WIESBERGER TOASTS MAIDEN VICTORY WITH RARE BALLANTINE’S 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP BLEND

Austrian, Bernd Wiesberger sealed a dominant maiden European Tour victory in style at the Ballantine’s Championship yesterday, holing a 20 foot birdie on the final hole to finish five shots clear of Richie Ramsay at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Korea.

Wiesberger left Korea with the Ballantine’s Championship trophy, a winner’s cheque for €367,500 (about US$487,000) and a rare bottle of Ballantine’s 2012 Championship Blend (pictured), co-created by 2011 champion Lee Westwood and Ballantine’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop. Wiesberger received the first of only 10 bottles produced, none of which will be sold.

“I’m going to bring back a couple of bottles of Ballantine’s so they will be opened, I’m sure,” said a delighted Wiesberger. “I’d be lying if I say I’m not going to have a nice celebration when I get home”.

The Austrian closed with a nerveless round of 68 to consolidate his overnight advantage and never looked like relinquishing his stranglehold, producing a faultless display of front running.

“Every sportsman dreams about winning, especially a tournament that was so well organised and has such great players in the field,” he said. “To play the way I did this week is very special.”

The 26-year-old had already stocked up on Ballantine’s earlier in the week after receiving two bottles of Ballantine’s 21 Year Old for shooting the lowest rounds on days two and three – two successive bogey-free 65s.

That seven-under-par score was equalled by Paul McGinley and Kiradech Aphibarnrat in the third round and by Adam Scott and Richie Ramsay in the fourth – but it was never bettered.

That meant that Wiesberger – along with McGinley, Scott, Kiradech and Ramsay – also received a bottle of Ballantine’s 30 Year Old as his share of the prize for setting the course record at Blackstone Golf Club.

“I think to win a tournament, you need to have your ‘A Game’ and especially at a tournament here, the Ballantine’s, where such a great field was present.”

Ballantine’s Championship 2012 took place from 26th – 29th April 2012 at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Korea.

Photo caption: Bernd Wiesberger with the trophy and a bottle of Ballantine’s 2012 Championship Blend after winning the 2012 Ballantine’s Championship. Photo: James Cheadle/Ballantine’s.

Notes:

Ballantine’s is the number one ultra-premium whisky in Asia Pacific and the number one Scotch whisky in Europe, selling more than 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 80 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past ten years for quality as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.

• Ballantine’s has been title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship since 2008 and has committed to the event until 2013.

• Ballantine’s has been an official sponsor of the Scottish Open since 2007. The 2012 event will be held at the Castle Stuart Golf Links, Inverness, from July 12-15.

• The first Ballantine’s sponsored golf tournament was played in 1960 at Wentworth Golf Club, England.

• Ballantine’s was the official sponsor of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in 2009 and 2011.

For further information visit: www.chivasbrothers.com