Thomas Pieters edged closer to securing a fifth consecutive appearance at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship after breaking into the top 50 of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai with his first victory in three years at the D+D Real Czech Masters.

The Belgian, who secured his maiden win at the same venue in 2015, led from start to finish on Sunday, with four birdies on the front nine keeping the chasing pack at arm’s length and a further gain at the 12th powering him over the line for a one-stroke triumph over Spaniard Adri Arnaus.

“It feels good to win again, I never doubted myself but it’s just been a long road of not feeling that great with the golf swing,” said the 2016 Ryder Cup star, who finished on 19 under par to jump up to 42nd from 66th in the Race to Dubai Rankings.”

 Despite missing out on a maiden victory, Arnaus continued his superb form on his rookie year on the European Tour after posting his third runner-up finish in 2019. The 2018 Challenge Tour graduate moves up 16 places to 30th in the Race to Dubai Rankings, putting him in contention for a debut outing at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Meanwhile, last year’s winner Andrea Pavan and Sam Horsfield finished three shots behind to share third place. Italian Pavan climbs up to 27th from 36th while Englishman Horsfield jumps up to 123rd from 157th.

The top 50 players in the Race to Dubai Rankings will contest the season-ending $8 million DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai from Nov. 21-24 where $3 million will be up for grabs for the winner, making it the richest prize in world tournament golf.

Elsewhere, Young SGSC member Firdaus Mohd Fitchet claimed the Orient Travel Monthly Stableford at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club. He topped the pile with a very impressive thirty eight stableford points.

Trailing by just one point was Robert De Laaf with a score of thirty seven points followed by third placed Ziang Xu who posted a solid thirty six points.