UPDATE 1-Golf-Pieters, Detry fire Belgium to first World Cup triumph

Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry won the $7 million World Cup of Golf by three strokes in Melbourne on Sunday to secure Belgium's first title triumph in the team event after surviving a late wobble and a charge from hosts Australia.

Overnight leaders by five strokes, the former University of Illinois team mates bogeyed the 15th to see their lead shrink to just two shots during the final foursomes round at Metropolitan Golf Club.

However, they held their nerve over the closing holes and finished in style with a birdie on the 18th to claim their biggest tournament win at the 28-nation co-sanctioned event organised by the International Federation of PGA Tours.

"Now it's kind of like a dream come true," 25-year-old Detry told reporters, a Belgium flag draped around his neck. "There's nothing like representing your country on the other side of the world."

Detry celebrated his first big victory, having never won on the world's leading circuits, while his 26-year-old compatriot Pieters claimed his first U.S. Tour title after three wins in Europe.

Their final round four-under 68 left them with a 23-under total of 265, three clear of joint runners-up Australia (65) and Mexico (66).

Local hopes Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith started the day six back but mounted a brave challenge to pull within two when the latter holed a brilliant, long bunker shot at the 14th.

Playing in the final group behind, Pieters responded with a four-foot birdie putt at the same hole to push Belgium's lead back to three, but Detry opened the door again, nervously lipping out a three-foot par putt on the 15th.

With Belgium wobbling, Leishman had a chance to slice their lead to a stroke, but blew a birdie putt from four feet.

It proved decisive, as Belgium steadied with a birdie on the same hole and their three-stroke cushion was enough to absorb a final bogey on 17.

"Obviously there was a putt on 16 which I wish I'd made," world number 21 Leishman told reporters. "It was a pretty bad putt actually... That's one I'd like to have again.

"I think Belgium was clearly the best team all week. They were just too good."

Abraham Ancer, who blitzed the field to win the Australian Open by five strokes in Sydney last week, finished a fine trip Down Under with Roberto Diaz, the pair combining for six-under on a breezy day at the Sandbelt course.

Defending champions Denmark ended six behind in a tie for fourth with Canada, while Matt Kuchar and Kyle Stanley of the United States finished joint 16th with Wales. (Editing by John O'Brien)

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