Brilliant Bjork claims maiden win in Beijing

AFP

Alexander Bjork won his first European Tour title in stunning fashion after carding a 7-under-par 65 to emerge from a packed China Open field in a dramatic final round yesterday.

“I can’t describe the emotions. I’m really, really happy,” said the Swede, who entered the day at the Topwin Golf and Country Club a shot off the pace and was part of a six-way tie for the lead at one point before winning by two strokes at 18-under.

“I’m really proud of the way I played today,” added the world No. 112.

The 27 year-old will now leap into the top 10 in the European Tour Race to Dubai and as high as 72nd in the world today after receiving a bumper check for US$525,000 at the US$3.2-million event co-sanctioned by Asian Tour on his 44th European Tour start.

Jordan Smith earlier signed for a brilliant 64 to set the clubhouse target at 16 under, but Bjork took the lead on his own for the first time with a birdie on 15 after a classy up-and-down from a sand trap.

Spaniard Adrian Otaegui joined him in top spot but another birdie on the 17 left Bjork with an nervous clubhouse wait at 18-under 270.

A three-putt on the 17th from Otaegui left him two behind and when he and fellow overnight leader Matt Wallace both failed to make eagles at the par-5 18th Bjork was able to celebrate.

Spain’s Otaegui did make a birdie at 18 to take second place on his own at 17-under. Fellow Spaniard Jorge Campillo shared third at 16-under with the English pair of Smith and Wallace.

The 27-year-old Bjork first hit the front with a stunning approach to the opening hole and further birdies on two par-5s, the fourth and eighth, plus another at the 11th left him 1 behind Smith who stormed to the top of the leaderboard after a flawless round featuring 8 birdies.

Otaegui holed a brilliant downhill sweeping 25-foot left-to-righter on the second to get his final-round 67 going.