Kristoffer Reitan made it a day to remember as he set a new course record at Rinkven International Golf Club and then won his maiden DP World Tour title in a play-off at the Soudal Open.
Related: Ewen Ferguson battles conditions to keep Soudal Open lead
The Norwegian posted a sublime nine under par round of 62 to set the target at 13 under par, and after Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson saw his par putt lip out at the last, the duo returned to the 18th hole for a play-off with Dutchman Darius van Driel.
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The trio all parred the first extra hole and although all three had birdie putts on the second additional trip down the 18th, the Norwegian was the only one who found the bottom of the cup and secured what looked an unlikely victory at the start of the day. His win is the third victory by players from Norway on the DP World Tour, joining compatriot Viktor Hovland in the winner’s circle.
Reitan started the day nine shots behind overnight leader Ferguson and teed off almost three hours before the last group out, but posted the lowest round of his DP World Tour career to set the target.
He birdied the first before dropping a shot at the third and at that stage there was little warning of what was to come, but a further nine birdies – including four in a row from the tenth – saw him join Ferguson on 13 under.
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Challengers gradually fell by the wayside in Antwerp, with Ferguson twice dropping a shot over the opening stretch only to immediately birdie the next on both occasions to retake a share of the lead.
Ferguson birdied the eighth from 12 feet to go to 14 under but this time the roles were reversed as he dropped a shot at the next after finding a bunker with his approach, and it appeared to be a question on the back nine of whether the Scot could overhaul the Norwegian HotelPlanner Tour graduate’s clubhouse total.
The deadlock was finally broken when Ferguson drove in to a bunker at the short par-four 16th, only to fire a brilliant effort from 42 yards to tap-in range.
However, the three-time DP World Tour winner parred the 17th after laying up and then overhit his approach to the last against the grandstand and was unable to get up and down.
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Van Driel’s run to the play-off was almost as unlikely as Reitan’s. Having drifted out of contention with 12 straight pars to start his round, the Dutchman finally made birdie on the 13th and finished with a spectacular hat-trick of gains, culminating in a 25-foot effort at the last.
China’s Haotong Li, South African Thriston Lawrence, American Troy Merritt and English pair John Parry and Jordan Smith shared fourth on ten under.
Reitan’s victory sees him climb to tenth on the Race to Dubai Rankings and to the top of the European Swing Rankings.
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Player quotes
Kristoffer Reitan: This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I keep thinking back to a few years ago when I was seriously considering giving up the game — I just wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I didn’t see any progress. To be able to turn it around like I have over the last couple of years has been incredible, and to seal it with a win now… it’s just unbelievable. Honestly, I’m speechless.
Winning wasn’t even on my mind today — I just wanted to go out and play a solid round. I’ve been really focused on sticking to my process lately. I know that sounds cliché — everyone says “shot by shot” — but I’ve been doing a good job of it, and today was no different. It honestly felt like it was my day. And by the end, it really proved to be my day, which is just amazing.
