The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Guerrier edges out Scot Doherty for French victory
Julien Guerrier made a late charge to win his first European Challenge Tour title in dramatic fashion at the Hauts de France Golf Open.
The Frenchman started the final round with a share of the lead alongside Scotland’s Jack Doherty, and the pair exchanged blows throughout the closing 18 holes at Aa Saint Omer Golf Club, northern France.
Guerrier made the perfect start with a birdie at the first but after bogeys at the third and seventh, he relinquished the lead to Doherty, who made gains at the sixth and ninth to move clear at the top of the leaderboard.
Back-to-back birdies around the turn for Guerrier saw the momentum shift and after Doherty dropped shots at the 12th and 13th, the pair were back to being all square with five to play.
An errant drive at the par four 15th saw Guerrier in trouble once again and after he made bogey it appeared to be advantage Doherty, who went one clear with two to play after the pair both made pars at the 16th.
Buoyed by the home support, Guerrier rallied to make birdie at the par 3 17th and it appeared that a play-off was looming as the pair walked down the 18th fairway tied for the lead at seven under.
Both players failed to find the green with their second shots on the par 4 final hole but after Doherty struggled to play out of the rough, Guerrier chipped to four feet to leave himself with a simple putt for par.
As an ecstatic home crowd watched on, Guerrier confidently tapped in for a one-stroke win – and he was delighted to claim victory on home soil.
“It is an amazing feeling,” said the 31-year-old, who finished on seven-underpar 277 overall after his 70.
“I have been trying to win on the Challenge Tour for a long time now, so to do it now, in France, is very special.
“It was a very tough day. You have to be very alert and focused around this course.”
Guerrier moves up to fourth in the Road to Oman Rankings, while Doherty – who finished in a share of second place on 278 alongside Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli and Portugal’s Ricardo Santos – rises 80 places to 23rd.