British Masters: Daniel Hillier won his first DP World Tour Championship by a two-stroke margin at the Betfred British Masters.
During a dramatic final day at The Belfry, the New Zealander overcame a three-stroke deficit with two eagles and a birdie over his final four holes to shoot a six-under 66 and establish the winning total at 10 under.
Hillier finished two shots ahead of overnight leader Oliver Wilson and American Gunner Wiebe, who equalled his final-round 66, with all three players earning Open Qualifying Series places later this month.
Former world number one Andy Sullivan slipped on the last day with a three-over 75, finishing three strokes down in fourth place alongside Calum Hill and Ewen Ferguson.
Hillier started with back-to-back pars before making a two-putt birdie at the par-five third, before holing from 15 feet to scramble a bogey at the sixth after hitting water with his approach.
Hillier reached the turn under par for the day after a five-foot birdie at the ninth, with a run of pars punctuated by a remarkable 40-foot eagle at the par-five 15th.
Hillier delivered a fantastic approach into the next to set up a close-range birdie and struck a six-foot eagle at the par-five 17th to increase his lead, with an eight-foot par at the last – after almost striking the trophy with his second ball – sealing a thrilling win.
“I’m astounded,” Hillier added. “To be honest, I think it’ll take me a while to process. I wasn’t feeling it at all early in the day. I was a little uneasy about the driver; I didn’t have many opportunities, but I knew there was plenty coming in.
“I didn’t think I’d take them so well, but I’m obviously overjoyed. I won’t lie, I was certainly looking at the scoreboard and seeing my name up there, thinking about what it would be like to finish it off, but it’s all a bit of a haze really.”
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