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Wiegele second Austrian to win

EUROPEAN TOUR:Martin Wiegele became only the second Austrian to win a European Tour event with a two-shot victory at the Saint-Omer Open yesterday.

The Austrian, a winner on home soil two weeks ago on the Challenge Tour, shot a three-under-par 68 to finish with a seven-under total of 277.

That was two better than a group of five players tied for second: Sweden’s Pelle Edberg, France’s Raphaël Jacquelin and the English trio of Matt Haines, Robert Dinwiddie and Jamie Elson all finishing five under.

Wiegele birdied his first two holes at Aa Saint Omer, and another gain at the ninth took him to the turn in 33 without dropping a shot.

“This victory is just incredible – it’s what I’ve always dreamt of since I started playing golf as a little boy,” said Wiegele.

Not only does it secure a €100,000 winner’s cheque, but also an exemption on The full Tour until the end of 2011.

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR:South African Lee-Anne Pace shot a final-round 68 to claim her maiden victory on the Ladies European Tour at the Swiss Open yesterday.

Pace started two shots behind England’s Georgina Simpson but ended up a shot ahead of Scotland’s Vikki Laing with Simpson a further stroke back in third. The 29-year-old from Mossel Bay won with a total of 12-under-par 204 after rounds of 69, 67 and 68.

Rebecca Coakley shot a final 73 to finish on two-under-par 214.

SENIOR TOUR:South African John Bland claimed his third European Senior Tour title with a one-shot victory in Wales Seniors Open at Royal Porthcawl.

The 64-year-old carded a one-under-par 71 to see off Paraguayan Angel Franco in dramatic fashion. The pair were neck and neck at eight under after 16 holes, but Franco, three groups ahead of Bland, bogeyed the 18th and then the South African birdied the par five 17th to give himself some breathing space coming up the last.

It proved crucial, as Bland found a bunker from the 18th tee and ended up with a bogey.

Bland’s compatriot Chris Williams took a share of second after a 72, but overnight leader Bob Cameron capitulated on the back nine, carding four straight bogeys and two double bogeys for a 78.

Eamonn Darcy was best of the Irish but his challenge for the title disappeared in a final-round 79.