Bjork cards 7-under 65, wins 1st European Tour crown
BEIJING — Alexander Bjork of Sweden closed with a 7-under 65 to claim a one-stroke victory in the China Open for his first European Tour title.
Bjork, who trailed by one stroke going into the final round, made his final birdie on the 17th hole and finished at 18-under 270 at Topwin Golf and Country Club. And then he had to wait to see if it would be enough. Adrian Otaegui of Spain and Matt Wallace of England, who shared the 54-hole lead, each needed eagle on the par-5 18th to force a playoff.
Oategui made birdie for a 67 and was runner-up. Wallace (68) made par and shared third with Jordan Smith (64) and Jorge Campillo (68).
Wu Ashun had a 66-67 weekend and tied for seventh, the best finish among Chinese players.
Web.Com Tour
NEWBURGH, Ind. — Jose de Jesus Rodriguez of Mexico shot a 2-under 70 and won the United Leasing & Finance Championship by one shot over Wyndham Clark for his first Web.com Tour title.
Rodriguez started the final round one shot behind Maverick McNealey and seized control when he reached the turn at Victoria National. McNealey bogeyed No. 6, Rodriguez birdied the next two holes and McNealey dropped another shot at the ninth, giving the Mexican a three-shot lead going to the back nine.
Rodriguez dropped two shots over the last four holes, but by then he had the tournament wrapped up.
Clark closed with a 67 to finish alone in second. McNealey closed with a 74 and tied for third with Kyoung-Hoon Lee (66).
Rodriguez won twice in 2011 on the Canadian tour, twice in 2013 on the Latin American tour and twice more last year to win the PGA Tour Latinoamerica money title. The 37-year-old Rodriguez moved to No. 3 on the money list and is virtually assured of earning a PGA Tour card for next year.
Other tours
Former PGA champion Y.E. Yang had his fourth straight round of 3-under 67 for a four-shot victory in The Crowns on the Japan Golf Tour. It was Yang’s first victory in more than seven years. ... Rourke van der Spuy closed with a 3-under 69 for a four-shot victory in the Zambia Open on the Sunshine Tour. ... Joachim Hansen captured his first European Challenge Tour victory with a 6-under 66 in the final round to win the Turkish Airlines Challenge.
