Suneson takes maiden title

Spain’s Carl Suneson today won his first European Tour title in the St Omer Open.

Suneson carded a final-round 69 for an eight-under-par total of 276 and three-shot winning margin.

England’s Marcus Higley, Australian Peter Fowler and France’s Francois Calmels shared second on five under par, with Swede Mikael Lundberg another shot behind in fifth.

Ireland's David Higgins ended on five over while Stephen Browne finished on 14 over.

Suneson, fourth here in 2004 and sixth in 2005, began the day with a one-shot lead and made a solid start with six pars before a birdie on the seventh.

A bogey on the next gave the chasing pack some hope, but the 39-year-old picked up birdies at the 12th and 14th to establish a stranglehold on the event, jointly sanctioned with the Challenge Tour.

Another birdie on the 17th effectively sealed victory and allowed Suneson, who has made an amazing 13 visits to the tour qualifying school, to celebrate collecting the winner’s cheque for £60,000 (€88,000).