Little-known American Paul Peterson has birdied two of his last three holes at the Czech Masters to snatch victory from defending champion Thomas Pieters by one stroke.
The 28-year-old began the final round two shots adrift of Pieters after scorching around the Albatross Golf Resort in a course record 64 on Saturday. The Phoenix-based Peterson followed that low round with a 67 to reach 15 under and claim the win ahead of Pieters, who closed with a two under 70.
England’s Ryan Evans and fellow countryman David Howell were a further three shots back in a tie for third at 11 under.
Both Peterson and Pieters started slowly with a birdie and bogey each in the first two holes. But it was the lesser experienced Peterson who began his run with a birdies at 3rd and 5th holes to grab a share of the lead.
Peterson then took advantage of the par-5 9th for the third day in a row, making his fourthe birdie of the round to move a shot clear of Pieters in what was becoming a two-horse race.
A bogey after finding a greenside bunker on the par-4 11th dropped Peterson back into a tie with Pieters, which was the status quo until the par-3 16th hole when Peterson hit his tee shot to two feet and tapped-in for birdie and the lead.
It would prove to be the decisive blow, as the pair both parred the 17th and birdied the 18th hole. Although Pieters made Peterson work for it. The Belgian stiffed his approach to three feet on the 72nd hole to leave a guaranteed birdie, leaving Peterson his 17-footer for birdie to seal the win. He rolled it in like a seasoned pro.
"I didn't really watch him hit a shot today, to be honest," Peterson said. "I know he's a long hitter and I play a little bit more precision golf. I was just trying to frustrate him because I knew I would be hitting in first a lot so I just stuck to my process all day and was able to hit some fantastic shots under the pump."
Peterson’s maiden win came in his 23rd European Tour event and he becomes the 11th first-time winner this season. He is also just the seventh left-hander to ever win on the Europan in Tour history. It was a significant improvement on his start in this event in 2015 when he missed the cut.
"This is the best feeling in the world," he said. "My team and I have put in so much hard work and long hours by everybody and I'm just so happy.
“We had this as a goal this year and to be able to accomplish it means so much.
"It was fantastic, the crowds have been great all week. My sports psychologist was on the bag this week and my coach and my girlfriend came all the way from Phoenix. It's just so great to have all the team here."
For Pieters, who finished just out of the medals at the Olympics in Rio, his runner-up placing will be good for the bank balance but not his aspirations to make the Ryder Cup team as he needed to win to remain a chance of claiming a spot.
Australia’s best was Brett Rumford, who got to seven under and within a handful of shot of the lead, before fading after two back nine bogies. He finished with a 73 to take a share of 19th place. Fellow West Australian Jason Scrivener was a further two strokes back in T35, alongside Perth-born Victorian Terry Pilkadaris.
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