DOHERTY EARNS 6,000 EUROS WITH JT FIFTH CHALLENGE FINISH
MICHAEL GIBBONS REPORTS FROM THE ENGLISH CHALLENGE
Frenchman Benjamin Hebert completed the most sensational seven days in his professional career by winning his second Challenge Tour event in the space of a week at the English Challenge.
The man from Bordeaux provided the perfect follow-up to his maiden victory in Switzerland last week by taking home the €25,600 first prize on offer at the Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa after a final round of two under par 70 left him two strokes clear of countryman Victor Rui at the top of the final leaderboard.
Starting the day in a tie for the lead with England’s Chris Lloyd Hebert was coolness personified as he resisted the advances of home hero Jamie Moul, Welshman Garry Houston and his good friend Rui before making crucial pair of birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to establish a four-shot lead and a fairly simple victory march to the clubhouse.
“It’s amazing, unbelievable to win again so quickly,” said Hebert who was drenched in Champagne by his fellow countryman when he knocked in the winning putt.
“I don’t know what to say or how to describe it to be honest – I am still waiting for last week’s victory to sink in and now it has happened again.
“I played solid today and kept calm on the course. I made a very important birdie on the tenth hole to go two shots ahead and then after birdeing the 16th I knew that I was four ahead and could relax a little bit.”
It was a pulsating final round at Stoke by Nayland with 23 players starting the day within four shots of the lead.
The main challengers soon emerged with Moul making a stunning start in front of a jubilant home crowd. The Englishman birdied four of his first five holes to tie Hebert and Kennedy before the last group had teed off, but two cruel double bogeys quickly followed to end Moul’s valiant final round effort.
Houston then appeared at the top of the leaderboard before Rui and Hebert turned the final few holes into an all-French affair which Hebert finally took control of with two holes to play.
The 24 year old is now fifth on the Challenge Tour Rankings with earnings of €57,780 after his dream week. Hebert joins another French player Edouard Dubois as the second multiple winner of the Challenge Tour and both will now be focusing on winning a magical third event of the season that would guarantee instant promotion to The European Tour.
Jack Doherty’s valiant late charge for the title came up short after the Scot’s final round 67 saw him finish in a tie for fifth place which earned him 6,000 Euros.
Doherty’s five under effort – the second lowest score of the day – saw him post the clubhouse lead at eight under par but he was eventually overhauled by Frenchman Benjamin Hebert.
While Doherty scaled the leaderboard on the final day, Andrew McArthur had a frustrating two over par finish to the week having hauled himself into contention with a brilliant 68 in brutal conditions on Saturday afternoon.
TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY ALLOCATION
CLICK HERE
Frenchman Benjamin Hebert completed the most sensational seven days in his professional career by winning his second Challenge Tour event in the space of a week at the English Challenge.
The man from Bordeaux provided the perfect follow-up to his maiden victory in Switzerland last week by taking home the €25,600 first prize on offer at the Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa after a final round of two under par 70 left him two strokes clear of countryman Victor Rui at the top of the final leaderboard.
Starting the day in a tie for the lead with England’s Chris Lloyd Hebert was coolness personified as he resisted the advances of home hero Jamie Moul, Welshman Garry Houston and his good friend Rui before making crucial pair of birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to establish a four-shot lead and a fairly simple victory march to the clubhouse.
“It’s amazing, unbelievable to win again so quickly,” said Hebert who was drenched in Champagne by his fellow countryman when he knocked in the winning putt.
“I don’t know what to say or how to describe it to be honest – I am still waiting for last week’s victory to sink in and now it has happened again.
“I played solid today and kept calm on the course. I made a very important birdie on the tenth hole to go two shots ahead and then after birdeing the 16th I knew that I was four ahead and could relax a little bit.”
It was a pulsating final round at Stoke by Nayland with 23 players starting the day within four shots of the lead.
The main challengers soon emerged with Moul making a stunning start in front of a jubilant home crowd. The Englishman birdied four of his first five holes to tie Hebert and Kennedy before the last group had teed off, but two cruel double bogeys quickly followed to end Moul’s valiant final round effort.
Houston then appeared at the top of the leaderboard before Rui and Hebert turned the final few holes into an all-French affair which Hebert finally took control of with two holes to play.
The 24 year old is now fifth on the Challenge Tour Rankings with earnings of €57,780 after his dream week. Hebert joins another French player Edouard Dubois as the second multiple winner of the Challenge Tour and both will now be focusing on winning a magical third event of the season that would guarantee instant promotion to The European Tour.
Jack Doherty’s valiant late charge for the title came up short after the Scot’s final round 67 saw him finish in a tie for fifth place which earned him 6,000 Euros.
Doherty’s five under effort – the second lowest score of the day – saw him post the clubhouse lead at eight under par but he was eventually overhauled by Frenchman Benjamin Hebert.
While Doherty scaled the leaderboard on the final day, Andrew McArthur had a frustrating two over par finish to the week having hauled himself into contention with a brilliant 68 in brutal conditions on Saturday afternoon.
TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY ALLOCATION
CLICK HERE
Labels: CHALLENGE TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, July 24, 2011
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home