Find Me A 100 Winner / Paul Krishnamurty / 18 September 2007 / Leave a Comment

One day this Alexander will be great...so get on him now whilst he trades at three figures

Of the many shock winners either side of the Atlantic in 2007, none came bigger than Pablo Martin Benavides in the Estoril Open.

The Portugese youngster made history by becoming the first amateur ever to win on the European Tour. I'd love to say I had prior knowledge of his potential, but alas, his was just one of those names I'd seen momentarily on a leaderboard.

But while nobody picked up on him, there was a clue to his talent - Benavides had been the leading player in US college golf the previous year.

And by strange coincidence, the leader going into that final day in April was none other than his closest rival at Oklahoma State University, Alexander Noren.

Understandably for a rookie, Noren faltered under the pressure of carrying the lead, slumping to a disappointing 76. Since then though, the Swede has served notice that he is one of the best prospects in Europe, a surefire future winner and regular contender. In fact while Benavides has struggled to make an impact since (bar a fine effort in the US Open), Noren has continued to look a threat in Europe and looks well capable of breaking his duck in the near future. He's made the frame on two of his last five starts, finishing fifth in Germany and third in Holland. We can be confident that his final-round Estoril nightmare was just part of the learning curve - Noren proved he has the temperament to win last year on the Challenge Tour, where he finished third in the rankings.

And hows this for a good omen? This week's venue, The Belfry, has a history of proving the ideal launching pad for up-and-coming Swedish golfers. Back in 2001, Henrik Stenson arrived in the big-time when he won the B&H International Open here at odds of at least 200/1, and last year Johan Edfors opened his European Tour account at the same odds. Noren, at least as well established as either of his countrymen were, was available at 250 earlier today.

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