Wiesberger cruises to 1st European Tour title
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Austria's Bernd Wiesberger posted a four-under 68 on Sunday and cruised to his maiden European Tour victory at the Ballantine's Championship.
Wiesberger, who led after the second and third rounds, finished at 18-under 270 and won by a whopping five strokes at Blackstone Golf Club.
After two victories in 2010 on the European Challenge Tour, Wiesberger posted two runner-ups in his rookie season last year, including a playoff loss at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Now, the 26-year-old Wiesberger is a European Tour winner.
"I just tried to enjoy it and I had the three best rounds of my life," said Wiesberger. "I tried not to make bogeys and I did that pretty well, it was awesome."
Richie Ramsay fired a seven-under 65 on Sunday to take second at 13-under par.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Victor Dubuisson, the first-round leader, shot a six-under 66 in the final round and shared third place with Marcus Fraser, who carded a two-under 70. The pair finished at 11-under 277.
Miguel Angel Jimenez posted a three-under 69 on Sunday and tied for fifth place with Anthony Wall, who had a five-under 67. They came in at 10-under 278.
Wiesberger began the final round with a five-shot cushion and parred his first four holes on Sunday. He broke into red figures with a six-foot birdie putt at the par-five fifth.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Armed with a huge lead, Wiesberger cruised. He parred nine in a row around the turn and the closest anyone got to Wiesberger was three when Ramsay birdied the 16th.
Wiesberger, who missed the green at 12, but made a great save, extended his lead back to four thanks to an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-five 15th hole.
At the par-three 16th, Wiesberger hit his tee ball to 20 feet and poured in the birdie putt. After a par at 17, and a Ramsay birdie at 18, his lead was four on the final tee.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Wiesberger polished off his huge victory with a 15-footer for birdie at the last.
"My game plan was to hit as many greens as possible and try to make putts, and they dropped in the end," said Wiesberger. "I didn't get nervous, I had three or four shots. There was a pretty shaky moment at 12 but I made a great chip and a putt for par, but I just tried to enjoy it the last three or four holes in.
"I fly home tonight, I'm pretty sure I'll have a shot of Ballantine's in the Emirates lounge."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ross Fisher (66), George Coetzee (66), Alexander Noren (69), Felipe Aguilar (71) and former European Ryder Cupper Paul McGinley (70) tied for seventh at minus-nine.
NOTES: World No. 12 Adam Scott, the highest-ranked player in the field, fired a 65 on Sunday and vaulted into a tie for 12th at eight-under par...Ian Poulter and former PGA Champion Y.E. Yang tied for 15th at seven-under...The European Tour moves to Spain next week for the Reale Seguros Open de Espana in Seville, where Thomas Aiken will defend his title.