Harrington on a roll; Hoey cashes in
Ashun Wu. Picture: Getty Images
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.
Three strokes behind Wood starting the day, three-time major winner Harrington was just two shots off the pace with ten holes to go but had to settle for fifth place, three shots behind the winner on 13-under par after a closing 68.
While the Dubliner birdied the par-five 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 made history by becoming 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.
But the six feet six inch former 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 to 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 to back top-five finishes for the first time since late 2009 when was fourth in Dubai and third in Tiger Woods' Chevron World Challenge two weeks later in a brilliant latter half of that season.
Ranked first for greens hit in regulation in the Netherlands, he 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 professional debut on a sponsor's invitation
Liam Johnston. Picture: Phil Inglis
Hoey makes a move in Kazakhstan
On the Challenge Tour, Michael Hoey moved to 18th in the rankings and to within €14,102 of the top 15 who 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. Scores
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 €72,000 winner’s cheque by two shots from Tom Murray on 24-under, catapulting him from 40th to fourth in the rankings to all but secure his European Tour card with just four events of the season 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 also shot two-under yesterday.
Road to Ras Al Khaimah Rankings
1 Joachim B. HANSEN DEN 16 177,231
2 Sebastian SODERBERG SWE 16 125,865
3 Kim KOIVU FIN 14 121,261
4 Liam JOHNSTON SCO 14 111,656
5 Stuart MANLEY WAL 18 111,582
6 Lorenzo GAGLI ITA 6 110,483
7 Jack SINGH BRAR ENG 14 103,193
8 Adri ARNAUS ESP 18 92,894
9 Kalle SAMOOJA FIN 16 89,300
10 David LAW SCO 19 87,142
11 Tom MURRAY ENG 17 86,066
12 Tom LEWIS ENG 9 85,652
13 Pedro FIGUEIREDO POR 17 79,683
14 Grant FORREST SCO 16 77,391
15 Dimitrios PAPADATOS AUS 13 76,795
18 Michael HOEY NIR 17 62,693
57 Ruaidhri MCGEE IRL 13 31,294
67 Cormac SHARVIN NIR 18 27,716
75 Gavin MOYNIHAN IRL 11 24,014
79 Jonathan CALDWELL NIR 17 21,680
110 Gary HURLEY IRL 14 13,243
145 Dermot MCELROY NIR 11 7,942
200 Stuart GREHAN IRL 6 3,124
257 Neil O'BRIAIN IRL 6 1,179
260 Chris SELFRIDGE NIR 3 1,117
266 Paul MCBRIDE IRL 8 846
274 Jack HUME IRL 3 629
275 JR GALBRAITH NIR 4 621
278 Conor O'ROURKE IRL 4 576
293 Kevin PHELAN IRL 1 360
McGovern best of the Irish in Scottish Seniors; Clarke in the pack in Michigan
On the Staysure Tour, Gary Orr became the first home winner of the Scottish Senior Open since Sam Torrance in 2006 after he closed 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. Scores
On the PGA Tour Champions, Darren Clarke closed with a one-under 71 in The Ally Challenge in Michigan to tied for 46th on two-under.
England’s Paul Broadhurst closed with a 66 to win by two strokes from Brandt Job on 15-under par. Scores
