Frenchman Tom Gueant beat Wilmer Ederö of Sweden on the 37th hole to win the 93rd R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship at Saunton Golf Club in Devon.
Gueant became the first Frenchman to lift the trophy since Patrick Cros’ victory at Olton in 1960. He will now play in the 125th Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire, and gains an exemption into Final Qualifying for The 149th Open Championship at Royal St Georges as a result of his victory.
In a nervy start, Gueant and Ederö both opened with bogeys, the Frenchman adding another at the second to give his opponent a one-hole advantage. Ederö then made a bogey at the third for the match to be squared.
In true links fashion, the conditions at Saunton were challenging through the opening 18 holes, and it was mistakes as much as converted opportunities that dictated the lead. A bogey five on the 7th from Gueant saw Ederö once again take a one-hole lead which the 15-year-old Swede extended by making the only birdie in the opening 18 holes of the match at the par-four 10th.
Showing great composure, Gueant parred his way into the clubhouse winning four holes to take a two-hole lead as Ederö continued to battle with the conditions. He recorded bogeys on the 12th and 14th and the two closing holes to hand his opponent the advantage going into the afternoon of the 36-hole final.
Gueant’s lead quickly evaporated, however, as he conceded the 20th and lost the 21st with a bogey. A further error on the 22nd saw his Swedish opponent reclaim the lead for the first time since the 13th. Gueant responded with his first birdie of the day on the 23rd to level the match for the fifth time.
A bogey from Ederö on the 25th saw him go one down but he fought back with a birdie on the 27th to square the match. The 15-year-old continued to show plenty of determination setting up a birdie opportunity on the 30th hole which just slid past the hole.
Ederö seemed to have seized the initiative when he birdied the 32nd and 33rd to take a two-hole advantage on Gueant, but the Frenchman rallied impressively to stage a late comeback, winning the 35th and 36th to take the match to extra holes. A birdie three on the 37th was enough to seal a hard-fought victory.
Speaking after the gruelling match, Gueant said: “This is one of the greatest junior championships in the world, so I am really happy to be the champion this year. It was really tight at the end. I was two down after 34 holes, so to win on the 37th was incredible.
“I tried not to think about the result and how the match was going, and focused more on the wind and the external elements, and on playing each shot. Standing over the winning putt I was just saying to myself, ‘this is just a putt like I have had a million times, just make it and it will be good’. It was really good to have my dad with me, and I am really happy to have had that moment. He is always supporting me, and I really want to thank him for that.”