Bernd Wiesberger - Photo: © R.Perrocheau / ASO

Nothing, not even an hour-long hiatus due to the risk of thunderstorms, could prevent Bernd Wiesberger from lifting the Edward George Stoïber Cup after a perfect final lap. In the par after three holes, the Austrian was forced to return to the clubhouse in the early afternoon, like all the other players. Back on the fairways of the Golf National after an hour of waiting, he then started the birdie machine: four in a row, from 4 to 7, then a fifth to 9 propelled him to the controls of the tournament. “I had just hit 4 when the siren sounded. Coming back, I got a great birdie chip that put me in a positive dynamic. I felt very comfortable, ”he explained.

Well helped by the bankruptcy of the South African Jaco Van Zyl and the German Max Kieffer, who played in the last part, the 39th player in the world nevertheless had to fight on the return to save his pars: "I hit some excellent shots. I remained aggressive, but not reckless, and I got a lot of chances. It was a little frustrating not to convert them, but I stayed calm. Saving my par at 17 gave me enormous confidence. At 18, Wiesberger concluded heroically with a final birdie to sign a 65 (-6) card, enough to win at -13 with three strokes ahead of Englishman James Morrison. "I am delighted and very proud to hold this trophy in my arms," ​​concluded the first Austrian to win the Alstom Open de France in 99 editions.

Morrison, second, Van Zyl, third, and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello, fifth, landed all three invitations to the British Open which will be held July 16-19 in St. Andrews, Scotland, while the German Martin Kaymer, already qualified for the third Major of the year just like Wiesberger, finished fourth. Finally, on the French side, Victor Dubuisson had a complicated Sunday. Penalized from 1 by a ball in the water (bogey), then at 7 by an out-of-bounds ball (triple bogey), the French number one had to be satisfied with a card of 75 (+4) which relegated to twelfth place. “This is of course a very big disappointment. It doesn't matter what place I occupy in the final standings. I had a goal and I didn't achieve it, ”he said at the end of what constitutes his best performance in his national open.

The beautiful tricolor surprise of the day came from Michaël Lorenzo-Vera, author of a superb 68 (-3) enamelled in particular with four birdies on the last nine holes. The 30-year-old Basque finished sixth in the tournament, at the same time signing his first top 10 of the season on the European Tour, which he returned to at the start of the year after several years spent in the lower divisions. “I am really very proud of this result. I didn't think I could play so well here when, until now, I had never been able to cross the cut. The public gave me an extraordinary welcome. These are really very strong emotions. I had never known that before ”, rejoiced the French hero of the day.

More information on www.alstom.opendefrance.fr