Langasque snatches ISPS Handa Wales Open with closing 65
Romain Langasque. Picture: Getty Images
Romain Langasque came from five shots behind overnight leaders Connor Syme and Sebastian Soderberg to clinch his maiden win at the ISPS Handa Wales Open.
The Frenchman (25) closed with a bogey-free, six-under 65 to win by a shot from Finland’s Sami Valimaki on eight-under.
Cormac Sharvin shot 76 to finish 63rd on five-over with Paul Dunne eight-over after a 73 and Jonathan Caldwell nine-over after a 76.
Langasque started the final day at The Celtic Manor Resort in a share of sixth, five shots behind 54-hole co-leaders Sebastian Soderberg and Scotland’s Connor Syme, but the deficit was cut to just one stroke after his second birdie of the day on the sixth hole.
The 2015 Amateur Champion continued to lurk one shot back after another gain on the ninth, but drew level with a fourth birdie of the day on the par five 11th hole. Successive birdies at the 15th and 16th holes saw the 25-year-old sign for a bogey-free 65 and an eight-under-par total as a nervous wait followed.
Bogeys on the 14th and 16th holes dashed Syme's hopes of a maiden European Tour victory and both he and Soderberg found the water at the par-five 18th, which ultimately ended the Swede's chances at the eleventh hour.
Langasque's victory elevated him to 31st in the 2020 Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex, and also earned him a place in next month's U.S. Open after he moved inside the top ten on the UK Swing Order of Merit (click to view). The top ten golfers not already exempt on that list, including Syme and runner up Sami Välimäki of Finland, have now secured their berths at Winged Foot.
Player Quotes
Romain Langasque: "I was playing really good since the start of the week, I was only focusing on doing my thing – that was the only objective I had on Monday with my coach. I’m so happy with the way I played the back nine, I played really, really good, I had so many birdie opportunities. The second shot on 16 and the first shot on 17 were my two best shots of the week. That shows that the work we have done the past few weeks has worked, and I’m pretty happy.
“It was one of the first times I didn’t feel the pressure. I was focused on every shot. The first shot I felt pressure was the wedge on 18 because I was looking to be shorter and have a longer shot, but I flushed my four iron. The wedge wasn’t easy because I wasn’t close and the two putts were under pressure. Before that I was cool and feeling really well on the course.
“The wait was long. But when you come back from five shots and you’re in a position like that it’s good. It’s long but it’s a good pressure and a good moment. I’m just enjoying my time now."
