South Africans George Coetzee and Justin Walters both fired closing 67s to finish in a share for third at the KLM Open, writes WADE PRETORIUS.

Coetzee’s European Tour comeback – which includes a new fitness programme combined with some swing changes – was given some added momentum after he took away R1 154 185 from The Dutch in Spijk on Sunday.

Coetzee finished level after nine holes, but four back-nine birdies without a dropped shot helped him finish in the pack two behind France’s Romain Wattel.

Joining Coetzee in that group was Justin Walters – who matched Coetzee’s 67 in the final round. Walters turned in two-under after birdies at 6 and 8, but dropped one back with a bogey at the 11th. His day quickly got back on track after an eagle at the 15 – a hole where he’d made three pars to that point. A birdie on 18 helped him finish on -13 to share third.

Wattel landed his first European Tour title after a dramatic finish at the KLM Open in Spijk.

The Frenchman, who had recorded 25 top-ten finishes in his previous 186 events without tasting victory, was in control for much of the final round, but survived a late scare when he missed the green with his approach to the last.

He successfully got up and down for par and a closing 69, which gave him a 15-under total.

That was one ahead of fast-finishing Canadian Austin Connelly, with Kiradech Aphibarnrat – Wattel’s main challenger for much of the day – finding water with his second to the 18th and dropping to 12-under with the subsequent double bogey.

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