Karlsson wins but misses record

Robert Karlsson has wrapped up the Wales Open title although a stumbling performance in the final round prevented the Swede breaking…

Robert Karlsson has wrapped up the Wales Open title although a stumbling performance in the final round prevented the Swede breaking  the 72-hole European Tour record.

Karlsson had broken the 36 and 54-hole records as he marched to a six-shot lead going into the final day.

But his closing two-over-par 71 for a 16-under-par 260 aggregate, three strokes better than Briton Paul Broadhurst, was two shots worse than the record four-round total.

Even with his less than convincing finale, Karlsson had plenty to be happy about in a 464,000 dollars victory, his sixth on the European Tour.

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It was his first success in nearly four years and his 364,352 points for winning hauled him into ninth place on Europe's Ryder Cup table, of which 10 qualify automatically in September.

The Northern Irish duo of Graeme McDowell and Michael Hoey led a strong challenge and finished on seven-under and six-under respectively.

David Higgins and Peter Lawrie finished on four-under-par.