The turning point came on hole 17: While co-leaders Linus Lang and Clement Guichard both faltered on the tough par 4 along the water – Lang with a bogey and Guichard with a double bogey – van der Vight capitalized with his seventh and final birdie of the day to take the lead. A steady par on the final hole sealed a brilliant 65 (-5), allowing the 22-year-old from Eindhoven to celebrate his second title of the season after winning the Zala Springs Open earlier this year.

The win was special in many ways for the Belgium-based rookie on the Pro Golf Tour. Not only was it a major step toward promotion to the HotelPlanner Tour, but van der Vight was also joined by several friends, family members, and coaches during his final round. “This win feels extraordinary,” he said. “I had so much fun. My game was there all day long. I was trailing for most of the round until I got that birdie on 17. On 18, I knew I was in the lead.”

More Aggression on the Back Nine
After a varied front nine, another win didn’t seem likely for the young talent. A second bogey on hole 9 was a setback. But four birdies and no further dropped shots on the back nine catapulted him to the top. “I probably played too conservatively on the front nine,” he admitted. “From hole 10 onward, I wanted to be more aggressive. Luckily, it paid off. My long game was great this week, I gave myself lots of birdie chances. My putting was solid too, even though a few more putts could have dropped.”

Van der Vight, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday this coming Sunday, now takes the lead in the Order of Merit. Clement Guichard (France), Michael Hirmer (Germany), Filip Mruzek (Czech Republic), and Timo Vahlenkamp (Germany) round out the top 5.

Additionally, the tournament winner narrowly edged out Guichard to claim the Dutch Swing title – earning him a coveted start in the 2026 KLM Open on the DP World Tour. It’s a tournament van der Vight remembers fondly, having made the cut in three of four previous appearances – two of them as an amateur.

Not only van der Vight impressed this week, but also the beautifully prepared layout of Golfbaan Stippelberg once again stood out. “I always enjoy coming back here,” said the winner. “Until now, I hadn’t really managed to post a deep round – fortunately, that changed this week. The dry and firm conditions made the course feel a bit like a links course.”

After a short break, the Pro Golf Tour continues in Belgium. From September 9, the Iron Duke Belgian Open at Hulencourt Golf Club will be on the schedule. It’s the last chance for players to collect valuable Order of Merit points before the season concludes with the Castanea Resort Championship, starting October 4.

Leaderboard: All results at a glance
Order of Merit of the 2025 Season