Czech Masters: Thomas Pieters becomes first two-time champion at Albatross

Belgium’s Thomas Pieters held off the chasing pack on Sunday afternoon to become the first two-time winner of the D+D Real Czech Masters.

Thomas Pieters, who started the final round of the Czech Masters with a one-shot lead, maintained that gap throughout to win by one come the end of the 72nd hole, as he rolled in a par putt on the 18th green at Albatross Golf Resort.

The Belgian, who was part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team three years ago, shot a round of 69 on Sunday, to finish the week with four rounds in the 60s.

He finished the event at -19, after rounds of 67, 67, 66 and 69 around there Albatross, to win the tournament for a second time, having done so in 2015 as well.

The Belgian finished a shot clear of Spain’s Adri Arnaus, who had catapulted himself into the final group on day four thanks to rounds of 65 on both Friday and Saturday.

The Spaniard birdied the last to put the pressure on Pieters, but in the end, came up just short on winning his first European Tour title.

The 2018 Czech Masters winner, Andrea Pavan, was one of two men to have shot the round of the day on Sunday. The Italian, who also won the BMW International earlier this year, shot a final round 65 to move into a tie for third alongside England’s Sam Horsfield, who also had four rounds in the 60s in the Czech Republic this week.

A further two shots back came a group of five men in a tie for 5th. They included Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg, who birdied the 15th hole thanks to this lovely chip-in.

The Swede was joined by South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen, Scotland’s Liam Johnston, Austrian Matthias Schwab and Chilean Hugo Leon, who capped off a fine week with his first ever top-ten on the European Tour. Robert Karlsson finished the week in 10th on -13.

Former champion Haydn Porteous, the winner of the Czech Masters two years ago, ended the week in a tie for 11th at -12, seven shots back. He was joined at the mark by countryman Zander Lombard, the other man to have shot 65 on the final day to charge up the leaderboard, and Finland’s Kim Koivu.

First round leader Edoardo Molinari ended the event in a tie for 14th at 11-under-par, after carding a final round of 75, his worst of the week. He was joined at -11 after 72 holes by Romain Wattel of France, England’s Jack Singh Brar and Norweigan golfer Kristoffer Reitan.

Five men carded rounds of 77 on Sunday, including Finland’s Mikko Korhonen. The Finn had been inside the top ten going into the final day, but ended the week in a tie for 39th.

The Tour moves to Sweden for the next event. The Scandinavian Invitation beings on Thursday, with Englishman Paul Waring looking to defend his title at Hills Golf Club, just outside the Swedish city of Gothenburg.