Global Golf Post - June 21, 2010

LUMBRES, FRANCE | While half a world away
players were competing for their biggest
moment in the U.S. Open, Martin Wiegele
created his best professional moment.
Wiegele became the second Austrian to win a
European Tour event with a two-shot victory
at the Saint-Omer Open.
Wiegele, who was a winner two weeks ago
on the European Tour’s developmental Chal-
lenge Tour, shot a 3-under-par 68 at Aa Saint
Omer Golf Club to finish with a 7-under-par
total of 277.
That was two better than a group of five
players tied for second – Sweden’s Pelle Ed-
berg, France’s
Raphaël Jac-
quelin and the
English trio of
Matt Haines,
Robert Dinwid-
die and Jamie
Elson.
Haines, 20,
an English
Walker Cup
player, turned
pro last month.
Wiegele, 31,
birdied his first
two holes, and
another birdie
at the ninth
took him to the
turn in 33 with-
out dropping a
shot. His back

nine featured one birdie on the 12th hole and
a bogey at the last, but it still proved more
than enough.
“This victory is just incredible – it’s what
I’ve always dreamt of since I started playing
golf as a little boy,” said Wiegele.
“It was great to get off to such a good start
this morning, especially after the double-
bogey on the last hole yesterday.
“It brought me right back into contention
straight away, and gave me a lot of confi-
dence – especially as it’s not an easy start.

“After that I played really nicely, apart
from the bogey on the last hole, but luckily
enough it didn’t matter in the end.”
After winning the Kärnten Open in Austria
on the Challenge Tour, Wiegele’s first win on
the European Tour sees him become the sec-
ond Austrian, after Markus Brier, to achieve
the feat. Wiegele won €100,000 for the victory
and, maybe more importantly, an exemption
on the European Tour until the end of 2011.

“In Austria, golf is not that big a sport, so
it means even more because we haven’t had
that much success,” he said. “Markus Brier’s
win changed everything.

“The win back home on the Challenge
Tour two weeks ago was so emotional, but if
anything this is even more so. It’s a strange
game. I haven’t won since 2007, and now I
win two tournaments back to back.