bjorn Olesen has triumphed at the ISPS Handa Perth International with a three stroke victory over Victor Dubuisson at Lake Karrinyup.
Olesen’s final round of 71 was enough to hold off a late charge from the Frenchman, who put the pressure on the Dane on the back nine getting within one stroke of the lead with 5 to play.
Dubuisson racked off 4 birdies in 5 holes as Olesen bogeyed two in three, but Olesen held his nerve with birdies on 13 and 15, and closing with three pars on the difficult 16th, 17th and 18th holes.
“I got off to a bad start there on the back nine” said Olesen at the Press conference.
“I saw I was only the one shot ahead, so I knew I had to play some good golf coming in if I wanted to win.
I knew the last three holes were very tough, so I was trying to think about just making a couple birdies on the next three or four holes and give myself a little lead.”
With the difficult closing holes looming, Olesen credited his performance, especially on the greens, in the preceding holes.
“I think 13, 14, 15, when I made those three putts in a row was the big one. 14, that up and down, especially right after I birdied, I wanted to keep it going with a good par. It was very important.”
Olesen’s win in Perth is his second on the European tour, making him the youngest Dane to win two European Tour events at 24 years of age.
“It’s a great feeling. It was very emotional out there. It was up and down and I didn’t play my best golf, but I kept fighting and made some great putts there in the end.”
WA’s Stephen Dartnall and Victoria’s Matt Griffin were the best placed Australians, tying for fourth palace at 11-under earning cheques of $62,530.
It’s been a great two weeks for Dartnall, with back to back top 5 finishes at the WA Open, where he finished second, and Perth International.
Darnall’s round was highlighted by an almost-albatross on the 11th hole. Dartnall’s approach rolled just past the pin, leaving him a tap in for eagle.
Griffin also has performed well on home soil this year, winning the Victorian Open and the KPGA Championship on the Korean Tour.