South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang secured his third European Tour title after beating Joakim Lagergren and Jaco Van Zyl in a play-off at the Qatar Masters.
The 21 year old from Seoul began the final day with a three-shot lead, but was caught on the back nine before retaking top spot on his own with a birdie on the 16th.
A bogey on the next dropped him into the play-off at 16 under, but after taking a brave line over the back of the green on the first visit back up the 18th, he got up and down for a winning birdie.
It was heartbreak for South African Van Zyl, who looked the favourite when he got on the green in two on the play-off hol, but a second three-putt of the day cost him dear as he finished runner-up for the fifth time in his 150th European Tour event.
Swede Lagergren was also left searching for his first win after he pulled his second shot in the play-off into the greenside bunker, and failed to get up and down.
Wang, who won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award last season after victories at the Trophée Hassan II and the Mauritius Open, now climbs into the world’s 50 and looks set to earn an invitation to the Masters in April.
“I was really nervous on the back nine” said Wang. “I missed a lot of greens but my chipping was really good today, so I saved everything and finally I won. When I was much younger I always dreamed about I play in the Masters,” he added. “So I’m happy that it might become a reality. I’ve really got a lot of confidence right now, I just want to play another tournament.”