Kalle Samooja produced a course-record 64 at Green Eagle Golf Courses on Sunday to win the Porsche European Open by two shots.
Starting the day seven shots off the lead, Samooja produced eight birdies in a spotless final round, saving the best until last as he made back-to-back birdies at the 17th and 18th.
Things could have been even better for the Finn, whose eagle chip from over by the hospitality area around the 18th green hit the flag and landed just in front of the hole.
But he was able to tap in for a closing birdie to set the clubhouse target on six under par, with his nearest challengers only just starting their back nines.
Overnight leader Victor Perez quickly made consecutive birdies at the 10th and 11th to join Samooja at the summit but bogeys at his next two holes stalled his progress.
And with the chasing pack continuing to struggle, Samooja was able to celebrate his first DP World Tour win after a two-hour wait.
Wil Besseling finished alone in second on four under after mixing four birdies with a double bogey and a bogey in his closing 71.
Last week’s winner Perez was another shot back alongside Richard Mansell in a tie for third.
South Africa’s Brandon Stone finished tied for fifth on two under.
And here is how Samooja finished with a closing birdie to set the new course record.👍 pic.twitter.com/tN7pAujlPe
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 5, 2022
Samooja went into his final round having not broken par all week but he turned in 31 thanks to birdies at the 6th, 7th and 9th.
The 34-year-old began his back nine with further gains at the 10th and 11th to make it three in a row before his next birdie – from five feet at the 15th – handed him a share of the lead on four under.
A missed birdie chance from no more than six feet at the 16th looked as though it may prove costly, with Samooja looking to post the lowest score possible, knowing the likes of Perez still had so many holes still to complete.
But he recovered brilliantly at the short 17th, sending his tee-shot to 15 feet before rolling in the birdie putt to take the outright lead on five under.
And although it was not all plain sailing at the 18th, he finished his round with a close-range birdie, having clattered the flag with his third shot to narrowly miss out on an eagle.
A long wait followed, but with no one able to match his six-under-par total, Samooja got his name on the trophy and claimed a spot at the US Open Championship.
An emotional Samooja said: “It is truly special. It’s been a long journey. I’ve been close a few times.
“We had a number in mind today and we reached that. We thought it might be enough and it was a long two-hour wait at the clubhouse, seeing the guys battle it out.
“In the end, fortunately it was enough.
“We were pretty sure that it was going to be a playoff or we might even miss the playoff.
“I don’t know what happened in the end. I was just hoping to get a solo second place and get a ticket to the US Open but this is a little better.
“I was hitting the ball really well all week and when I saw the pins this morning I said to my caddie that there’s a low one out there.”
© Agence France-Presse
