Belgium are world champs

lead with a birdie on the 16th but a nervy bogey on the next meant they had to keep their cool on the final hole.

A perfect approach shot eased the pressure and they holed out for a closing 68 and a 23- under- par win, with Australia and Mexico joint second.

Danish defending champions Thorbjorn Olesen and Soren Kjeldsen carded a 65 to tie for fourth alongside Canada’s Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor, six behind Belgium. Greece finished last from the 28 teams.

“It’s a dream come true to play it, let alone win it,” said Detry, 25, after pocketing the biggest cheque of his short two- year professional career.

“It was a huge thrill to play with Thomas ( Pieters). We were on a college team ( University of Illinois) together as amateurs in the US and we are great friends.”

The win earned the pair US$ 1.12 million each and a maiden World Cup crown for their country, although Ryder Cup player Flory Van Donck captured the individual title in 1960.

The more established Pieters, a three- time European Tour winner and Ryder Cup player, said that winning the World Cup was not something players normally have on their bucket list.

“But when it happens it feels every bit as good as winning an individual event,” said the 26- year- old.

“We’ll both gain a lot of confidence out of this. We felt Australia coming behind us and we answered.”

India do well

India recorded their second top- 10 finish in the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf after Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar produced a second successive two- under 70 in the final round.

Indian golfers Lahiri and Bhullar finished on 12under par 276 to share the 10th spot after Sunday’s foursomes round.

Lahiri, who will now play his year’s last tournament in Indonesia in the Asian Tour season- ender.