Staff WriterKristoffer Reitan delivered a stunning display of golf mastery at Rinkven International Golf Club, smashing the course record and capturing his first-ever DP World Tour title at the Soudal Open.
Reitan’s remarkable nine-under-par 62 set a fierce target of 13 under, forcing a tense play-off after Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson narrowly missed a crucial par putt on the final hole.
The play-off showdown included Dutchman Darius van Driel, who matched the leaders through the initial extra hole. But it was Kristoffer Reitan who kept his nerve and precision on the second extra hole, sinking the only birdie putt to seal a victory that few saw coming at the start of the day.
His triumph marks just the third DP World Tour win for a Norwegian, joining the ranks of compatriot Viktor Hovland.
Starting the day nine shots adrift of overnight leader Ferguson, Kristoffer Reitan’s early tee time nearly worked against expectations.
Yet, with the lowest round of his DP World Tour career, he surged forward. His round began with a birdie on the first hole, a setback at the third, but then shifted into extraordinary gear with nine more birdies—including an electrifying run of four consecutive birdies from the 10th hole onward—pushing him alongside Ferguson at 13 under.
Throughout the back nine, challengers faded one by one in the Belgian city of Antwerp.
Kristoffer Reitan: This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I keep thinking back to a few years ago when I was seriously considering giving up the game — I just wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I didn’t see any progress.
To be able to turn it around like I have over the last couple of years has been incredible, and to seal it with a win now… it’s just unbelievable. Honestly, I’m speechless.
Winning wasn’t even on my mind today — I just wanted to go out and play a solid round. I’ve been really focused on sticking to my process lately. I know that sounds cliché — everyone says “shot by shot” — but I’ve been doing a good job of it, and today was no different. It honestly felt like it was my day. And by the end, it really proved to be my day, which is just amazing.
Ferguson’s battle was gritty; he dropped shots twice early on but quickly clawed them back with birdies.
Ferguson managed a birdie on the eighth hole to reach 14 under, but a bunker mishap at the ninth, where he found sand with his approach, allowed Reitan to remain firmly in contention.
The lead see-sawed until Ferguson’s drive landed in a bunker on the 16th hole. Demonstrating his skill, Ferguson chipped brilliantly from 42 yards to set up an easy tap-in birdie.
But despite this heroics, Ferguson’s fortunes turned as he parred the 17th and then overhit his approach at the 18th hole, coming up short in his bid to surpass Reitan’s clubhouse score.
Van Driel’s path to the play-off was no less remarkable. The Dutchman’s round began quietly with 12 straight pars, but a late surge saw birdies from the 13th and an impressive hat-trick on the closing holes, capped by a confident 25-foot putt at the last.
Elsewhere, players including China’s Haotong Li, South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, American Troy Merritt, and England’s John Parry and Jordan Smith shared fourth place on ten under par.
Kristoffer Reitan’s breakthrough victory not only earns him a spot among the DP World Tour’s rising stars but also vaults him to tenth in the Race to Dubai Rankings, where he now leads the European Swing standings.
This win firmly places Reitan in the spotlight as a player to watch on the global golf stage.
