Harrington has to settle for another top-five finish as Wu claims third win
PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON recorded back-to-back top-five finishes for the first time in nine years as China’s Ashun Wu denied Chris Wood the KLM Open at The Dutch.
Just three strokes behind Wood starting the day, three-time Major winner Harrington was just two shots off the pace with 10 holes to go had to settle for fifth place, three shots behind the winner on 13-under par after a closing 68.
While the Dubliner birdied the parfive 14th and 18th coming home, he was left to rue a missed five-footer for par at the 11th having just followed a bogey at the ninth with a two at the 10th to get to within two shots of the lead.
With Harrington failing to take outside birdie chances at the 12th, 13th and 14th, the event became a head to head between Wood and Wu, who became the first Chinese player to win three times on the European Tour.
One shot behind Wood starting the day, Wu (33) found himself three behind when Wood birdied the 10th and 11th. However, the former 6ft 6in Ryder Cup star hit his tee shot into water at the 12th and made a double bogey and while he bounced back with a birdie at the next, he could only par his way home.
Wu birdied the 14th and 15th to draw level, then saved pars at the 16th and 17th before hitting a stunning utility wood to 15 feet at the 18th. That set up a two-putt birdie for a closing 67 that set the target at 16-under.
Needing a birdie at the 18th to force a play-off, Wood raced his long-range eagle putt off the other side of the green and then missed the 15-foot return putt, carding a 69 to finish second for the third time this season.
“I am gutted,” Wood said. “I just hung in there all day and hit a couple of bad shots, but apart from two tee shots, I didn’t really miss a shot today.
“Although I know I’m still trying to make a lot of changes with my swing, this is tough to take at the minute.”
Harrington made six birdies and three bogeys as he recorded back-toback top-five finishes for the first time since late 2009 – when he was fourth in Dubai and third in Tiger Woods’ Chevron World Challenge two weeks later.
He now heads for this week’s Portugal Masters, scene of his most recent win in 2016, where he’s joined by Paul Dunne, Shane Lowry and Tramore’s Robin Dawson, who will make his pro debut on a sponsor’s invitation
On the Challenge Tour, Michael Hoey moved to 18th in the rankings and to within €14,102 of the top 15 who are awarded European Tour cards at
the end of the season after he picked up €16,875 for his share of fifth in the Kazakhstan Open
A five-time European Tour winner, Hoey (39) closed with a four-under 68 to finish six shots behind Scotland’s Liam Johnston.
Johnston (25) fired a five-under 67 to win the €72,000 winner’s cheque by two shots from Tom Murray on 24-under, catapulting him from 40th to fourth in the rankings and all but securing his European Tour card with just four events remaining.
Gavin Moynihan, who had an albatross two in a third round 65, signed off with a 70 to tie for 20th on 14-under, with Jonny Caldwell tied 33rd and Cormac Sharvin tied 53rd after they shot two-under yesterday.
On the Staysure Tour, Gary Orr became the first home winner of the Scottish Senior Open since Sam Torrance in 2006 after closing with a 76 to win by one stroke from England’s Paul Streeter on four-under par at Craigielaw.
Brendan McGovern was the best of the Irish, tied for 22nd on five-over after a 72, with Des Smyth a shot further back after a 75.
On the PGA Tour Champions, Darren Clarke closed with a one-under 71 in The Ally Challenge in Michigan to finish in the bottom half of the field on two-under.