Levet secures secondlegends Tour success
Thomas Levet thrilled the home crowd as he secured an emotional second Legends Tour victory at the Legends Open de France hosted by Jean van de Velde.
The six-time European Tour winner carded a three-under-par final round of 68 to move to 13 under, three shots clear of Canadian David Morland IV, who finished in second place at Golf de Saint-cloud.
The 52-year-old believes his triumph was written in the stars after the recent passing of his coach, and Levet paid tribute to the man who has played such an important part in his illustrious golfing career.
“I think everything was written this week,” he said. “My coach died last Sunday and it’s my birthday tomorrow, so this is all for him. It’s a nice gesture for him because he has always looked after me, he was my coach for 40 years and I think it’s a good way to remember him and a gift for the family.
“I’m thrilled to win here, I’ve now done the double in the French Open and the French Senior Open, not too many people have done that. I’m really happy about it.”
Two-time European Tour winner James Kingston shared third place with three-time Legends Tour winner Gary Wolstenholme on nine under, while American Clark Dennis finished fifth on seven under par.
Oliver Bekker set a new PGA National course record as he took control of the British Challenge Presented by Modest! Golf Management with a stunning 10-under-par third round of 62.
The South African finished with backto-back birdies to reach 18-under-par and secure a two-stroke lead going into the final day at The Belfry Hotel & Resort, with Chilean Hugo Leon his closest challenger on 16 under.
Bekker, whose double bogey on the final hole of his second round accounts for two of only three dropped shots all week, will today go in search of his first European Challenge Tour title after putting himself in pole position with rounds of 68-68-62.
“I’ve been playing nicely,” he said. “The weather was really good today so I took advantage of that. I gave myself a lot of opportunities and managed to make a few putts, so that was nice.
“I’ve been playing well, I’ve been trending in the right direction this year so if I do get the win this week then that
would be great.”