Jean-François Remésy won the inaugural Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship hosted by Ian Woosnam after a scintillating final round at Trevose Golf & Country Club.
The 55-year-old Frenchman, who won three times on the European Tour, fired a closing 67 to beat Barry Lane by a shot.
Remésy started the final day in a share of the lead 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 40 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 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 battle.”
Gary Evans, who joined the Staysure Tour this year after turning 50 in February, carded closing 67 to take third, one shot ahead of Sandelin, who dropped three shots on the 17th hole en route to a 71. Markus Brier carded an eight-under-par 64, the lowest round of the week at Trevose, to finish in a tie for sixth.
Lane’s second place finish saw him jump ahead of Argentina’s José Cóceres into pole position in the Staysure Tour rankings.