Gueant forces extra holes and wins British Boys Am with birdie

Tom Gueant was not going down without at fight at Saunton Golf Club in Devon, England. The 18-year-old won the 35th and 36th holes in the scheduled 36-hole final to set up an opportunity at the 37th. Gueant made birdie there to defeat Wilmer Edero of Sweden and clinch the title.

Gueant becomes 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, at Royal St Georges, as a result of his victory.

“This is one of the greatest junior championships in the world and I think the biggest in Europe so I am really happy to be the champion this year,” said Gueant.

Both players opened with a bogey in the final match. But Gueant gained strength as he played his way to the clubhouse in the morning half of the match. He went to lunch with a 2-up lead on Edero.

“I was two-up after the first 18 holes this morning but that doesn’t really mean a lot because we still had 18 holes to go,” said Gueant.

That lead went up in smoke in the second half of the day, and Gueant found himself standing on the tee box of the 34th hole 2 down to Edero.

“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,” added Gueant, who celebrated the win with his father.

“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.”

Informaiton from the R&A used in this report