NBO Golf Classic: Clement Sordet wins Viking Challenge on ‘Road to Oman’

Sports Monday 21/August/2017 14:28 PM
By: Times News Service
NBO Golf Classic: Clement Sordet wins Viking Challenge on ‘Road to Oman’

Muscat: With only nine more events until the Road to Oman concludes with the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, Clement Sordet cruised to his third European Challenge Tour title by carding a final round of 67 to win the inaugural edition of the Viking Challenge by five shots at Miklagard Golf in Norway.
Heavy rain earlier in the week had caused the competition to be reduced to 54 holes.
Sordet began the final day with a share of the lead, but after four birdies in his first six holes, the Frenchman moved into a commanding position that he would not relinquish.
The 24 year old, whose previous Challenge Tour victories came at the 2015 Northern Ireland Open and the 2016 Turkish Airlines Challenge, did see his lead reduced to two after making a double bogey on the par four 14th – his only blemish of the day.
But after consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th Sordet went into the final two holes with a four-shot cushion.
A par at the last handed Sordet a third Challenge Tour victory in three years – and meant the Frenchman sealed his place in next week’s Rolex Trophy.
“I am delighted to get into the Rolex Trophy, It feels amazing! I got a tough break on 14 but then I made back-to-back birdies – it was great to be able to bounce back like that.”
Also making moves up the Rankings were England’s Charlie Ford, the Netherlands’ Daan Huizing and Scotland’s Jack Doherty – who all finished five shots behind Sordet in second place. Aaron Rai continues to maintain 1st position in the Road to Oman followed by Julian Suri and Julien Guerrier in second and third places respectively, while Ryan Evans climbed one spot to fourth position.
The NBO Golf Classic Grand Final is the culmination of the European Challenge Tour’s “Road to Oman”, which includes 27 tournaments across 22 different countries. Golfers are competing for a share of a €400,000 prize fund, with the top 15 players in the final “Road to Oman” rankings earning playing cards for next season’s European Tour International Schedule.