Vincent Norrman has made it win number two of the season by claiming the Horizon Irish Open on the DP World Tour.
The 25-year-old shot a bogey-free 65 final round at the K Club to set the clubhouse lead at 14 under par, after starting the day six strokes back from the top of the leaderboard.
Overnight leader Germany's Hurly Long started the day with a one shot advantage from England's Jordan Smith, and a further shot ahead from Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy.
Norrman, who won the Barbasol Championship back in July, had to wait until holes seven and nine for his first gains before play was suspended for an hour and a half due to the threat of lightning.
When play resumed Norrman hit the ground running with four birdies in five holes on 10, 11, 13 and 14 in what was becoming a packed leaderboard. A final birdie on the par five 18th saw Norrman set the clubhouse lead at 14 under par.
Long, who was looking for his maiden win on the DP World Tour, reahced 14 under par himself through 12 holes. But bogeys on 13 and 14 made his job trickier. A birdie also on the closing hole saw him finish in solo second, picking up his biggest cheque on tour and securing his card for next season as he moves up to 37th on the Race to Dubai Rankings. Norrman meanwhile moves up 35 spots to 7th.
“It feels unbelievable. I can't believe this is mine. I kind of looked at the leaderboard and I knew what was going on. I knew I was going to be close.
“I'm just as starstruck as some of those fans out here seeing those guys, and to be competing against them is so cool. Yeah, to beat them is even cooler.
A world-class event
“It's a world-class event, and it's the coolest thing I've ever done in golf I think, and to do it in front of these fans and the sponsors and stuff is unbelievable."
Tournament favourite McIlroy, even though was in the final group on Sunday, signed for a two over 74 finishing in a tie for 16th. Four-way tie for third at 12 under par was Scotland's Grant Forrest, New Zealand's Ryan Fox, Ireland's Shane Lowry and South African Thriston Lawrence after his Sunday 66.
Lowry and fellow Horizon Ambassador Pádraig Harrington were raising money this week for Official Charity Make-A-Wish Ireland, pledging to donate €500 for every birdie and €1,00 for every eagle they carded during the four tournament rounds.
The pair carded 32 birdies and an eagle between them, raising €17,000 for the charity. Séamus Power, also a Horizon Ambassador, was ruled out of the tournament through injury at the start of the week, but the Waterford man also pledged to donate €5,000.
Tournament Title Partner Horizon also donated €150 for every birdie and €300 for every eagle on the 18th hole as part of this year's Birdies for Wishes campaign.
There were a total of 233 birdies and 19 eagles across the four days, securing a donation of €40,650. Horizon Chairman, President and CEO Tim Walbert also pledged to match that donation amount taking the total funds raised through Birdies for Wishes to €81,300 for the charity, which will help grant more wishes to children between the ages of three and 17 living with life-threatening medical conditions.
Next up on the DP World Tour is their flagship event, the fourth Rolex Series event of the season, the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club, England starting on Thursday 14th.
