Ewen Ferguson seals wire-to-wire victory at ISPS Handa World Invitational

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-12 Ferguson

-9 Syme, Virto

-8 Helligkilde, Paratore, Mansell

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Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson clinched his second DP World Tour title of the season with a straight win at the ISPS Handa World Invitational.

Ferguson, who started the week with a course-record 61 at Galgorm Castle and never led, carded a final 69 at the same venue to finish 12-under par, three shots ahead of close friends Connor Syme and Borja Virto.

The 26-year-old, who won the Qatar Masters in March, went into the finals three shots clear but had company at the top of the standings as England’s Richard Mansell completed his first 10 holes in five under par.

Ferguson responded with his third birdie of the day on the 10th, and although Virto closed on shot thanks to five birdies in seven holes around the turn, the 31-year-old Spaniard bogeyed the 14th promptly.

With Mansell dropping shots on three of the last four holes, giving Ferguson welcome respite, and playing partner Syme booing the 15th, 16th and 18th to finish runners-up for the second week in a row.

“It feels amazing, I just can’t believe how calm I was out there,” Ferguson told Sky Sports. “It couldn’t have gone better playing with Connor.

“I played with him for the first two days and he played so, so well and I felt like he was my main rival so it was so good to play with him and fend off each other and try and play with each other Keeping up I can’t believe I’m a winner again.

“My mum and dad were supposed to be here this week but the last tournament they watched didn’t go too well so I banned them for saying I need to focus. My dad is probably at the club buying the full club drinks.

“My whole family’s life revolves around golf. Your happiness just seems to revolve around me and my golf. It’s been a good year and of course there are times when things don’t go so well, so I think you have to really appreciate times when you’re clinching trophies.”

In the women’s tournament, Swede Maja Stark stormed to a five-shot victory thanks to a stunning final 63.

Stark, who started the day two shots behind American Amanda Doherty, carded 10 birdies in a clean round and even saved par on the 18th, despite hitting her approach to the water on par 5.

“I don’t think it landed yet, I’ve been so nervous all day and kind of reminded myself to stay calm and take one shot at a time, but it’s easier said than done,” Stark said after he had posted a win total of 20 under par.

The 22-year-old’s win earns her LPGA membership for the rest of this season and all of next season, adding: “It means the world, that was all I came here to do.

“I just wanted this category of winners. I hate qualifying so it’s great that I don’t have to do it again.”

America’s Allisen Corpuz screwed the last two holes to secure second place with 15 under, while England’s Georgia Hall finished a shot behind in third place. Doherty, who had led after each of the first three rounds, had to settle for a tie in seventh place after a final 74.