Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee held off a strong challenge from Graeme Storm to capture his seventh European Tour title by one shot in the Porsche European Open at Golf Resort Bad Griesbach.
With Storm in the clubhouse on 16 under par after a round of 67, the pressure was on Jaidee, whose one-shot advantage looked slender when his approach hit the greenside hospitality unit and he required a protracted ruling with his ball lying in between re-laid turf.
Unperturbed by the untimely incident, the calm 45 year old chipped up to eight feet and holed the putt for par, sealing a bogey-free round of 67 and winning total of 17 under to claim the title.
It was Jaidee’s third victory on European soil, following the Wales Open in 2012 and Nordea Masters in 2014.
Storm had to settle for finishing runner up for the second time in the European Open, ten years after claiming the same position behind Kennie Ferrie at The K Club. The Englishman, who lost in a play-off to David Lipksy in last year’s Omega European Masters, had the consolation of securing his European Tour card for next season, and after moving up to 66th position on the Race to Dubai, has now set his sights on a place in November’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.