Joakim Lagergren pulled off a sensational win at the Irish Challenge at The K Club, holing out from the bunker to eagle the 72nd hole, clinching a one-stroke victory.
Entering the final round one shot off the lead, the Swede carded a four-under-par 68, finishing at 16 under to edge out Frenchman Sébastien Gros.
Lagergren, 32, started the day strong but found himself battling through a rollercoaster front nine with a bogey before making the turn at one under.
His back nine saw two birdies, another bogey, and a spectacular closing eagle that sealed his victory.
This triumph in County Kildare comes a decade after his first Challenge Tour victory at the Northern Ireland Open.
Reflecting on his win, Lagergren said, “It feels unbelievable right now. It’s so tough to win golf tournaments and I came close last week when I was runner-up, so to get it done here feels amazing.
It was a pretty tough bunker shot playing downwind, but I managed to execute it perfectly. To see it drop in was special.”
Lagergren has been competing on the DP World Tour for 12 years, but injuries cost him his card last year.
This victory is particularly significant as he aims to return to the DP World Tour.
“This win means a lot to me because I’ve been playing on the DP World Tour for 12 years and I lost my card last year after a lot of injuries.
I really want to get back to the DP World Tour and to get promoted at the end of the season would mean the world to me,” he added.
The Irish crowd, known for their passion for golf, provided a warm backdrop for Lagergren’s victory.
“The crowd is amazing in Ireland. I love coming back to this country, and the fans love their golf. I really enjoy being here. I’m looking forward to celebrating tonight,” he shared.
Mark Power emerged as the leading Irishman, finishing in a share of 11th place and securing the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy.
The 24-year-old also earned a spot in the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down later this year. “This is huge for me, and I’m delighted to receive the award and book my place at Royal County Down,” Power said.
“My first professional event was actually the Irish Open at The K Club last year and there couldn’t have been a bigger event for me to play in as an Irishman.
As soon as that week was over, I told myself that I needed to play in the Irish Open again and I can’t wait to tee it up at Royal County Down later this year.”
Englishman Brandon Robinson Thompson finished third at 13 under par, followed by Scotland’s Ryan Lumsden at 12 under, and Swede Björn Åkesson at 10 under, one shot ahead of England’s Jack Senior and South African Wilco Nienaber.
With this victory, Lagergren jumps 24 places to sixth position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, accumulating 662 points.
Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen remains at the top with 1,077 points.
The Road to Mallorca now moves to Scotland for the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A, taking place at Newmachar Golf Club from August 8-11.
