Matt Wallace might have come up short at the Italian Open, but he did break the course record in the second round. After securing the $40,000 Nexo Course Record Award, Wallace pledged to donate the bonus to Circolo Golf Torino's junior golf program.

Wallace carded a 62 on Friday and broke the course record of 63 that had been set just the previous day by Edoardo Molinari, playing on his home course at Circolo Golf Torino.

The gesture carried extra significance as Circolo Golf Torino is Molinari's home club, where he learned the game and continues to represent the club today.

"If I do keep it, here is something. I asked my manager if I could do it this morning. Edoardo (Molinari) had a great round on the first day, and it's his home club. I will donate a bit towards him and the golf club for the juniors here, if we do keep it!" said Wallace in a video posted by the DP World Tour on X.

Wallace took home the US$40,000 Nexo Course Record Award on Sunday and expressed his wish to donate it. It came on the back of 10 birdies and a bogey in a superb 62 in the second round.

Wallace chipped in on the 9th, his final hole, and overshadowed Europe’s Ryder Cup vice captain, Molinari. He joked that he might have hurt his Ryder Cup chances.

“I’m not doing my Ryder Cup many favours, am I?” he said. “I should have just two-putted it or something.”

Jokes aside, Wallace’s donation will certainly be appreciated by the European vice captain, who loves his home club.

In the first two rounds, Wallace went toe-to-toe with Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, who led the Open d'Italia at the halfway stage.

However, by the end, the leaderboard looked very different.

How things unfolded on the weekend at the Italian Open

Niemann fell back with a third-round 71, while Wallace stayed in contention with a 67. However, Eugenio Chacarra seized control with a 65 to take a two-stroke lead into Sunday, and he never looked back.

"I'm feeling great, winning's always fun but that's what we work for. I'm very proud of myself. It was a good fight, two world-class players - probably two of the best players in the world,” said Chacarra, as reported by DP World Tour.

Chacarra shot a bogey-free 64 on Sunday, enough for a five-shot victory over Wallace at 24 under. Wallace, on the other hand, scored 67 and was unable to close the gap.

Niemann finished third after posting a score of 68 on the final day.

What are your thoughts on Wallace’s initiative? Share them in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav