D+D Real Czech Masters – Day four digest

Everything you need to know from day four in the Czech Republic.

Maximilian Kieffer emerged victorious for the first time on Tour at the 249th attempt as Gavin Green suffered heartache at the last in a dramatic finish on the final day of the 2022 D+D Real Czech Masters.

Here is everything you need from Sunday at Albatross Golf Resort near Prague. 

Kieffer claims maiden Tour title

Maximilian Kieffer won his first DP World Tour title at the 249th attempt with a one-shot victory as overnight leader Gavin Green missed an eight-foot birdie putt at the 18th to force a play-off. The German, who started the final day four shots off the lead, carded seven birdies and one bogey in a six-under-par 66 to reach 16 under par in a tournament reduced to 54 holes due to heavy rain on Saturday. The 32-year-old is the 11th first-time winner on Tour this season and victory lifts him to 32nd in the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex. "I don't know how I feel, I think it will need a few days,” he said. “I just love golf, I just love to play golf. Even if I had not won, I still have a great life, I still enjoy playing golf. So now to win it's even better.” Asked about his second shot into the 17th green which led to a birdie and ultimately proved the decisive moment, he added: “I felt really calm and confident all day, I had a great feeling, and I did a great warm-up. I was just ready to attack today."

Agony for Green

Five of the top six players on the leaderboard going into the final round were chasing their first Tour win, including 36-hole leader Green. The Malay held a three-shot overnight lead and was still ahead by one through his first ten holes after three birdies and no bogeys. But after an errant drive at the 14th found the water leading to a double bogey, he found himself out of the lead for the first time since Friday afternoon. Needing a birdie at the last to force a play-off with clubhouse leader Kieffer, Green struck a fantastic approach to eight feet but then saw his birdie cruelly lip out before he sank to his knees in dismay. The runner-up finish – the second of his DP World Tour career – lifts him 80 places in the DP World Tour Rankings to 68th.

Lombard finishes strong

A round-of-the-day eight-under-par 64 featuring no dropped shots lifted South African Zander Lombard to fifth spot on 13 under.

Mansell displays his talent

At the end of a six-week long run of events it wasn’t to be the finish that Richard Mansell wanted as the Englishman finished tied 23rd after a two-over-par 74 on Sunday. However, the Englishman certainly impressed once again over the week, including a brilliant second shot to the tenth green which led to an eagle, his second of the tournament on the very hole.

Sharvin registers his best DP World Tour finish

After a run of 13 missed cuts dating back to March, Northern Ireland’s Cormac Sharvin secured his best finish on the DP World Tour as he shot a closing 66 to end the week tied for 13th on 10 under par. The early starter on Sunday birdied four of his five opening holes and was eight under through 12 holes for the day before he made three bogeys down the stretch. The performance, which lifts him to 229th in the DP World Tour Rankings, should provide him renewed hope he can work his way back inside the top 125 and retain his full playing privileges for next season.