2013 European Tour Golf: Victor Dubuisson WinsTurkish Airlines Open

He had to hold off a hard-charging Jamie Donaldson after he made an ace at the 16th hole, but 23 year-old Victor Dubuisson from France got his first European Tour victory at the Turkish Airlines Open on Sunday afternoon. Donaldson hit a great shot on the par five 18th hole, and had a run at an eagle that would have gotten him into the clubhouse with a one-shot lead. He burned the cup, but only managed birdie and a tie for the lead that lasted 15 seconds. The young Frenchman closed the door with his own birdie at the 15th hole.

Victor Dubuisson started the day with a five-shot lead at the Montgomerie Maxx Golf Course in Atayla, Turkey, and was only able to manage pars on the front nine. After sensing the charge from the Welchman, Dubuisson, kicked his game up a notch on the stretch run, to post the win. After he birdied 10, and bogeyed 14, he put on a show, going three under on the final four holes.

The young Frenchman, from Cannes, is virtually unknown. He was ranked 108th in the world, and 49th in Race To Dubai points. The win on Sunday pushes him up to 7th place in the Race To Dubai championship for next week’s finale’. He will undoubtedly climb the World Rankings when the new listing comes out on Monday.

"“I don’t know how to describe it,” said Dubuisson. “Now I don’t realise what’s happening. I felt so much pressure on the last hole.“Holing this putt on 17 was like; it was incredible. It was incredible, and the birdie on 18, it’s a bonus.“But even on the last putt, I was feeling so much stress.  After this day, it was the longest day on the course that I’ve ever had. I’m very proud of what I did.”"

Jamie Donaldson went low in the final round, and with the ace, fired a closing nine under par 63, but came up two shots shy of the win. He couldn’t overcome the mediocre play on Thursday and Friday at a golf course where you needed birdies to win.

The world’s number one, Tiger Woods knew he had to go out on Sunday, and make a lot of birdies if he wanted to have a chance. His closing 67 was valiant, but he only made up two shots on Dubuisson at the end of the day. Woods, who was in Turkey because of a $3 Million Dollar appearance fee, finished tied for third place with US Open Champ, Justin Rose.

Race to Dubai leader, Henrik Stenson, and number four in points, Ian Poulter both played decently on Sunday, but couldn’t manage enough birdies to keep pace. Stenson finished up with a three under par 69 to share seventh place with Marc Warren from Scotland, and Bernd Wiesberger from Austria. Wiesberger mad a run on Sunday with an eight under 64, but finished eight shots off the lead.

Ian Poulter was only able to manage a three under 69 in the finale, and ended the day, five shots back at 19 under par and tied for fifth place with Frenchman, Raphael Jacquelin.

By virtue of his fine T 3 finish in Turkey, Justin Rose jumps into second place in the Race To Dubai standings. He is only 200,000 points of the leader Stenson, and surpassed Graeme McDowell who wasn’t present this week. Jamie Donaldson rounds out the top five as they go to Dubai next week to settle the score.

Source: EuropeanTour.com

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