SAINT-OMER, France (AP) -- Simon Thornton of Ireland beat Tjaart Van der Walt on the first hole of a playoff at the Najeti Hotels Open on Sunday to win his first European Tour title.

Both shot 1-under 70 in the final round, with pars on the last six holes to finish at 5-under 279. In the playoff, Van der Walt had a bogey on No. 18 while Thornton made a short par putt to clinch the victory.

Seve Benson of England shot 70 to finish third, one stroke back.