Picture by GETTY IMAGES
JEAN-François Remésy claimed his first win on English soil at the inaugural Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship after a scintillating final round at Cornwall’s Trevose Golf & Country Club.
The Frenchman, who won three-times on the European Tour, fired a closing round of 67 to take a one-shot victory ahead of Berkshire’s Barry Lane.
The 2018 Swiss Seniors Open Champion started the day in a share of first place with Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin, one ahead of Lane, and the lead quickly swung back-and-forth between the three players who, despite tough conditions on the North Cornwall coast, traded birdies over the opening nine holes.
An eagle-birdie run from the 10th hole provided Remésy with the momentum he needed to re-take the lead and despite a late birdie charge from Lane, a sensational up-and-down for par on the 17th hole and a closing par was enough to secure the two-time French Open champion a much-sought after victory thanks to that final round of five-under.
‘’It was my dream to win in England. After forty years I finally managed to do it,’’ said an emotional Remésy. ‘’It’s never too late to achieve a dream. I’m just past 55 years old and here we are, so I’m very delighted with this moment.
‘’We had a very good fight, but I think the key for me was to hole my putts, especially the long putt I managed to drain for eagle on the 10th and then for birdie on the 11th.
‘’It was tough out there with Barry making a late charge and with the conditions, but we really enjoyed the fight. It was a very high-level game and I just tried to play my game and keep playing steady.
‘’Emotionally I was much stronger than in Italy, where I finished one shot behind, so that is a good sign for the future and I am just delighted that I was able to stay strong and secure the win this week.”
Sussex’s Gary Evans carded a blemish-free round of 67 to charge up the leaderboard and take solo third, one shot ahead of Sandelin, who carded a 71 after a triple bogey seven on the 17th, while Austrian Markus Brier carded the lowest round of the week – and the Staysure Tour course record at Trevose – with a stunning eight-under 64.
With the win, Remésy moves up to fourth from 15th on the Staysure Tour Order of Merit and will travel to Indiana for the US Senior Open Championship where he will bid to win his first senior Major title.
Lane’s second-place finish ensures he jumps ahead of Argentina’s José Cóceres into pole position in the Staysure Tour Rankings.
