Frittelli edges Kruger in Austria

SOUTH African Dylan Frittelli claimed his maiden European Tour title after producing a finalround 67 at the Austrian Open.

The Challenge Tour graduate carded six birdies and a single bogey yesterday to get to 12 under par and finish one shot clear of nearest challengers Mikko Korhonen, David Horsey and Jbe Kruger.

Austria has proved a happy hunting ground for Frittelli, who won his first Challenge Tour event there four years ago at the Karnten Golf Open. And after suffering playoff heartbreak in the China Open in April, the 27-year-old now has a European Tour title.

Frittelli began the day on seven under, two shots behind overnight leader Felipe Aguilar – who had led after each of the opening three rounds – but made gains at the first and third to grab a share of the lead.

He tapped in his close-range birdie putt at the fourth to take the outright lead, before safely parring the next four holes.

Frittelli was joined at the summit by Mikko Korhonen after he carded his fourth birdie of the day at the ninth, but the South African knocked in a 15 foot putt at the ninth to get to 11 under and go one shot clear.

And when Finland’s Korhonen dropped a shot at the 10th, Frittelli (pictured) was in possession of a twoshot lead. Frittelli gave himself a great birdie chance at the 10th but could not take it, missing his putt from two feet.

He did not let that close- range miss affect him though, rolling in an eightfoot birdie putt at the next before pulling off a good par save at the 13th.

Frittelli dropped his first shot of the day at the short 14th to sacrifice his outright lead and Kruger made back-to-back gains at the 15th and 16th to knock his countryman off the top of the leaderboard altogether.

But Frittelli fired his sixth birdie of the day at the 16th to get back to 12 under, before saving par from eight feet at the next.

With Kruger dropping a shot at the last, Frittelli stood at the 18th tee with a one-shot lead, and he knocked in his close-range par putt to secure the trophy.

Englishman Horsey, who matched the course record with a stunning 64 on Friday, posted the lowest round of the day once again yesterday – carding seven birdies and no bogeys in a flawless 65. –