Jamie Donaldson wins Czech Masters

Jamie Donaldson of Wales finished two strokes ahead of his countryman Bradley Dredge to win the D+D Real Czech Masters and to secure his place in Paul McGinley’s European Ryder Cup team.

Jamie Donaldson of Wales finished two strokes ahead of his countryman Bradley Dredge to win the D+D Real Czech Masters and to secure his place in Paul McGinley’s European Ryder Cup team.

Donaldson fired a final round of 68 at the Albatross Golf Resort to finish on a four-round total of 14-under-par. He had needed a top seven finish to guarantee a spot at Gleneagles and he managed that with something to spare.

The 38-year-old started the final day two shots behind Dredge, but he opened with three straight birdies to take the lead.

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen knocked Donaldson off the perch with a birdie at the fifth hole, but the Welshman struck back with another birdie of his own at the sixth. When Kjeldsen suffered two straight bogeys at the eighth and ninth holes, Donaldson was in control once more.

Although Dredge and Kjeldsen hung to his coattails on the back nine, Donaldson was able to maintain his advantage and close out the victory.

“Winning is everything: wins shoot you up world rankings, Race To Dubai, all sorts. Its massive,” he said. “I needed to play well either this week or next week, or both, to guarantee my place in The Ryder Cup Team so there was a lot on the line and this week I played really well, so that’s great.”

Bradley Dredge finished as runner-up for the second week running. Although disappointed not to secure the victory, the Welshman could console himself with the fact that he has secured his playing rights on the European Tour for 2015.

“Mixed feelings because again there was the chance to win there,” he said. “I had a two shot lead going into the last round. It’s been a great two weeks in terms of two seconds. Two firsts would’ve been better. Slightly disappointed I didn’t win one, but I’ll have a few more chances before the end of the year, and see how that goes.”

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher was looking for a good finish to propel himself into the European Ryder Cup Team. He finished in a tie for seventh after a poor final round of 73.

“My goal this week was to win or try to finish as high up as I could,” he said. “I didn’t really play that well, but top-10 when you’re not firing is quite good.”

D+D Real Czech Masters Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic Aug 21-24, purse €1,000,000, par 72

1    Jamie Donaldson (Wal)    66    69    71    68    274    €166,660 2    Bradley Dredge (Wal)    68    70    66    72    276    €111,110 T3    Merrick Bremner (RSA)    70    68    70    69    277    €56,300 T3    Soren Kjeldsen (Den)    68    70    68    71    277    €56,300 T5    Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 72    65    73    70    280    €38,700 T5    Eddie Pepperell (Eng)    70    72    71    67    280    €38,700 T7    Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 70    67    71    73    281    €27,500 T7    Sam Walker (Eng)    69    71    70    71    281    €27,500 T9    James Heath (Eng)    73    70    71    68    282    €19,500 T9    Peter Hedblom (Swe)    70    68    73    71    282    €19,500 T9    Scott Jamieson (Sco)    71    73    74    64    282    €19,500 T9    Garrick Porteous (Eng)    70    67    72    73    282    €19,500

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage