Marcel Siem returned to the winners’ circle after securing a one-stroke victory at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, and with it a place in The 149th Open Championship.
The 40-year-old birdied two of the last three holes to post a four under par round of 67 to finish one stroke clear of Chilean Hugo Leon to claim a maiden European Challenge Tour title and first professional victory since the 2014 BMW Masters in China.
The four-time European Tour winner moves to third on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and was delighted to be back to winning ways after admitting he was close to retirement.
“The last three years have been hard,” he said. “My golf was always there I just didn’t believe in it. I have a new mental coach, a completely new team around me and under new management. I think they have changed a lot.
“A year and a half ago when we started I was sitting in Mauritius and I was debating whether I still wanted to play. I just couldn’t get it going, I was losing it on the golf course all the time and I wasn’t patient enough. I’m so happy that I’m on the right track now and with #mywayback on Instagram it now all belongs together and I’m very grateful for the people helping me now.”
The German has also secured a coveted spot in The Open Championship next week but insists that finishing in the top 20 of the Road to Mallorca Rankings is his main priority. Siem was grateful to have daughter Victoria by his side this week and believes her positivity played a huge part in his triumph.
“I’m not sure if I will play The Open yet,” he said. “I need to check where I am in the Rankings because of course, I want to play in the Major Championship but finishing in the top 20 this season is the most important thing. I need to talk to my coach and wife to make that decision.
“Victoria is great, she’s so positive all the time and she told me on day one that we would win. I’m so proud that she’s with me now and I was dreaming always of that.”
Spaniards Alfredo Garcia-Heredia and Ivan Cantero Gutierrez shared third on 11 under par, while Road to Mallorca Number One Santiago Tarrio and South African Jacques Blaauw finished in a tie for fourth on ten under par. Englishman Andrew Wilson and France’s David Ravetto shared seventh place on eight under par.
The Road to Mallorca now visits Austria, with the Euram Bank Open taking place from July 15-18.
