WU ASHUN became the first golfer from Chinese mainland to win three times on the European Tour when he claimed a one-stroke triumph at the KLM Open in the Netherlands on Sunday.

Starting the day one stroke back of England’s Chris Wood, Wu closed with a 4-under 67, finishing with a dramatic two-putt birdie on the par-5 final hole after his aggressive second shot skirted a water hazard and landed in the heart of the green.

Wood’s closing 69 left the Englishman one shot up on Belgium’s Thomas Detry and Hideto Tanihara of Japan, who were 14-under, while three-time major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland was 13-under.

Wu’s third win makes him the most successful Chinese player in European Tour history and represents an excellent return to form after he needed the access list to keep his playing privileges last season.

“Unbelievable this week,” Wu, the world No. 344, told europeantour.com.

“I am so happy and want to thank every one ... especially my coach,” said the 33-year-old.

“We just fixed my swing at the beginning of the year and we still trust that we are going the right way.

“My coach and I have been working very hard and he has flown to the Czech Republic and Denmark to help me, so I think we are getting better and better.

“It was beautiful weather this week, and a lot of good golf was played here. I like this golf course very much.”

With the win, Wu is now projected to be ranked in the world’s top 200. Wood started his day strong, making consecutive birdies on Nos 9 and 10. But a double-bogey on the 12th allowed the chasing pack, including Wu, the opportunity to bring themselves back into it.

Wu was the man to capitalize on Wood’s downfall, birdying three of the final five holes and leaving Wood needing to drain a birdie putt on the par-5 18th to take the contest into a playoff.

(SD-Agencies)