Golf

Thomas Pieters claims second successive European Tour victory at Dutch Open

Best of the Irish was Simon Thornton, his final round of 67 left him 11 under

Thomas Pieters of Belgium is presented with the trophy after winning the KLM Open. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Thomas Pieters of Belgium is presented with the trophy after winning the KLM Open. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Sun Sept 13 2015 - 18:02

Belgium's Thomas Pieters claimed a second successive European Tour victory as Lee Slattery bogeyed the final hole at the KLM Open in Holland.

Slattery, a joint overnight leader and winner of last week’s Russian Open, had the chance to match Pieters’ 19-under-par clubhouse total and force a play-off at Zandvoort but missed a five-foot putt on the 18th.

That meant Slattery dropped into a tie for second on 18 under alongside Spain’s Eduardo de la Riva, and Pieters triumphed by a single shot.

Best of the Irish was Simon Thornton, his final round of 67 left him 11 under. That was five shots better than Padraig Harrington and eight better than Peter Lawrie. Harrington carded a 71 in his final round, to finish in 55th. Lawrie finished 62nd, as Thornton was 23rd.

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Delighted

Pieters, who won his maiden title at the Czech Masters on his last outing a fortnight ago, began the day two off the lead and moved into contention with four birdies on the front nine. He picked up another shot on the 10th and — although he immediately gave that back with a bogey on the 11th — another birdie at 13 put him on course for a five-under-par round of 65.

Pieters was pleased with his victory but admitted he was nervous watching Slattery, who carded a 68, coming in.

He told europeantour.com: “I’m really, really happy. I felt like I played better in the Czech Republic, but my short game was great this week and saved me many times.

“I rolled in a couple of good ones early in the round and made a really good par save on the ninth which kept the round going.

“I had chances coming in and I felt like I needed to make a couple more.

“I feel bad for Lee as he played great. It wasn’t comfortable watching him play the last couple of holes. I was wishing I’d made one more birdie.

“I’m really happy overall with the week and how I played and it’s nice going forward from here.”

Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who also had a share of the overnight lead, finished in a tie for seventh on 15 under after a one-over-par 71.

Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti took fourth on 17 under after a superb 63. England’s Eddie Pepperell shot 64 to finish tied fifth on 16 under with Morten Orum Madsen of Denmark.