BERND Wiesberger was crowned the Shenzhen International champion after beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off at Genzon Golf Club.
The Austrian was in control heading into the final day in China, holding a three-shot lead, but could not have envisaged the kind of performance Fleetwood was to produce.
Eight shots behind at the start of his final round, the Englishman carded an excellent 63 to level with Wiesberger, who could only par the 18th, on 16 under to ensure another trip to the last hole in the rain. But Wiesberger held his nerve to secure a fourth European Tour victory in his 200th event, putting for birdie despite ending up in the bank after opting to take the risky line over the water off the tee.
The play-off victory was the first for in-form Wiesberger (right), who has not missed a cut since the US PGA Championship, in four attempts.
“I knew it was going to be hard, I knew I would have to shoot well under par to make it outright because the guys behind were all really playing well,” he said. “I just wanted to get off to a good start and show them that I’m up for it and I did, scrapped around a little bit, had a couple of near misses with good looks at it early on. It could have got to me but I stayed calm, played on decently.
“I had a big save on 12 there, a big one on 17 and I’m feeling a bit relieved now I have to say. I’ve had a stretch of really good events the last couple of months and it’s really nice to have a trophy again.
“I’m just grateful to make that one shot when I needed to.”
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