Jose Manuel Lara wins the Austrian Open
It was a regular birdie-fest in the final round of the Austrian Open Sunday. But in the end, it was a par that decided the winner.
Jose Manuel Lara of Spain triumphed over Englishman David Lynn on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off in the final round of the European Tour event at the Diamond Country Club in
Atzenbrugg, Austria.
Lara, 33, finished the day with a two-putt par on the play-off hole while Lynn failed to convert a 15-footer for par that would have extended play.
It was the second European Tour victory for Lara, who won the Hong Kong Open in 2007.
But it was during regulation play when the two players really heated up. They combined to make 17 birdies on the day, with Lara carding 10 and Lynn making seven.
Both players finished at 17-under-par for the tournament. It was a come-from-behind victory for Lara, who posted an eight-under-par final round of 64, including a 35-foot bomb for birdie
on the 18th to force the play-off.
Lynn, who entered the final round tied for the lead, shot a final round 68.
The result has to be encouraging for the Spaniard, who had missed nine straight cuts on tour before a fourth-place finish at the KLM Open last week in Holland.
Lara won $163,000 for his victory, which should vault him from 139th on the money list to within the top 115, where players are guaranteed their tour cards for next season.
“I have missed too many cuts in the past two years,” said Lara after the victory. “After playing so poorly, I could not imagine I could play so well as I have done all this week here in
Austria.”
He hopes his solid play will continue and be good enough for him to participate in the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
“Now I would like to climb into the top 60 and make the Dubai World Championship at the end of the year,” he said.
Three men finished in a tie for third at 14-under, including Englishman Danny Willett, Swede Alexander Noren, and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, who won this year’s U.S. Open.
It was the first tournament after a five-week break for McDowell, who showed promising signs with his third-place finish. He will be a key member of the European squad for the upcoming
Ryder Cup matches in early October.
Tags: