BY BRENDAN JAMES at LAKE KARRINYUP

It was his to lose. And while he tried his best to keep the final result close with some wayward hitting in the last nine holes, Thorbjorn Olesen kept his nerve to claim the ISPS Handa Perth International title by three strokes.

The 24-year-old stumbled at times during the final round but his putting proved to his savior, holing two crucial breaking birdie putts and a 15-foot par-saver in the space of three holes on the back nine to ensure he could enjoy the walk down the 72nd knowing the trophy was his.

Thorbjorn Olesen led from wire-to-wire to get his hands on the ISPS Handa Perth International trophy. PHOTO: Getty Images Thorbjorn Olesen fought hard in the final round to get his hands on the ISPS Handa Perth International trophy.
PHOTO: Getty Images

“It was very emotional out there … it was very up-and-down and I didn’t play my best golf but I kept fighting and made some great putts to get the win,” Olesen said. “It was a lot of hard work but it was still a lot of fun.”

The victory and €198,300 payday ensures Olesen will play through to the end of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai final series over the next four weeks.

“Before this week I was struggling I was 64th in the ranking and I was not even sure I was getting into the event next week,” Olesen, who has moved up to 42nd place, said. “So it’s a big relief and confidence boost to get into the last four events.”

Olesen plays an escape from trees early in his final round at Lake Karrinyup. PHOTO: Getty Images Olesen plays an escape from trees early in his final round at Lake Karrinyup. PHOTO: Getty Images

Olesen, who last won on the European Tour at the Sicily Open two years, said he would celebrate with a few beers “and perhaps some champagne” with his caddie and some fellow players.

Despite putting a long game clinic in the final round, Frenchman Victor Dubuisson could not catch Olesen, having started the final day eight shots back. Dubuisson’s six under 66 to close, despite suffering from a high fever overnight, has him confident a tournament win is not far away.

Victoria’s Matthew Griffin (67) and WA’s Stephen Dartnell (70) were the best of the Australian contingent finishing in a tie for fourth. Richard Green (72) and Wade Ormsby (66) were a further shot back in a tie for ninth.

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