Tjaart Van der Walt remains winless on the European Tour – Golf News
Tjaart Van der Walt, who held the lead after every round of the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC, missed out on a chance of claiming his first European Tour title after he lost to Simon Thornton on the first
extra hole in the playoffs, on Sunday, June 16, 2013.
Van der Walt played amazingly well throughout the tournament and did not allow any one in the field to surpass him on the leaderboard.
Entering the final round, he was sharing the lead with Thornton and despite the difficult playing conditions on Sunday, he managed to card a one-under par score.
In the meantime, Thornton also drained four birdie putts while conceding three bogeys to force the game to enter into the sudden death playoffs.
On the first extra hole, Van der Walt faltered for a bogey, which Thornton took advantage of and secured his victory in the event, courtesy to his par putt on the 18th hole of the course for the fifth time during the week.
Talking to the European Tour’s official website, he expressed his disappointment in failing to secure his first European Tour victory at the Aa St Omer Golf Club.
“It’s really disappointing to get so close and not finish it off,” he said. “I just didn’t chip well today and bad wedge shots cost me a bogey at the fifth and a double-bogey at the eighth, which is unacceptable.”
“But the rest of my game is pretty close. I think if I can iron out those little mistakes I can go on to win tournaments by bigger margins and I'm the kind of person who gets motivated by these kind of things so hopefully the door
will open again and I can do it with flying colours next time,” he added.
Seve Benson, in the meantime, managed to record his best finish on the European Tour, as he finished third on the leaderboard, just one stroke behind the playoff duo.
Baptiste Chapellan, who also shared the lead entering the final round, faltered for a six-over par 77 and finished tied for the 15th position.
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