Thomas Pieters ended his three year wait for a fourth European Tour title as he claimed a one-shot victory at the D+D Real Czech Masters to continue his love affair with Albatross Golf Resort.
Pieters, who secured his maiden win at the Prague venue in 2015, became the first man to win this event twice courtesy of a nerveless 69 which contained five birdies and two bogeys.
The 2016 Ryder Cup star led from start to finish on Sunday, with four birdies on the front nine keeping the chasing pack at arm’s length and a further gain at the 12th powering him over the line.
The winning margin could have been even greater, with Pieters narrowly missing a number of birdie chances early in his fourth round, but he also produced some wonderful par saves on the back nine as he made frontrunning look easy.
Pieters’ playing partner Adri Arnaus finished alone in second place on 18 under par after carding an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys in his closing 69.
Erik van Rooyen finished as the leading South African albeit in a somewhat disappointing share of fifth after a closing 71. He managed just three birdies on Sunday with bogeys at 12 and 13 halting any chance of hauling down the leaders. A cheque worth €30 960 and another step to the DP World Tour Championship will be his consolation as his searches for his maiden win on tour.
One South African, 11 made the weekend cut, to impress was Zander Lombard, who rose 39 places to close out the week in T11. Lombard turned in 31, made a single drop and closed with birdies at two of the final three holes to join countryman Haydn Porteous (68) in earning €17 233.
A closing 72 left Jacques Kruyswijk in the bunch tied for 23rd place with Darren Fichardt in the group tying for 30th.
