LUMBRES, France, June 19 (UPI) -- Matthew Zions picked up the first European Tour victory of his career by pulling away Sunday for a 7-stroke victory at the Saint-Omer Open in France.
Zions, 32 and a pro for eight years, was 2-under 69 in the final round for a 72-hole total of 8-under 276.
Daniel Denison (73 Sunday), Peter Gustafsson (69) and Craig Lee (72) tied for second at 1-under 283. Seven golfers finished the tournament at even-par 284.
Zions began the day with a 3-stroke lead but his nearest competitors fell back. Denison had the best day among the three players who were tied for second after Saturday's round. George Coetzee had a 4-over 74 Sunday and ended up tied for 12th and Federico Colombo was 5-over and finished in a tie for 17th at 2-over.
Zions was 1-over after seven holes Sunday and began to distance himself from the field with birdies at Nos. 8 and 9. He birdied the par-5, 500-yard ninth hole four times in the tournament.
He added a birdie at the 11th hole and, after a bogey at No. 13, birdied 14. Four pars the rest of the way completed his 69.
