Romain Wattel - Photo: DR - Source: European Tour via Twitter

French golf has a new champion! By returning this Sunday to Spijk a card of 69 (-2), enough to secure a move ahead in the final in this KLM Open 2017, Romain Wattel won the first tournament of his career on the European circuit, and is became the 15th tricolor golfer to win on the European Tour. A victory and long awaited for this player now 26 years old, pro and member of the Tour for seven seasons, who took this week in the Netherlands the 187th start of his already long career at the highest level. After 25 tops 10 including several stinging failures in the home stretch (in 2014 for example, he had played 74 on Sunday in the same Dutch open to finish 5th, while he started the last lap alone in the lead, with three hits. 'advance), the former protege of federal coach Olivier Léglise, who for a few months has found the coach of his debut at Bussy, Frank Schmid, finally offers himself a well-deserved consecration. “Coming here I wasn't playing really well, to be honest. Last week (in Switzerland, editor's note), I had a lot of trouble. So I'm delighted with the way I've played this week, especially this weekend, ”he said, all smiles, after his triumph.

Exempt until the end of 2019

Third Frenchman to inscribe his name on the trophy, after his distant predecessors Marcel Dallemagne in 1933 and Auguste Boyer the previous year, Wattel was the strongest this Sunday, in difficult conditions and on a course of The Dutch fiercely defended by complicated flag positions. Author of three birdies early in the game (at 2, 4 and 6), the native of Montpellier was less successful thereafter, conceding two bogeys at 8 and 11 against a last birdie at 10. “I never thought of to score, but just to do my best. It wasn't all perfect, but my putting was really good from start to finish. I didn't feel very comfortable at the end, and I just tried to take the greens at 16 and 17, whose flags were difficult, because I knew I could do the par, even from a distance ” , he said. Making a final 69 (-2), Wattel finished at -15 overall, a blow in front of young Canadian Austin Connelly, author of a flamboyant 66 (-5). With the 300 points collected this Sunday, he is now 000th in the Race to Dubai, but above all exempt on the European Tour until the end of 55!

Valiant Stalter Third

Aligned in the last part this Sunday with Wattel and the Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat (finally 9th after double bogeys at 15 and 18), Joël Stalter is among the six players tied for 3rd at -13. The Lorrainer, beating fast with four birdies on the first eight holes, led the tournament for a long time, alone or in the company of his playing partners. But, victim of a drop in speed on the return and guilty of three bogeys between the 11 and 15, the rookie had to leave the victory to his compatriot. “I gave myself a chance to win. I did a great go, but on the return it was unfortunately less pinned. I have a little bitter taste to finish 3rd, because we are a lot of equal. But it's my best week on the European Tour, so I'm going to remember that, and I know I'm not far from having what it takes to win, ”he said. Despite this, he signed the best performance of his career on the Tour, and jumped to 129th place in the R2D thanks to 73 points pocketed. If he still has a way to go to integrate the top 500 and thus keep his card next year (he is now about 100 points behind), the student of Hugh Marr has given himself a lot of hopes for the end of the season.

Berardo ends well

Nice performance also from Clément Berardo (67, -4), who ranks 17th at -9 overall and will appear next week at the Portugal Masters, still on the European Tour, in confidence. Matthieu Pavon (72, +1) and Damien Perrier (71, par) finished 38th at -5, while Sébastien Gros (74, +3) finished 70th at +5.