Thomas Pieters was left to rue a cold putter as he finished one shot behind Paul Peterson after a thrilling final-day battle at the D+D REAL Czech Masters.
Pieters was defending the title he won in such style last year and came into the final day with a two-shot lead but, while he saw putts brush the lip numerous times on his way to a 70, Peterson stormed to a 67.
Trailing by one up the last, Pieters put a brilliant approach to three feet to heap on the pressure but Peterson showed the nerve of a champion and made a birdie from 17 feet.
"It was too many missed putts," said Pieters. "I did not make any today. I played good and I stayed patient and I just couldn't get the ball in the hole.
"I've hit it well all week but I hit a couple of bad putts and then a couple that just didn't want to go in. It's just not my day.
"At 16 and 17 I needed to get up and down to give myself a chance, then coming down 18 I needed to hit a good shot and I did. But fair play to Paul, he made a wonderful putt to win and that's how it goes."
Rookie Ryan Evans finished four shots behind the winner after holding the first round lead and he was delighted to secure a first career top ten.
This is a massive boost for me. The confidence is there and this is going to give me more going into the next few tournaments - Ryan Evans
"That's definitely my best performance on the European Tour," he said. "At the beginning of the week I came with a game plan and I'm playing well. I just had to take my time, see the shot and hit as many fairways and greens as possible.
"I think I did that very well today, I played some beautiful golf. I could have holed a few more putts but I'll take a bogey-free round.
"This is a massive boost for me. The confidence is there and this is going to give me more going into the next few tournaments."
David Howell - a five-time winner on the European Tour - also finished at 11 under and was happy to be back in contention at the right end of the leaderboard.
"I'm delighted with the performance really," he said. "Going out with a slim chance today I figured I needed a 64 and I had a 68, four back, but it was a decent effort and it was nice to get into the mix today and get the thrill of being in the hunt again – the nerves and adrenaline."
