Gregory Bourdy wins ISPS Handa Wales Open

Gregory Bourdy of France fired a closing round of 67 to win the ISPS Handa Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort by two shots from the USA's Peter Uihlein.

Bourdy put on a phenomenal putting display over the closing holes to seal his fourth European Tour title. He holed from off the green on the 16th for an unlikely birdie, before draining another difficult putt for a two on the 17th. On the home hole, a par-5, the Frenchman laid up with his second shot and played a modest pitch, leaving some 30 feet for a third straight birdie. Incredibly, he rolled it into the hole, setting a clubhouse total of eight-under-par.

Uihlein did his best to match Bourdy's efforts. He birdied the 15th and 17th holes and stood on the final tee needing another birdie to force a playoff. He pulled his drive slightly and it struck the cart path to the left of the fairway and bounded on an extra 60 yards. Unfortunately, it came to rest in thick rough so he couldn't risk a crack at the green. He laid up and, much like Bourdy, his third ended up 30-feet from the cup. He had a run at it but it didn't drop and the victory went to Bourdy.

"It was an amazing round. I'm going to remember this finish for a long time," he said.

With the victory, Bourdy takes the early lead on the European Ryder Cup points race. This event was the first to count towards qualification for the 2014 matches at Gleneagles.

Despite missing the return putt for a par on the final green, Peter Uihlein finished alone in second place.

Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen finished in third place after an excellent closing round of 66. He was two clear of Joost Luiten of Holland and England's John Parry who tied for fourth.

Bourdy - who became the fifth Titleist loyalist to win using the new prototype 714 irons - also completed Titleist's 100th win of 2013, compared to 31 for the nearest competitor.

ISPS Handa Wales Open The Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Wales Aug 29 - Sep 1, purse €2,090,000, par 71

1   Gregory Bourdy (Fra)   67   72   70   67   276   €348,660 2   Peter Uihlein (USA)   69   70   67   72   278   €232,440 3   Soren Kjeldsen (Den)   69   74   70   66   279   €130,957 T4   Joost Luiten (Ned)   73   68   69   71   281   €96,649 T4   John Parry (Eng)      71   69   73   68   281   €96,649 T6   Damien McGrane (Ire)   70   71   70   71   282   €67,989 T6   Graeme Storm (Eng)   72   67   72   71   282   €67,989 T8   Seve Benson (Eng)   76   70   69   68   283   €40,166 T8   Gonzalo Fdz-Castano (Esp) 70 75   69   69   283   €40,166 T8   Anders Hansen (Den)   71   71   70   71   283   €40,166 T8   Mikko Korhonen (Fin)   71   70   70   72   283   €40,166 T8   Paul McGinley (Ire)   70   69   77   67   283   €40,166 T8   Brett Rumford (Aus)   72   69   72   70   283   €40,166 T8   Simon Wakefield (Eng)   70   74   70   69   283   €40,166

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage