Martin Couvra continued his impressive start to life on the DP World Tour with a maiden victory at the Turkish Airlines Open.
Related: Robinson Thompson surges ahead in Turkey
A brilliant closing 64 saw the 22-year-old HotelPlanner Tour graduate claim victory at Regnum Carya with a 17-under-par total, two shots ahead of China’s Haotong Li and Jorge Campillo of Spain, as the European Swing got under way on the 2025 Race to Dubai.
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Couvra, who has already posted four top-ten finishes in his rookie season, had led at the halfway stage but a third-round 72 left him four shots off the pace going into the final round.
A blistering start which included four birdies over the first six holes soon propelled him back into contention, and he found himself battling Li at the top of the leaderboard when overnight leader Brandon Robinson Thompson bogeyed the sixth.
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Li also started well with three birdies in his first five holes and looked on course for a fifth DP World Tour title when he hit a fine approach to four feet at the ninth and converted to turn in 30.
A slight wobble around the turn saw Couvra drop shots at the eighth and tenth, either side of a birdie from five feet at the ninth.
A hat-trick of gains from the 11th, thanks largely to some excellent approach play, saw Couvra surge back into contention and Li followed a gain at the 12th with a bogey at the next after hitting a tree with his second.
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Up ahead Couvra was in the process of birdieing the 14th to go two shots clear and the 29-year-old Li — now a three-time runner up at this event – was unable to make the birdies required over the closing stretch to force a play-off.
Five birdies in eight holes from the eighth saw Campillo make a late surge through the field, but his hopes of victory ended when he left his birdie effort on the 17th agonisingly short.
Robinson Thompson finished fourth on 13 under after a 72, with Joost Luiten and Matthew Southgate a shot further back in a tie for fifth.
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England’s Chris Woods was amongst the group of five players at 11 under, recording his first DP World Tour top-ten finish since 2018 after battling chronic anxiety. Meanwhile Leon Acikalin finished in a tie for 33rd at seven under after becoming the first Turkish player to make the cut at his home open.
Winner’s Quotes
Martin Couvra: It is just amazing to win in my first year on the DP World Tour. It’s just a dream. I wake up in the morning to win tournaments, but to win as early as this is just amazing, I’m really happy.
It was really difficult to keep calm and keep in good shape to close this round. But really happy about all of the decisions with my caddie, it was just amazing today. To close this tournament with this (trophy) is just amazing.
My heart was beating so hard today. But on the course it was just amazing, lots of discussions with my caddie during the round.
Yesterday was not a really bad day, just no momentum in the round, and at the end of the day I was still in a good position for today. So, I was just trying to keep positive after my third round. I feel like it was a good direction after today
It was amazing to see all of the players who are here with me this year (waiting to congratulate him after his round).
