Dimitrios Papadatos has joined the higher echelons of golf as a multiple winner of the Vic Open.
The 30-year-old Sydneysider exhibited exceptional skills and calm tackling a tricky five-foot downhill putt on the final hole at 13th Beach on Sunday to claim a one-shot victory over New Zealander Ben Campbell.
The Greek gun completed a round of 66 to finish one shot clear of his opponent gaining a spot in the field at St Andrews for the 150th Open this year.
“It’s been a long time since my last win in Portugal four or five years ago and I wasn’t sure if I still had it in me,” Papadatos told reporters. “The Open is just an added bonus.
“I was obviously just trying to get the win today and that’s definitely the highlight. I’ll worry about the Open when it comes.”
Since his victory in 2018 at the Open de Portugal, Papadatos has had a challenging time recalibrating strengths and weaknesses as well as perfecting his swings.
“I wasn’t sure if I still had it in me,” he told Golf Australia. “My best isn’t usually very good anyway… I always struggle with the ball-striking so I’ve started to accept that a bit more and when I hit a bad shot, I don’t beat myself up over it.”
“It goes to show I didn’t fluke it the first time. I’m just so happy to be getting my game and playing well again.
“Winning in the final group – I did it once before at the NZ Open – it is definitely a different feeling. There’s a lot more pressure, expectation, the crowds are there. You know exactly what you’ve got to do so I’ll take a lot from that.”
