GOLF: HOME FAVOURITE Bernd Wiesberger snatched victory with a superb seven-under-par last round of 65 in the Lyoness open in Austria on Saturday. The 26-year-old from Vienna caught the long-time leader Thorbjorn Olesen with a burst of four birdies in five holes around the turn and then took the lead with two more birdies at the 15th and 16th.
He finished with a spectacular 50-foot putt on the final green for a 19-under-par total at Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg – only an hour away from his home. Shane Lowry posted a final-round 66 to share second place with Frenchman Thomas Levet two shots back. Lowry’s efforts netted him a cheque for €86,855.
Dane Olesen, who had led since midway through a rain-hit second round, slumped to a 74 to leave him a further two shots adrift in fifth place, one behind Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg.
Victory saw Wiesberger become the second Austrian to win his national open after Markus Brier in 2006. It came just three months after his first European Tour victory at the Ballantine’s Championship.
Any doubts over whether Wiesberger could hang on to his lead were dispelled at the 17th when his mishit tee shot clattered into a tree but then bounced into short semi-rough to leave him an angle to the green to save his par.
A jubilant Wiesberger said the victory had made it “the best day of my life so far”.
“It seems like it went my way, especially the last two holes,” he added. “I had such a great country and such great fans backing me. I’m very proud to be following in such big footsteps [as Brier]. I’m sure I’m not going to be the last home winner.
“When José Manuel Lara holed a similar putt to win the tournament two years ago, I always imagined I’d have a putt like that to win here. I actually said that to my caddie walking up the 18th hole, and when it went in, I just couldn’t believe it.”
Lowry, who picked up eight shots in his last 13 holes for a 66, was delighted with his play in the final round. “After an awful start I’m delighted with how I fought back,” he said.
“I was two over after five holes, but then managed to go eagle-birdie-birdie, which really got my round back on track. I’ve played lovely all week, and today was no different – I just wish I was playing again next week. Still, a holiday in Portugal’s not a bad consolation.”
Olesen started the day with a three shot advantage, and promptly extended it to four with a birdie at the third hole.
But as the Dane parred his next ten holes, he was caught first by Levet and then Wiesberger, who after a quiet start to his final round almost holed his tee shot on the par three ninth hole, then sunk a 12-footer at the tenth, a 15-footer at the 12th and pitched to two feet on the 13th.
Olesen missed the green at the 14th and had his first bogey for 35 holes, allowing Wiesberger to hit the front with a five foot putt at the 15th, before leaving himself half that distance for birdie at the next.
Levet had a costly bogey on the 17th while Olesen faded to fifth with two closing bogeys.
Damien McGrane finished in joint 26th place following a disappointing closing 74 for a six-under tally and David Higgins finished down the field after his closing round of 75.
