Simon Forsstrom wins maiden DP World Tour title in Antwerp ahead of Swedish countryman Jens Dantorp by a shot: "I think the course suits me very well, it's pretty tight and short. I won on the Challenge Tour in Belgium, so I think Belgium is good! I think I feel very at home here."
Sunday 14 May 2023 18:08, UK
Sweden's Simon Forsstrom claimed his maiden DP World Tour title as he continued his love affair with Belgium by holding off countryman Jens Dantorp to win the Soudal Open by a single shot.
Forsstrom had looked on course for a straightforward victory when he made two front-nine birdies to extend his one-shot overnight lead to three at the turn.
But things began to unravel on the back nine as the 34-year-old followed up a double bogey at the 10th with a bogey on the 12th to surrender the outright lead.
Dantorp then hit the front on his own after birdieing the 13th but Forsstrom bounced back with gains at the 14th, 16th and 17th to edge back ahead.
And despite missing the fairway on the last, Forsstrom gave himself another birdie chance there before settling for a par which was good enough to bring him a first win at this level.
Forsstrom's final-round 69 saw him finish the tournament on 17 under par, one ahead of Dantorp, who shot a closing 67.
Dane Thorbjorn Olesen was two shots further back in third after posting a flawless 66 on Sunday.
Forsstrom, who earned his DP World Tour card for this season with a two-stroke victory at the final stage of Qualifying School in November, also won in Belgium on the Challenge Tour in 2016 and revealed he feels at home there.
He said: "I think the course suits me very well, it's pretty tight and short.
"I won on the Challenge Tour in Belgium, so I think Belgium is good!
"It's pretty similar to Sweden, the trees and the grass, so I think I feel very at home here."
England's Matthew Southgate finished in a tie for fourth on 13 under after signing for a closing 68.
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