SHANGHAI, April 26 (Xinhua) — Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger captured the Volvo China Open on Sunday for his first DP World Tour title in five years, beating former champion Adrian Otaegui by three strokes in a final-round dual at the national championship.
Paired together in the final group at Enhance Anting Golf Club, Wiesberger held steady to close with a bogey-free round of four-under 67, while Otaegui, the 2024 champion who led by three strokes at the turn, stumbled down the stretch to an even-par 71.
Wiesberger finished on 19-under 265 at the tournament, a DP World Tour and China Tour co-sponsored event. The victory was worth 467,500 U.S. dollars.
An emotional Wiesberger said the last few years had been difficult for him on the golf course. Now he was in a “really good place personally” with the support of family, friends and many others who were watching at home in Austria.
“It was just as much for them this week as it is for myself. It was nice to prove to myself that I can still be in the winner’s circle after a few years away from it,” he said.
China’s Wu Ashun, a two-time Volvo China Open winner, played steady during his title defence but never really challenged during the week. His final round featured five birdies and two bogeys.
“It was a good week. I’m really happy to come back to defend my title,” said the 40-year-old Xiamen native who had nothing but praise for the role the tournament played in the development of Chinese golfers.
“In 31 years, it has improved a lot of Chinese golfers. They can see how good they are. They can see which part of the game they need to improve and play against such great golfers here. It helps a lot of Chinese players to go into international tour. Maybe next year another Chinese player will win the tournament,” Wu said. ■
