THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHAMBOURCY, France — John Parry of England won the Vivendi Cup by two strokes for his first European Tour title on Sunday, shooting a 2-under 70 to finish two strokes clear of Johan Edfors of Sweden.
The 23-year-old Parry, a former Walker Cup player who only turned professional in 2007, totalled 17-under 271 at Golf de Joyenval Club.
Edfors hit a 71 to finish a stroke ahead of five players. They were France’s Francois Delamontagne (71), Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands (71), Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin (71) and Danish pair Soren Kjeldsen (70) and Mark Haastrup (72).
Parry had led last weekend’s Austrian Open after 36 holes before buckling under pressure to finish 20th. But after taking a one-shot lead into the final round on Sunday, he showed nerves of steel to make four birdies and make sure he was not overtaken.
"I didn’t feel comfortable in the lead in Austria," Parry said. "But I came here practiced hard and played really well and I feel really comfortable in the lead this time.
"The win means to much to me because I was 116th in the money list and fighting to keep my playing card for next year. Now I know I have got one and can go ahead and plan the whole of 2011."
Parry showed only one small sign of buckling again. Holding a two-shot lead, he drove into a bunker at the 17th hole. But Edfors found the same sand and the bogeys they both made did not alter the outcome.
There was also a surprise top-10 finish for European Ryder Cup player Padraig Harrington. Having just made Friday’s cut at 2 under, the Irishman shot a 64 to finish joint eighth at 13 under and complete a weekend of 15 birdies and eagle.
He will leave for Wales full of renewed confidence that he can justify being given a Ryder Cup wild card ahead of England’s Paul Casey.
"I am getting to Wales early, I am enthusiastic and I am ready to go," Harrington said. "It’s been nice to play well here in France, it’s nice to post a score, though I did leave a few shots out there which meant I could not put any pressure on the leaders.
"But I hit a lot of good shots. I had my head in the right place most of the time and I was happy with what I saw."
Peter Hanson who pulled out of the Vivendi Cup as a precaution with a chest infection will join up with his European teammates in Wales on schedule Monday.
His agent, Marcus Day, said that after two days resting at home in Sweden the 32-year-old Hanson had resumed practising and would be ready to make his Ryder Cup debut on Friday