David Horsey gains first European Tour win

David Horsey benefited from a dramatic collapse by compatriot Bradley Dredge on Sunday to win the BMW International Open title.

Horsey claimed his maiden tour victory with a closing five-under-par 67 for an 18-under 270 total, a shot better than Briton Ross Fisher (70).

Welshman Dredge, three shots ahead of the field overnight and the leader for the first three rounds, had to settle for a share of third place, two strokes behind Horsey, after slumping to a 74.

Briton Kenneth Ferrie (68), Spaniards Pablo Larrazabal (68) and Rafael Cabrero-Bello (68) and Germany’s Alex Cejka (67), tied for third place.

Dredge still looked in control when reaching the turn two shots ahead of the field but then lost his way, running up three bogeys in five holes.

Two three-putts allowed Larrazabal to go past him, only for the Spaniard to fall back with a double-bogey at the 16th.

Horsey, who began the day five strokes behind Dredge, meanwhile kept his cool, producing a faultless final round with five birdies.

As the 25-year-old Englishman, second in the Italian Open earlier in the season, rounded off his day with a six-foot birdie putt, Dredge was running up a double-bogey on the 16th.

Last year’s World Matchplay champion Fisher grabbed runner-up spot with a 12ft eagle putt on the last.

“Never in my wildest dreams last night did I think I could win from five shots back,” the winner, $409,000 richer, told reporters.

“That was until I looked up at the big screen on 18 and saw Bradley in the reeds, then it came home to me.

“I’d thought I’d have to dig really deep to win. But I learned a lot from just missing out in Italy and the key was staying patient, the birdies would come.”

A crestfallen Dredge said: “The 16th killed me. I decided to try to play out of the hazard and it didn’t come off. I’m really annoyed with myself.”

Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin earned himself a $100,000 BMW car for holing in one at the short 17th. Lucquin, trailed in 15 shots behind Horsey.

Scores