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Ewen Ferguson went wire-to-wire at last year’s ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics as he won his second DP World Tour title.
The Scotsman, who secured a maiden victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in March, held off the challenge of close friend Connor Syme and Spaniard Borja Virto as he carded a final round one under par 69 to win by three strokes.
The 26-year-old led from the front after setting a new course record of 61, nine under par, at Galgorm Castle Golf Club in the first round of the innovative event, but it was a gutsy final day performance that saw him over the line. He played the front nine level par after two birdies and two bogeys and then parred his final eight holes after his third gain of the day on the tenth to reach 12 under.
With the victory, he became the first Scotsman since Paul Lawrie in 2012 to win multiple times on the DP World Tour in a single season.
“It feels unbelievable,” said Ferguson.
“Just can’t believe how calm I was out there today. I think I couldn’t have worked out any better playing with Connor. I felt although I played with him the first two days and he was playing so, so good, and I felt he was my main rival for the day, so managing to play with him and hold each other off and keep up with each other was so good. Just can’t believe I’m a winner again.
In the women’s event Sweden’s Maja Stark carded course record ten under par 63 as she stormed to a five-stroke victory, earning her first LPGA Tour title and third win of the year.
The 22-year-old began the day two shots behind overnight leader Amanda Doherty but got off to a sensational start with birdies on the first, third, fifth and sixth.
Stark rolled in two more back-to-back on eight and nine to make the turn in 31 (-6), but the Swedish star didn’t stop there.
From holes 12 through to 14 she rolled in three birdies consecutively before making another on the 17th and despite finding the water on the last, Stark made the up-and-down for par to win with a total of 20-under-par.
“I don’t think it’s landed yet,” said the five-time LET winner. “I was just feeling so nervous. All day, I just kind of reminded myself to be calm and just take it one shot at a time, but it’s been easier said than done.”
