New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier won the British Masters at The Belfry, giving him his first DP World Tour triumph.
Before a birdie on the following hole and another eagle on the 17th, the 24-year-old holed a 40-foot putt for an eagle on the 15th hole. Hillier finished with a final-round score of 66 at 10 under par and guaranteed his spot at the Open Championship later this month. Additionally, he receives £468,000 in prize money.
“I’m stunned. To be honest, I believe it will take me some time to absorb,” said Hillier, who started Sunday’s round three strokes behind the six joint leaders.
“I wasn’t feeling it at all early in the day. I didn’t have many opportunities, but I knew some possibilities were coming in and was a little uneasy with the driver. I didn’t believe I would react to them well, but I’m quite happy.
I won’t deny that I was thinking about how it would feel to finish it off while I was scanning the scoreboard and seeing my name there, but it’s all a bit of a haze now.”
English player Oliver Wilson was one of six players in the lead after the last round on Saturday, but he was forced to settle for second place overall, two strokes behind Hillier, along with American Gunner Wiebe.
With a birdie on the 18th hole, England’s Wilson won the last Open qualification position from Scotland’s Calum Hill, who had to settle for a tie for fourth with fellow countryman Ewen Ferguson and tournament favourite Justin Rose.
