China’s Ashun Wu has claimed his second European Tour title after winning the Lyoness Open powered by Sporthilfe Cashback Card by a single shot.
The 30 year old, whose previous victory came at the Volvo China Open last year, finished the week on 13 under after carding a closing 69 on Sunday.
Spain’s Adrian Otaegui finished second on 12 under, with Englishman Richard McEvoy another stroke back after dropping his only shot of the day at the 18th.
Beginning the day one shot behind overnight leader Zander Lombard, Wu opened his round with a birdie at the first to join the South African at the top of the leaderboard.
Wu grabbed the outright lead when he tapped in his birdie putt at the third, and despite hitting a tree branch with his second shot, he made a remarkable birdie at the fourth to extend his advantage to two strokes.
The 30 year old dropped a shot at the fifth but finished his back nine with a flourish, carding back-to-back birdies from the eighth to move to 14 under par and go three clear at the top of the leaderboard.
But after taking a penalty drop when his second shot went over the back of the green, Wu carded a double bogey at the tenth to slip to 12 under and see his lead over nearest challengers McEvoy and Otaegui reduced to one shot.
Wu then missed his eight foot par putt at the 11th to create a three-way tie at the top, before slipping into second place when McEvoy birdied the 13th.
A birdie at the 13th moved Wu back into a share of the lead before another gain two holes later saw him stand alone at the top of the leaderboard.
Otaegui fired a birdie at the 16th to join Wu at the top of the pile but after the Spaniard dropped a shot at the next, pars at the final three holes were enough for the 30 year old to secure the trophy.
Wu was thrilled to win the tournament. He said: ‘I am very happy right now. It was a very exciting finish and I still cannot believe it, but my playing partners were really good today and the scores were very close.
‘At the tenth and 11th holes I just played two bad shots. I still kept working after that to do my best to make birdies and I did that. I just kept focused over the last putt and I talked to my caddie and he said, “it’s no problem, it’s an easy line so just putt it in the hole.”
‘It’s been my first time playing in Austria and the course was very good this week. The sponsors have been great and I have had some Chinese friends here supporting me so I must thank them all.’
Otaegui started the day two shots behind Lombard but moved up to 11 under courtesy of birdies at the third and sixth holes.
A phenomenal par save at the 13th kept the 23 year old, who led after Thursday’s first round, in contention, before successive birdies at the 15th and 16th handed Otaegui a share of the lead.
But after dropping his first shot of an otherwise flawless final round at the 17th, he had to settle for second place.
McEvoy reached the turn in 33 after picking up three birdies in his opening five holes. Another gain at the 13th saw him briefly take the lead, but he bogeyed the last to post a 69.
‘I gave myself a lot of chances today, played very solid again,’ said McEvoy. ‘I think the green at the last was only the second I missed all day. I’m disappointed but at the same time, there are a lot of positives to take from this week.
‘My game is coming together and everything is going in the right direction to keep competing at the highest level. That’s two top tens in the last three weeks, which has been great so there is a lot to look forward to for the rest of the year.’
Fellow Englishman James Morrison was another shot back on ten under after mixing seven birdies with three bogeys on Sunday, while Lombard’s 74 saw him finish fifth on nine under.
Last year’s champion Chris Wood was among the large group on eight under after producing a four-under-par 68 in his final round.
From europeantour.com
