Thomas Detry made European Challenge Tour history to claim his first professional win as he romped to a stunning 12 shot victory at the Bridgestone Challenge.
The Belgian carried on his remarkable scoring at Heythrop Park Resort, picking up 11 birdies during his final round on his way to signing for a nine under par round of 63 to reach 29 under par overall – matching the joint lowest under par score in Challenge Tour history set by Ivó Giner in 2003.
The 23 year old, who broke the course record during his first round with a sublime 12 under par round of 60, also broke the record for the largest winning margin on the Challenge Tour, which was previously set at 10 shots by European Tour winner Brooks Koepka in 2013.
Detry, a former World Amateur Number Eight, was ecstatic with his record-breaking victory, and is looking forward to trying to climb higher up the rankings on the 2016 Road to Oman.
“I am lost for words,” he said. “It has been such a long day; yesterday was as well. We’ve had rain, we’ve had delays, we’ve had everything and to win like that was pretty awesome.
“I was able to stay in the zone and play some pretty good golf and it was a lot of fun. I feel so blessed and I am so happy right now.
“I talked to my caddie earlier today and I said ‘this is what I play golf for’. This is what drives me to play golf. There is no point in being nervous and being under pressure, just go out there and enjoy yourself.
“I started off the day with a birdie, that was great, then I had a very stupid double on hole number three but I didn’t let that affect me. I carried on with four birdies in a row and from there on I just let it roll.
“I think this win will mean I move up in the Rankings but I still need to go out there and put some numbers on the board. I am taking a week off next week – a much needed week off I think – but I am really looking forward to playing in the last five or six events.”
Detry’s victory was made all the sweeter by the news that his close friend, and fellow University of Illinois graduate, Thomas Pieters had won his third European Tour title in Denmark.
“It is amazing,” he said. “Last night we were texting each other saying ‘let’s do this, let’s win this for us, for our coach back home and our coach back in the United States’. It is awesome and we get along very well and it is really cool that we have both won today.”
