Australian Brett Rumford has won back-to-back European Tour titles, claiming the China Open by four shots on Sunday. Rumford is the first Australian to win consecutive titles on the Tour since Jack Newton in 1972, and the victories have catapulted him to the top of the Race to Dubai standings. It was the first time any player had followed up a title with another one the following week on the Tour since Branden Grace&aposs brilliant start to the 2012 campaign handed him titles at the Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions. Rumford finished solidly with a four-under 68 to card 16-under overall – to be well clear of runner-up Mikko Ilonen of Finland (12 under). He had shots up his sleeve in the dying stages too, as he went well clear with birdies from 12 through 14 before bogeying 15 and 17 to ease his way to the finish line. “As last week I&aposm kind of speechless,” Rumford said. “I don&apost know what to say – a couple in a row, it&aposs quite surreal. “It&aposs the first time I have played the week after a win.” Frenchman Victor Dubuisson was outright third, finishing with a 68 to be 11-under overall, while Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen was 10 under in fourth spot. Tied for fifth were Portugal&aposs Ricardo Santos and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal – level on nine under – with Andreas Harto (seventh) and Felipe Aguilar, Paul Casey, Thomas Bjorn and Joost Luiten (tied eighth) rounding out the top 10. Further to Rumford&aposs success, Australian Aaron Townsend finished tied for 14th – marking back-to-back top-20 results for the 31-year-old, after finishing 19th at the Perth International in October last year.
Author: Omnisport