Round 4 - Thorbjorn Olesen holds on to claim title

November 7, 2016

Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen overcame an impressive challenge from Englishman David Horsey, finally being rewarded for his brilliant week's golf in Antalya on Sunday by earning a hard-fought victory in the Turkish Open by three shots.

The Dane, whose week had been highlighted by a second-round 62, lifted his fourth European Tour crown but only after the shock of seeing his seven-stroke overnight lead reduced to just one during the final round.

Horsey posted six birdies in his opening 12 holes to put pressure on Olesen but the 26-year-old hit back with three birdies in four holes from the 12th to card a two-under-par 69 and win on 20 under.

Horsey and China's Li Haotong both shot 65s to finish joint second on 17 under.

"I actually slept all right the last couple of days," Olesen told the European Tour website (www.europeantour.com), when asked how he felt about protecting his vast lead.

"It was a weird feeling. I knew the guys today were able to shoot a low number so I had to make a few birdies. After nine holes guys were shooting really low numbers so all of a sudden there was a lot of pressure on.

"I felt like I kept it pretty steady. Obviously, the last four holes were tough mentally."

Olesen had won the 2015 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after a run of 13 missed cuts in 18 events, which was a similar story to his success at Antalya's Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort after he had made only three cuts in his previous 12 events.

Round 3 - Thorbjorn Olesen extends lead to seven shots

November 6, 2016

A dropped stroke at the last hole could not prevent Thorbjorn Olesen extending his overnight lead from six to seven shots after the third round of the $7 million Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Dane, chasing the fourth European Tour victory of his career, hit a wild drive into the trees at the 18th and a bogey five meant he had to settle for a three-under-par 68 and an 18-under total of 195.

American David Lipsky (66), Bernd Wiesberger (66) of Austria, Italian Matteo Manassero (68), Englishman David Horsey (68) and China's Li Haotong (68) shared second place on 202 in the opening event of the tour's Final Series.

"It was a shame to bogey 18 but I just lost a little bit of concentration on that tee shot," Olesen told reporters.

"You get in trouble quickly here so concentration is the key tomorrow. I have never had a seven-shot lead so it does feel a bit weird but that is why it's so important to be aggressive and see if I can make a few birdies."

U.S. Masters champion Danny Willett, the only player in the top three of the money list competing this week after number one Henrik Stenson and third-ranked Rory McIlroy opted out, carded a 68 for 211.

The Final Series continues with the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa next week before the European season ends at the $8 million DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Round 2 - Thorbjorn Olesen leads after course record round

November 5, 2016

Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen fired a course record nine-under-par 62 to power six strokes clear of the field after the second round of the $7 million Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya on Friday.

The 26-year-old ended his round with a flourish, reeling off four birdies and an eagle in his last six holes to finish with a 15-under total of 127 at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort.

"Yesterday was a great putting display and today I played better and still putted great," triple European Tour winner Olesen told reporters.

"I feel like I've been up there in contention in a lot of big events so I feel pretty comfortable. I have to keep being aggressive, keep going after some of the pins and try to make birdies -- that's the only way I can win."

Spain's Adrian Otaegui shot a 63 to share second place on 133 with Thongchai Jaidee (66) of Thailand in the opening event of the tour's Final Series that also includes the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

U.S. Masters champion Danny Willett, the only player in the top three of the money list competing in Antalya after number one Henrik Stenson and third-ranked Rory McIlroy opted out, struggled to a 74 for 143.

Round 1 - George Coetzee tops opening round leaderboard

November 4, 2016

South African George Coetzee made a flying start to the European Tour's Final Series with a pacesetting seven-under-par 64 at the $7 million Turkish Airlines Open first round in Antalya on Thursday.

Coetzee, 30, a triple winner on the circuit, carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey to finish one stroke clear of Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.

Spaniard Jorge Campillo, Li Haotong of China, Italian Matteo Manassero and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria shared third place on 66 while U.S. Masters champion Danny Willett opened with a 69.

Englishman Willett is second in the money list going into the three-tournament Final Series that also includes the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

Swede Henrik Stenson and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who are first and third in the money list, have opted to miss the Turkish event.

"I thought my iron play and wedges were spot on (but) I'm still struggling to get consistency and flight off the tee," Willett told reporters

Scores

1 DEN Thorbjorn Olesen -20 - 65 62 68 69 264
T2 ENG David Horsey -17 - 67 67 68 65 267
T2 CHN Hao-Tong Li -17 - 66 68 68 65 267
4 AUT Bernd Wiesberger -15 - 66 70 66 67 269
5 RSA George Coetzee -14 - 64 73 66 67 270
T6 SWE Joakim Lagergren -13 - 70 64 70 67 271
T6 USA David Lipsky -13 - 67 69 66 69 271
8 ESP Pablo Larrazabal -12 - 67 69 68 68 272
9 ESP Nacho Elvira -11 - 70 67 69 67 273
T10 KOR Byeong Hun An -10 - 68 69 69 68 274
T10 ENG Tyrrell Hatton -10 - 72 67 67 68 274
T10 FIN Mikko Ilonen -10 - 74 66 67 67 274
T13 SCO David Drysdale -9 - 67 68 69 71 275
T13 POR Ricardo Melo Gouveia -9 - 70 68 70 67 275
T13 ESP Adrian Otaegui -9 - 70 63 71 71 275
T13 KOR Jeung-hun Wang -9 - 67 70 68 70 275
T17 ENG Richard Bland -8 - 70 68 70 68 276
T17 ESP Jorge Campillo -8 - 66 69 71 70 276
T17 FRA Raphael Jacquelin -8 - 69 69 69 69 276
T17 THA Thongchai Jaidee -8 - 67 66 70 73 276
T17 ITA Matteo Manassero -8 - 66 68 68 74 276
T22 ESP Alejandro Canizares -7 - 70 71 67 69 277
T22 ENG Tommy Fleetwood -7 - 71 71 67 68 277
T22 ENG Andrew Johnston -7 - 71 69 68 69 277
T25 THA Kiradech Aphibarnrat -6 - 72 67 69 70 278
T25 AUS Scott Hend -6 - 68 72 68 70 278
T25 DNK Lasse Jensen -6 - 71 71 69 67 278
T25 FRA Alexander Levy -6 - 72 74 67 65 278
T25 ITA Renato Paratore -6 - 71 71 67 69 278
T25 ENG Andrew Sullivan -6 - 71 67 70 70 278
T31 CHI Felipe Aguilar -5 - 67 72 68 72 279
T31 DNK Lucas Bjerregaard -5 - 67 74 71 67 279
T31 FRA Gregory Bourdy -5 - 72 70 66 71 279
T31 SWE Johan Carlsson -5 - 68 74 67 70 279
T31 RSA Darren Fichardt -5 - 70 73 67 69 279
T31 IRL Padraig Harrington -5 - 72 69 69 69 279
T31 FRA Gregory Havret -5 - 69 69 71 70 279
T31 SWE Robert Karlsson -5 - 70 68 73 68 279
T31 DEN Soren Kjeldsen -5 - 69 72 68 70 279
T31 FIN Mikko Korhonen -5 - 70 71 69 69 279
T31 ENG Matthew Southgate -5 - 72 72 67 68 279
T31 RSA Justin Walters -5 - 68 70 68 73 279
T43 ITA Nino Bertasio -4 - 69 71 71 69 280
T43 BEL Nicolas Colsaerts -4 - 70 69 70 71 280
T43 SCO Paul Lawrie -4 - 69 70 71 70 280
T43 ENG Chris Paisley -4 - 71 70 72 67 280
T47 IND S.S.P Chawurasia -3 - 74 69 69 69 281
T47 FRA Victor Dubuisson -3 - 72 69 72 68 281
T47 ENG Oliver Fisher -3 - 73 70 70 68 281
T47 SCO Marc Warren -3 - 68 75 67 71 281
T47 CHI Ashun Wu -3 - 70 70 69 72 281
T52 SWE Magnus A Carlsson -2 - 70 74 71 67 282
T52 ENG James Morrison -2 - 70 67 72 73 282
T52 FRA Julien Quesne -2 - 68 71 71 72 282
T52 SCO Richie Ramsay -2 - 71 68 69 74 282
T52 ENG Robert Rock -2 - 69 68 71 74 282
T52 ENG Lee Slattery -2 - 69 69 72 72 282
T52 RSA Brandon Stone -2 - 73 68 71 70 282
T52 ENG Lee Westwood -2 - 70 70 73 69 282
T60 RSA Thomas Aiken -1 - 71 75 67 70 283
T60 GER Maximilian Kieffer -1 - 73 73 69 68 283
T62 ENG Daniel Brooks Par - 71 72 72 69 284
T62 SWE Pelle Edberg Par - 72 69 69 74 284
T62 AUS Nathan Holman Par - 75 71 69 69 284
T62 IND Anirban Lahiri Par - 72 71 74 67 284
T62 FRA Romain Wattel Par - 69 71 72 72 284
T62 PAR Fabrizio Zanotti Par - 70 74 73 67 284
T68 FRA Benjamin Hebert 2 - 70 72 78 66 286
T68 FRA Michael Lorenzo-Vera 2 - 70 71 70 75 286
T68 RSA Richard Sterne 2 - 71 70 72 73 286
T68 GBR Danny Willett 2 - 69 74 68 75 286
T72 RSA Haydn Porteous 4 - 72 76 74 66 288
T72 RSA Jaco Van Zyl 4 - 76 72 71 69 288
T74 ENG Callum Shinkwin 8 - 71 72 76 73 292
T74 GER Marcel Siem 8 - 80 77 67 68 292
76 TUR Ali Altuntas 10 - 74 71 74 75 294
77 TUR Mutlu Guner 22 - 81 75 73 77 306
78 TUR Leon Acikalin 28 - 75 78 81 78 312

 

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