Published on May 21, 2018

Otaegui Goes the Distance in Belgian Knockout

ANTWERPEN, BELGIUM – MAY 20: Adrian Otaegui of Spain poses with the trophy after beating Benjamin Hebert during their final match to win the tournament on the final day of the Belgian Knockout at Rinkven International Golf Club on May 20, 2018, in Antwerpen, Belgium. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Adrian Otaegui claimed the second European Tour of his career, and his second in 20 appearances, at the Belgian Knockout after the Spaniard sealed a two-stroke victory over Benjamin Hebert in the final of the innovative nine-hole stroke play knockout event.

The 25-year-old thrilled the huge Belgian crowds at Rinkven International Golf Club with four birdies in the space of five holes in the grand finale having fallen a shot behind on the second hole.

The Basque player levelled the match, however, as he picked up a shot at the fourth before a trio of consecutive birdies from the sixth moved him two shots clear of his French counterpart, who could only pick up a shot at the seventh hole.

A pair of pars at the last meant that Otaegui, whose last appearance at the Volvo China Open yielded a runner-up finish, moved to 14th place in the Race to Dubai and means that both of his victories have come in knockout formats having won last year’s Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play.

Otaegui said, “I’m very happy, very relaxed now – the last nine holes against Ben though were very tight. I think we both played very good golf, and I’m just very proud of my week.

“He made a good birdie on the second, and then I was fairly lucky on four, because I hit my driver a little bit to the right and it didn’t go into the water. It was in the hazard but it wasn’t in the water, just two feet away. I played a super shot there to just one foot with an eight-iron. I think that was a very, very important shot. And then after, on the next holes, I played very well and gave myself a lot of birdie chances.

“I’m looking forward to focusing on the Rolex Series next, there are some big events coming and just want to focus on that and there’s still a long season ahead.”

Scot David Drysdale claimed third place after triumphing in the third and fourth place play-off, beating Englishman James Heath, who can console himself with late qualification for a maiden appearance at next week’s BMW PGA Championship in his native Surrey.

Heath had earlier in the day knocked out the home favourite Nicolas Colsaerts in the quarter-final, but the former Ryder Cup did pick up his best result of the season with a seventh-placed finish.

 

 

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