A superb hat-trick of birdies saw Frenchman Gregory Bourdy win the Wales Open on Sunday and claim the first points in the race to qualify for next year’s Ryder Cup.
Bourdy birdied the last three holes at Celtic Manor in Newport to leave the US’ Peter Uihlein in second place, after bogeying the last in vain pursuit of a birdie of his own that would have forced a playoff.
Uihlein had started the final day three shots clear of Bourdy and his compatriot Thomas Levet, but fell two behind after dropping two shots over the first 10 holes.
He regained the lead with a birdie at 15 after Bourdy dropped shots on 13 and 14, only for the Frenchman to hole a 40-foot birdie putt on the 16th and then sink another from 12 feet on the penultimate hole.
Uihlein responded with a long birdie putt of his own on the 17th, but although Bourdy looked in trouble on the par-five 18th, he sank a 30-foot putt to complete a dazzling 67 and finish on eight under par.
Uihlein could not match his feat, knocking an attempted birdie putt six feet past the hole and then missing with his return.
He still finished second on six under par, with Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen a shot further back after a closing round of 66.
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