European Strokeplay Championships
The IV European Strokeplay Championship was staged at the La Rochelle Sud course in France on 19th/20th September. Scores here
New champion David Sexton (Ireland) held a share of the 36-hole lead and closed with a final eighteen of 52 to enter a play-off for the championship with Alexandre Decorde (France) who fired 50 on Sunday. Sexton prevailed in a tense extra holes showdown. France's Xavier Garcia scored a Sunday 51 to claim third spot on -16, a stroke clear of joint overnight leader Berenguer Orti (Catalonia). Irishman John Ross Crangle led briefly during the final round but a few late errors saw him drop to fifth place on 148.
After 36 holes two players were tied for the overnight lead. David Sexton (Ireland) completed two bogey free afternoon rounds of 47 and 46 to tie Berenguer Orti (Catalonia) at the top of the leaderboard with a round to go. Orti scored splendid rounds of 46 and 47 in the morning wave for a matching fifteen under par tally. The pair led by a single stroke from John Ross Crangle (Ireland), who signed for successive rounds of 47. France’s Xavier Garcia and Alexandre Decorde were next best on -13.
Vanesa Renoult (France) was in outstanding form in the ladies championship. Rounds of 47 and 49 sawVanessa on 12 under par and holding (at that stage) a nine shot advantage over Kim Kuijsters (Netherlands).
Here are the Saturday tee times and pairings