Rory Franssen carded a bogey-free five under par 67 to finish on 19 under par and win the Infortar Estonian Challenge, securing his maiden HotelPlanner Tour title.
Trailing by two at the turn, the Scot made four birdies on the back nine on Sunday, including at the 16th and 18th, to finish three strokes clear of 54-hole leader Andrew Wilson.
Franssen was glad to hold his nerve to get over the line for a season defining win, that also secures his spot in next week's field in his home country.
“I’m exhausted,” he said. “It was a tough day but a great day, and honestly, I was just trying to survive.
“I was so nervous at times but thankfully hit some good shots on the back nine and it was my day.”
Franssen made a slow start on Sunday, making par on the first eight holes before finally opening his birdie account by holing a putt from over 30 feet on the ninth.
The 27-year-old followed up with consecutive gains on 11 and 12, holing from range on the latter before draining another on 16 from 25 feet. A closing up and down birdie on 18 saw him cruise to the title.
Prior to the Infortar Estonian Challenge, Franssen had made just two cuts in 11 starts on the Road to Mallorca, his best finish being a share of 50th at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge.
“I said to the lads on Tuesday in the practice round that I would love to play some weekend golf, because I think it’s the third cut I’ve made this season," he added.
“I played the first two rounds and built a bit of confidence, and from there everything was a bonus.
“I think once I’d got the front nine out the way my nerves settled a little and then it meant I could just enjoy it, and wherever I finished I finished. It’s mental to come out on top.”
Franssen is playing in his debut season on the Road to Mallorca, having won three times in the 2025 season on the Tartan Pro Tour, an official Satellite Tour of the HotelPlanner Tour, to win the Order of Merit.
But the Scot said he did everything to keep winning out of his mind in the final round.
“I think I was a bit unconscious out there, I really wasn’t thinking about what a win would do for me, how big it would be. It will sink in eventually but just not yet.
“I looked at the leaderboard at the turn, but on 18 I didn’t quite know where I was, but I guessed I was somewhere there or there abouts. That was the only time I looked, on nine and 18.
“I don’t know what I’ll do to celebrate, but there are a lot of Irish and Scotsmen here, so we’ll see.”
In a share of third was Germany’s Michael Hirmer and England’s David Horsey on 15 under par. Spaniard Santiago Tarrio and Dane Sebastian Friedrichsen finished one shot further back in a share of fifth.
The win sees Franssen move up 188 places in the Road to Mallorca Rankings to 30th, with MJ Daffue still leading the way and no other movement in the top nine spots.
The Road to Mallorca now heads to Scotland for the Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A, taking place at SCHLOSS Roxburghe from August 6-9.
