Mark McNulty was the pick of the Irish challenge at the inaugural Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship hosted by Ian Woosnam.
The smooth swinging Irish/Zimbabwean fired a six birdies in a superb final day 68 to move seven places up the leaderboard into a share of 13th at minus-two for the week. – taking home €3,265 for the showing.
Unfortunately Des Smyth ran out of steam on day three. The eight-time European Tour winner signed off on an encouraging tournament with a four-over par 76 to drop 12 spots into a tie for 30th at plus-four.
Meanwhile 57-year old Phil Walton and Headfort’s Brendan McGovern both finished well down the board at +10 and +17 respectively.
At the head of affairs, Jean-François Remésy claimed his first win on English soil after a scintillating final round at Trevose Golf & Country Club.
The Frenchman, who won three-times on the European Tour, fired a closing round of 67, five-under par, to take a one shot victory ahead of England’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 at the Cornish venue, 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.
‘’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.”
England’s Gary Evans carded a blemish-free round of 67, five under par, 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 Markus Brier carded the lowest round of the week and the Staysure Tour course record at Trevose with a stunning eight under par round of 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 U.S. 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.
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