Kristoffer Reitan wins Soudal Open, top-50 finish for Conor Purcell
There was heartbreak for Scotland's Ewen Ferguson as Kristoffer Reitan won the Soudal Open after holding his nerve in a play-off following a stunning course-record 62, while Ireland's Conor Purcell finished just inside the top 50.
Reitan started the day nine shots behind overnight leader Ferguson and teed off almost three hours before the last group went out.
He overcame Ferguson, who bogeyed the last when a par would have secured victory, and Dutchman Darius van Driel in a play-off by converting a 15-foot birdie putt at the second extra hole.
Having started the day in 23rd place, Reitan produced 10 birdies against a single bogey to set a testing clubhouse target.
Ferguson twice edged ahead with birdies at the eighth and 16th but was unable to hang on, hitting his approach to the last against the grandstand and failing to get up and down.
"I don't know what to say, its been a dream of mine since I was a little kid," said Reitan.
"I keep thinking back to a few years ago when I was considering stopping playing because I didn't find it enjoyable any more, didn't see progress, and to be able to turn it around the way I have been doing the last couple of years has been amazing - to seal it with victory here is ridiculous.
"(Winning) wasn't even on my mind. I just wanted to play a good round of golf, been working hard on trying to stick to my process recently. Obviously today I felt like it was a little bit my day and that was evident at the end... I couldn't be more thrilled."
Van Driel's run to the play-off was almost as unlikely as Reitan's. Having drifted out of contention with 11 straight pars to start his round, the Dutchman finally made birdie on the 13th and finished with a spectacular hat-trick of gains, culminating in a 25-foot effort at the last.
China's Haotong Li, South African Thriston Lawrence, American Troy Merritt and English pair John Parry and Jordan Smith shared fourth on 10 under.
Meanwhile, Malahide native Purcell finished off with a three-over 74 to end up on one under and in a tie for 49th.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Ex-Man United midfielder set to sign for Marseille
FORMER MANCHESTER United attacking midfielder Angel Gomes has agreed to join Marseille, the French club announced on Wednesday. The 24-year-old will be a free agent when his contract with fellow French outfit Lille finishes at the end of the month, having joined them from United in 2020. Advertisement He made 10 appearances for boyhood club United before moving to the Ligue 1 side, where he scored 10 goals in 134 outings. Gomes earned the last of his four England international caps in November 2024. The 1993 Champions League winners said on social media they had 'reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club', without adding further details about the deal. – © AFP 2025
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm a Mayo man' – John Joe Patrick opens up on roots and dream of more caps after Republic of Ireland debut
IRELAND fans are still getting to know John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa and even what to call him. Some fans call him Finn, others John Joe, while he is known at French club 2 John Joe Patrick Finn is honoured to play for Ireland as his late father was from Mayo 2 The Stade de Reims ace is excited to create a legacy with Ireland The back of his shirt when he came on for his Ireland debut against Advertisement So what does he prefer to be called? He said: 'I prefer John but there are a lot of Johns in the squad, it's more easy.' The 6ft 4in 21-year-old is a player that naturally excites fans when he bursts onto the international scene given his impressive CV that is like no other in the Ireland squad. Born in Madrid, his mother Odetta is French with Cameroon heritage while his late father - also John - hailed from Galway but had Mayo roots. Advertisement READ MORE ON GAA Spanish is his mother tongue and he told Luxembourgish journalists he did not feel comfortable being interviewed in French yet, but spoke happily to Irish journalists in English. The midfielder said: 'My dad is from Ireland, also my grandfather and when I was young every summer I went to Ballyhaunis. 'So I had that connection when I was young, it really mattered. I am a Mayo man. 'It was nice, growing up it was so different from Madrid, where I lived. Those summers were really great, with my family, we had a great time, great days.' Advertisement Most read in Football He actually played for Salthill Devon for a while though he was first noticed by Irish fans when he joined Real Madrid as a nine-year-old. It was at Getafe he made his breakthrough making ten La Liga appearances as a teenager even as he finished school and progressed into the Ireland Under-19 squad. He earned Ireland Under-21 call-ups too and was also eligible for Spain, France and Cameroon. But while that was a focus in Ireland and led Advertisement ALWAYS IRELAND He said: 'Cameroon no, France no, Spain no, always Ireland. It's always good that the coach makes the effort to go and see you, to speak with me.' His debut came in the last minute as a replacement for Jason Knight on Tuesday night, though the midfielder admitted that it was not quite the debut of his dreams. He said: 'I feel good, I am a bit disappointed with the result, it was not the way I wanted to make my debut but I will just keep working and continue on this way. 'I feel ok but the last minute, it's not the way that everybody wants to make their debut, it's high intensity, into the game and it's not easy.' Advertisement But the 21-year-old hopes that his debut can be the first of many caps having quickly got up to speed with what Hallgrímsson expects from his midfielders. He said: 'He just told me I had to get the tactics, how the team works and I think I am catching the way the team play. We still have a bit of work to do but I am happy. 'The experience was good, the group has a lot of quality, I think if we can continue this way we can do good things. 'We are hungry, we are conscious that we are in a top World Cup group but with the work we are doing we can do it.' Advertisement Ireland's next games come in September with the beginning of the World Cup qualification campaign at home to Hungary and away to Armenia. And the midfielder hopes that a good start to the season with Stade Reims, who were relegated last season, can keep him in Hallgrímsson's plans. He also believes that next year is a big year for him when he expects to play regularly for Reims after a difficult settling in period in France. He added: 'At the beginning it was not easy, I was alone, my family stayed in Madrid but in the end the club made things really easy so the time I adapted was quick and the culture is nice. Advertisement 'It was a difficult moment to end the season like this (with relegation), but to come here is a bit of a distraction from the club, I had great days, now I can rest a bit and come back.'
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
'He will be really proud' - John Patrick Finn fulfills late dad's wish for him to play for Ireland
'I prefer to be called John,' says Ireland's latest debutant, whose full name is John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa. He's 21 but various versions of his name have formed part of the Irish football discourse since before he reached 10. His distinctive hairstyle caught attention but giddiness abounded when it was discovered this nine-year-old namechecked on the Ryan Tubridy Show was eligible for Ireland. Meritocracy knows no age in the footballing industry and the stylish midfielder emerged from a competitive trial of 200 boys to be recruited by Real Madrid. Born to a Cameroonian mother and English father, whose parents lived in Ballyhaunis Co Mayo, the name was a giveaway about his lineage. Yet this wasn't a case of a player possessing tenuous Irish connections seeking a ticket to the international football circuit. Finn spent his summers in the west of Ireland, lining out for Galway side Salthill Devon on occasion. Then his name began to morph. John Patrick was the primary moniker but John Joe was used within an Irish context. Read More Three bright sparks from a frustrating Irish night in Luxembourg Being the only John in the Irish camp, apart from assistant manager O'Shea, played into his preference for the one name title. He was raised in Spain, now operates in France for Stade de Reims but is unequivocal about his identity. 'I am a Mayo man,' he affirmed in his broken English after appearing as a late substitute against Luxembourg on Tuesday. 'My Dad is from Ireland, also my grandfather, and when I was young every summer I went to Ballyhaunis. 'Mayo was different to Madrid where I lived. Those summers were really great with my family - we had a great time and days together. 'So, I had that connection from when I was young and it really matters.' The one pang of disappointment about his bow was his Dad not being around. He passed away in recent years but held a lifelong wish for his son to represent Ireland. 'I know he will be really proud,' said his son. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson with John Joe Patrick Finn after the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne. His club career entailed a move from Real to Getafe and last season onto Ligue 1 in a seven-figure move. Making his debut against PSG and figuring in the French Cup final were his highlights but Reims suffered relegation. That might widen the latitude for the newcomer to string games together and he realises that's necessary to be in the equation for the Ireland squad that embarks on the World Cup qualifiers. Heimir Hallgrimsson recently made a two-hour drive to meet Finn to ascertain his international commitment. The player insisted Ireland was the only country for him and rival countries didn't pose a dilemma. 'It's not the way that everybody wants to make their debut – playing the last few minutes,' he confessed. 'Being a high intensity match, it wasn't easy getting into the game. 'The manager just told me I had to get the tactics, how the team works and I think I am catching the way the team plays. 'The experience was good. This squad has a lot of quality. I know we have a difficult qualifying group but I think we can do good things.'
