his autism.
"I'm so proud," he said. "Just growing up as a kid and being bullied all the time at school and even bullied at other golf clubs, it just means the world. I'm on top the world, it's just amazing.
"Getting the opportunity to play out of the country representing not only Australia but representing the people back home, it's just awesome."
Alderson will now have another chance to travel the world after earning his place at the season-ending G4D Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, and he was quick to thank those who had helped him on his journey.
"I've got to thank mum and dad all the way," he said. "And my sponsors back in Willunga, Gully Winds Wine. A great couple Rob and Sarah, they're probably awake now, thank you.
"I've got to thank my caddie Trent (Blucher), without him this is not happening. And I've got to thank Willunga Golf Club as well back at home, just a great golf club to be a part of.
"It (Sotogrande) is a fantastic, fantastic golf course and the people here are just really friendly and inviting, it's a great country."
Alderson eagled the second and when he added three more birdies and a single bogey to get to nine under, he was romping home.
He needed a huge putt on the 15th to keep the damage to just a double-bogey and while he dropped a shot on the next, he birdied the 17th for an emphatic win.
"I've worked hard on my game the past couple of weeks and worked really hard in my practice round," he said. "We stuck to the game-plan even when we hit a couple of bad shots down the stretch.
"We just tried to get it back in play which didn't quite happen but one long putt helps. My caddie Trent has just been awesome all the way this week. Staying in the moment, especially when we had that double on that hole, Trent was really good because years ago I just would have blown up and probably broke a club or thrown my bag or something like that.
"It was really good to stay in the moment and stay positive and just try and get it out of the bunker and not rack up an eight or a nine. Holing that monster putt for double just makes it better.
"That was probably my most important putt in this tournament, it was more important than a birdie putt or my chip-in yesterday."
Italian Davide Fasci carded the round of the day with a 68 to share second with Frenchman Mathieu Lebon, who carded a 77.
The final event of the G4D Tour season will be the G4D Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship, taking place in Dubai from November 11-13.
Tickets for the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters are already available, with discounts for members of the federation (and their families/friends) and free access for children under 13, and can be purchased here.
The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, an event in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai made possible by the essential contribution of the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by the EU and was declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Government of Spain.
