Simon Thornton of Ireland beat Tjaart Van der Walt on the first hole of a playoff to Open Hotels win Najeti his first European title Sunday. Both players shot 1-under 70 in the final round, each parring the last six holes to finish at 5-under 279. In the playoffs, Van der Walt of South Africa bogeyed No. 18 while Thornton did a short par putt to win the title.
LeaderboardGolf NAJETI Hotels OPEN US Open on TVWhat's in bagsWeek worth of winners of derby winning putter tweetsWho equipment?Who's winning the derby putter?Photos: Top 10 shotsPhotos: Golf equipment around the recapFriday recapSaturday recapSunday worldThursday recap. Seve Benson of England shot 70 to finish third, a shot back. Englishman Robert Dinwiddie was fourth after shooting 70 to total 282-one stroke clear of compatriot Chris Lloyd and Sweden's Pelle Edberg.
"I worked hard on my short game for a couple of years now so I am delighted," Thornton said. "I changed my putter and my technique by placing last week too, so that everyone has come together this week." Thornton tied for 11 at this tournament last year. His only other top-10 European tour finals was finishing ninth at the BMW International Open in Munich in 2010.
The Irishman tears dedicated victory to the deceased father. "It's so great to me," said Thornton. "Father's day, too. He disappeared three years ago and it still hurts. But today they are happy tears. This is dedicated to him. Thornton, Van der Walt and French Baptiste Chapellan went into the final round with a share of the lead. But Chapellan fell out of contention after making six bogeymen in a 77.
Van der Walt and Thornton swapped the lead on the front nine before Benson joined the hunt for the title on the back nine. Thornton Birdie on the 10th to move a stroke clear Van der Walt. But the South African rallied picking up a shot on the 12th. Benson hit two straight birdies to draw level at the top of the leaderboard but faded when he bogeyed the 16TH. "It's really disappointing to get so close and not finish it," said Van der Walt, a finalist at the Africa Open last year.