HSBC championships Abu Dhabi: Shane Lowry takes victory in a shot

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On the third half of the 12th, Lowry became the first player to make eleven birdie twos in a European Tour-tournament. Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship: last standings -18 S Lowry (Ire); -17 R Sterne (SA); -15 J Luiten (Ned); -14 L Oosthuizen (SA); -13 S Kjeldsen (Den); -12 P Waring, P Larrazabal (Spa), I Poulter (Eng). Other selected: -9 D Johnson, L Westwood (Eng); -8 M Kaymer (Ger), -5 T Fleetwood (Eng)

Shane Lowry from Ireland held his guts to achieve a one-shot victory over South Africa's closest rival Richard Sterne in the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi.

It was the first victory of the 31-year-old since the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August 2015.

Lowry, who hit a run-equal to 62 in the first round, led by three to the last day.

The pair was right on the 18th tee but Sterne struck a quirky second, giving Lowry the chance to secure the victory.

The final 71 of the Irishman saw him finish on an 18-under-par score of 270, with 37-year-old Sterne a shot further back

Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, made two eagles in his round and finished third, three shots behind Lowry, with South Africa & # 39; s Louis Oosthuizen fourth and Denmark Soren Kjeldsen fifth.

Lowry's nocturnal lead of three was quickly wiped out when he falted red and Sterne played the first nine holes in 31.

Sterne had a four-shot lead after 11 holes, but two bogeys cost him, as Lowry reacted with birdies on 12 and 13.

The contenders remained at -17 in the last place, but the South African pushed his second shot into the carriageway on the right.

He failed to go up and down while Lowry, on the green in two, two-putted for the decisive birdie.

The victory takes Lowry to the top of the European Tour & # 39; s Race to Dubai, while Sterne continues to look for a first title since the 2013 Joburg Open.