Rumford romps to consecutive Asian victories

TIANJIN, China: Australia’s Brett Rumford eased to a second successive victory on the European Tour when he pulled away from the field to record a four-shot triumph at the China Open yesterday.
The 35-year-old, who won last week’s Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea in a playoff, had a much smoother ride at the Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club as he surged ahead of the chasing pack with six birdies over his first 14 holes.
A pair of bogeys on the closing holes made little difference as Rumford carded a four-under-par 68 for a 16-under 272 total, four clear of Finland’s Mikko Ilonen.
The Perth golfer’s fifth European Tour title took him to the top of the money list, a huge leap from his 138th position a fortnight back.
“As with last week I’m kind of speechless at the moment,” he told reporters at the co-sanctioned event.
“It’s quite surreal — it’s the first time I’ve actually played the week after a win so I’m more than pleased. It’s hard to get my head around it at the moment.”
Ilonen, who won the last of his two European Tour titles in 2007, has to wait longer to end his drought after mixing four birdies with three bogeys for a final round one-under 71. Ilonen, who finished ninth in Qatar and second in Morocco this season, cut Rumford’s lead to one after birdies on the 10th and 11th, but two bogeys on 13th and 14th dropped him back as the Australian went on a birdie spree.
France’s Victor Dubuisson finished third on 11-under while first-round leader Robert-Jan Derksen was fourth, a shot further back.

Wiesberger keeps Els at bay to win in Indonesia

In Jakarta Austrian Bernd Wiesberger held off the persistent challenge of South Africa’s Ernie Els to win the Indonesian Masters by one stroke on Sunday.
The 27-year-old hit a final round five-under-par 67 for a 15-under par total in the Asian Tour event held at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
British Open champion Els carded a 68 to finish second, while overnight leader Daisuke Kataoka of Japan slipped back to third, a shot further back after a final round 70.
“I was struggling in the beginning after my birdie on one. But at the turn, I got a bit of momentum going because I was confident with my ball striking,” Wiesberger told reporters after claiming his fifth professional victory.
The Austrian took the lead from Kataoka with an eagle-three on the par-five 12th only to see playing partner Els match his score to keep up the pressure.
“It was good to hole the eagle and it was nice that Ernie stayed in touch. He wouldn’t let go and that’s why he is such a great champion. It was a good time to do that and it got my round going,” he added.
Els, whose lone bogey of the round came on the fifth hole, was not too dissatisfied with his week’s work.
“I played and fought hard. I wasn’t quite at my best but had a good time. I didn’t hit my iron shots close enough especially at the start. I was one over through five holes and had to battle back all the time,” Els said.

“A win would have been unbelievable but second is not all that bad. This has given me something and it shows my game is going in the right direction. I’m starting to feel really good about my game.

“I think Bernd played better than all of us. I played with him for three rounds and I think he deserves to win.”