Guerin’s last-hole eagle snatches victory

Grant Guerin (World of Golf) made an eagle on his final hole to snatch his first ever professional victory in great style at the Dulwich & Sydenham Pro-Am.

In a rain-interrupted event, which included an unplanned two-hour break for lunch after 16 holes, Guerin shot an impressive round of three-under-par 66 around the South London course to take home the winner’s cheque, pushing runner-up Nick Redfern’s (AIA Group) 68 into second place, while Virgin Atlantic Order of Merit contender James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent) picked up third spot with a card of level-par.

Starting at the 16^th, Guerin birdied the second and the third to reach two-under-par, but the charge stopped at that point. Although by his own admission his tee to green golf could have been better, he calmly notched up a long sequence of pars from the fourth to the 13^th.

A dropped shot at the 14^th put him back in the pack, but with one hole to go Guerin hit the ideal drive to set himself up to hit the green of the par five 15^th.

He got close enough for a chip, and while a birdie would have been good enough, Guerin’s chip found the hole anyway to give him the best possible finish and a terrific way to top off a good day’s golf with his first win as a professional.

Speaking afterwards, he said, “I’m really chuffed! It’s my first win as a professional, and while it’s been six years and a long time coming, it’s great to get a result like this. I have to say that while my golf tee to green wasn’t great my putting was – I had just 23 putts! – and the greens at Dulwich & Sydenham were terrific, which probably helped!”

“Mind you, I didn’t need to putt on the last hole, as I holed my chip for that winning eagle. Winning here has been a real boost to my confidence and it’s inspired me to work harder and win some more.”