Wiesberger wins in his native Austria

Wiesberger played the last 10 holes in 7-under par on Saturday, including a
back-nine 30. He signed for a 65 and won the title at 19-under 269, which was
good for a 3-stroke victory.

The win was Wiesberger’s second on the European Tour and second this season.
He cruised to a 5-shot victory at the Ballantine’s Championship. He finished
fifth last year at his country’s only tour stop.

“I think this is going to be the best day of my life,” Wiesberger said in a
televised interview. “It’s amazing to win in front of the home crowd.”

Shane Lowry shot a 6-under 66 and shared second place with Thomas Levet, who
managed a 4-under 66. The pair finished at 16-under par.

Rikard Karlberg birdied the 18th Saturday for a 2-under 70. He came in fourth
at minus-15.

Third-round leader Thorbjorn Olesen was four clear of Wiesberger with nine to
play, but made three bogeys on the back side and shot a 2-over 72. Olesen, who
finished ninth at the Open Championship last week, came in fifth at 14-under
274.

Wiesberger began the final round four behind Olesen and that’s what the margin
was when they made the turn. Wiesberger made two birdies, including a tap-in
at nine, and a bogey, but scorched the back nine at Diamond Country Club.

He birdied the par-5 10th for the fourth time this week, then rattled off
back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13. That birdie at 13 got him to 16-under par
and just off the lead, which was shared by Olesen and Levet.

Olesen fell off the pace at 14. He missed the green at the 14th and had a
thick lie. He chopped it to 35 feet, but his par save stayed above ground.

Olesen fell to 16-under par and Wiesberger moved into a share of first with
Levet when his 4-footer for birdie landed in the hole at the 15th.

Wiesberger took sole possession of the lead at the 16th. He stiffed his
approach to three feet and canned the birdie effort to move to 18-under par.

The 17th proved to be crucial.

Olesen’s drive headed toward the trees, but struck one and the ball bounced
back into the fairway. He knocked his approach to 10 feet, but missed the
birdie putt.

He managed to extend his lead thanks to Levet. The Frenchman, who missed
birdie chances inside four feet at 11 and six feet at 15, couldn’t find the
green at 17. Levet’s chip stopped 10 feet from the hole and his par putt
didn’t drop.

Wiesberger walked to the 18th with a 2-shot lead over Levet and Lowry, who was
in the clubhouse at 16-under par.

Levet had some trouble on the hole and needed to make a miraculous chip for
birdie to have any chance. He didn’t, but made par.

Wiesberger had three putts from 35 feet for the title, but he took all of the
drama out of it. He rolled in the long putt for his second title of the
season.

Wiesberger became the second Austrian to win this title. Markus Brier first
won in 2002 and hoisted the trophy two more times after that.

“I’m very proud to be in such big footsteps,” Wiesberger said on TV. “It’s
nice we can produce home winners. I’m sure I’m not going to be the last one.”

Chris Doak (68) and Benjamin Hebert (71) shared sixth at minus-13, followed by
Scott Jamieson (68) and Richard Bland (72), who tied for eighth at 12-under
par.

NOTES: Wiesberger joined Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace as multiple
winners this year on tour…Last year’s winner, Kenneth Ferrie, shot a 2-over
74 on Saturday and tied for 53rd at 1-under par…Next on the European Tour
schedule is the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which was won last year by Adam
Scott.