Rookie Detry delighted with third-place 

start to European Tour career

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Rookie Thomas Detry was delighted with his start to life as a European Tour player after finishing third at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The Belgian, who finished 15th in the 2016 Road to Oman rankings to secure his card for 2017, carded an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys in his fourth-round 68 to get to 13 under par.

And Detry was happy to make a strong start to the new season.

He said: "I'm very pleased with my start on the European Tour.

"It's a big boost. The season is long but starting like that is obviously fantastic.

"Starting like that releases the pressure a little bit, knowing that I'm up there already.

"I've put some points on the board and I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing.

"The card is not secured yet so I've just got to keep playing well."

After opening his round with a bogey on Sunday, Detry bounced back immediately with a birdie at the second.

The 23 year old then fired an eagle at the sixth to reach the turn in 33.

He dropped another shot at the tenth but made gains at the 12th, 13th and 15th to climb up to third place.

Detry is close friends with fellow Belgian Thomas Pieters and admits he is motivated by the Ryder Cup star's rapid rise.

Detry added: "He's been playing some fantastic golf.

"It's only motivating - you just want to go and join him and Nicolas (Colsaerts) as well, join them both at the top.

"It's amazing to see how fast everything went for him."

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Sunday, 04 December 2016

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