Bernd Wiesberger claimed a second Rolex Series title to make it a hat-trick of victories on the 2019 Race to Dubai at the Italian Open.
The Austrian started the day three shots behind overnight leader Matthew Fitzpatrick but carded a bogey free 65 to get to 16 under and beat the Englishman by one shot.
Wiesberger missed the last seven months of the 2018 season with a wrist injury and when he claimed his fifth European Tour victory at May’s Made in Denmark presented by FREJA, he was already one of the stories of the season.
His maiden Rolex Series triumph in a twilight play-off at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open moved him to the summit of the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex and he now returns there after joining Jon Rahm, Alex Noren, Justin Rose and Danny Willett as a multiple Rolex Series champion.
The 34-year-old also moves to a career high 22nd in the Official World Golf Ranking and boosts his chances of making a Ryder Cup debut in 2020.
‘It’s been a great summer for me,’ he said. ‘I’ve had a lot of good golf shown and a lot of progress after coming back from the last year.
‘I’ve won three times this year and it’s been the same every time, I’ve just really enjoyed my time and I’m positive to be back out there because I know how tough it was when I had to withdraw from these great events.
‘I’ve played really well in the right events in Ireland and the Scottish and here this week which helps getting up there in the Race to Dubai. I feel excited about what is ahead of us in these last four events.’
For Fitzpatrick, a fourth second place finish in 2019 moves him to fourth in the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex as he seeks to claim a sixth European Tour title and extend his run of winning seasons to five.
Erik van Rooyen and Justin Walters finished T10 with Jeunghun Wang, Andrea Pavan and Rory Sabbatini.
Walters rose 26 places on Sunday after his 65; a round that included just a single bogey. Van Rooyen needed an eagle at 15 and a fourth birdie of the tournament at 17 to finish his round at -1.
