South Korea’s Wang Jeunghun became the youngest player in European Tour history to win consecutive events after a dramatic finish to the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
Wang, 20, who won his maiden title in Morocco last week, capitalised on a late collapse by Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman to claim a one-shot victory at Four Seasons Golf Club.
Siddikur held a three-shot lead with three to play, but double-bogeyed the 16th and dropped another shot on the 17th. Both he and Wang missed the green with their approaches to the par-five 18th and it was Wang who got up and down for a crucial birdie to finish on six under par.
The top two were the only players to finish in red figures as strong winds made for difficult conditions throughout the week, with former Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts and Argentina’s Tani Goya sharing third on level par after closing rounds of 75 and 71 respectively.
“I can’t believe that I’ve won two weeks in a row,” Wang said. “I’m so excited right now and really happy that I have won.
“I probably had luck on my side today. I wasn’t even thinking about winning this week until the 16th. I missed a lot of putts so I thought I didn’t have any chance.
“I hit my second shot into the 18th well, but it just went off the green. I was just trying to make par, but I hit the bunker shot close and gave myself an easy putt for a birdie. It was fantastic.
“I hope I can win three in a row, but next week is a really big tournament and it’s my first time in Ireland, so I’m not sure. I’ll be trying my best.”
Siddikur added: “Well, it was good until the 16th, but unfortunately I don’t know what happened. I went out of bounds with the first shot.
“I gave my best. It’s part of the game. Maybe I’ll have something good in the future. I was trying to hole that chip on the last for eagle. It was a good chip but the putt for birdie wasn’t good. It wasn’t my day. Before this week I was really struggling with my golf, so I’m really happy to finish second.”
Colsaerts, who has been the touring professional at the venue since 2010, saw his hopes of a first win since 2012 disappear with a front nine of 40 and a double bogey on the 11th, but rallied with an eagle on the 13th and birdie on the last.
