Law Climbs Race to Dubai Rankings With Maiden Win at ISPS Handa Vic Open
Dubai, UAE: David Law made significant strides in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai after carding a sensational finish to overtake long-time leader Wade Ormsby and seal a maiden title in his rookie season at the ISPS Handa Vic Open.
The 2018 Challenge Tour graduate was three shots back as he stood on the 16th at 13th Beach Golf Club but the Scotsman quickly went within two with a birdie before producing a stunning second to within eight feet on the last to set up an eagle opportunity. The 27 year old held his nerve to sink the putt and take a share of the lead with Ormsby, but the home favourite surrendered top spot after running into trouble with a double-bogey on the 17th, which left him needing an eagle of his own on the 18th to force a play-off.
The Australian gave himself a chance with a putt from the fringe but could only make birdie to give Law a one-stroke triumph Down Under. With the victory, Law collects 335 Race to Dubai points and jumps from 142nd to 17th in the Rankings with a season total of 365.4 points.
“It’s a massive win,” said Law. “It’s not something I expected. For me just being out here playing on the European Tour was enough.
“I’ve been loving the four events I’ve played so far and to just be a European Tour player was what I was happy with. To have won today, it sort of changes things a little bit. I’ll go home, reflect a little bit on things and reassess.
“We said we were going to try to finish three-two-four in the hope that we could get a top-three finish. Then birdie 16, par 17, and going down the last we said we need eagle. We make eagle, we post at 18 under, you never know what can happen.”
Ormsby came into the final round with a two-shot lead over the chasing pack and gained two more shots in his first five holes to strengthen his grip at the summit of the leaderboard. The 38 year old then made 11 straight pars before the double-bogey at the 17th saw him settle for a share of second place with fellow countryman Brad Kennedy. Ormsby receives 173.5 Race to Dubai points which sees him climb from 145th to 30th in the Rankings with 202.8 points.
South African Justin Harding continued his run of good form with a fourth place finish at the co-sanctioned event with the PGA Tour of Australasia. The 33 year old now has five top 20 finishes in his last six events which leave him in 15th on the Rankings after picking up 100 points in Australia.
Meanwhile, Australian Jason Scrivener made it four top tens from five starts this season as he finished at 15 under alongside countryman David Bransdon and Scot David Drysdale. Scrivener jumps from 14th to 12th on 473.3 points while Drysdale sits one place above him in 11th on 497.3 points.
In the women’s event, which was also played over the Beach course for equal prize money, Celine Boutier carded a final round 72 to claim a two-shot victory.
The Frenchwoman finished eight under to hold off local favourites Sarah Kemp and Su Oh, and England’s Charlotte Thomas.
The leading players in the Race to Dubai Rankings will contest the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai from November 21-24.