'It was my day' - Rory Franssen lands maiden HotelPlanner Tour win

The 27-year-old, who secured his opportunity this season through topping Tartan Pro Tour Order of Merit last year, covered the last ten holes in five under par and was bogey free for the closing circuit as he won the Infortar Estonian Challenge.

Signing off with a 67 for a 19-under-par title, the Inverness man who is now based in St Andrews claimed a three-shot success over England’s Andrew Wilson, the overnight leader, with Wilson’s compatriot David Horsey and Michael Hirmer a shot further back in joint-third.

“I’m exhausted,” admitted Franssen as he savoured landing a first Scottish title triumph of the season on the DP World Tour’s feeder circuit. “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, who started the day a shot off the lead, opened with eight straight pars before opening his birdie account by holing a putt from over 30 feet on the ninth.

He followed up with consecutive gains on 11 and 12, holing from long 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 this event, 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. He started the week sitting 218th on the points list, but is now up to 30th.

“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.

‘It’s mental to come out on top’

“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 top the Scottish circuit’s Order of Merit.

He was one of Scotland’s leading amateurs before joining the paid ranks and is now heading into this week’s home gig, the Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A taking place at SCHLOSS Roxburghe near Kelso, with a real spring in his step.

“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,” he admitted. “It will sink in eventually but just not yet. I don’t know what I’ll do to celebrate, but there are a lot of Irish and Scotsmen here, so we’ll see.”