Final 65 - Grand Guichard celebrates first victory
Red Sea Egyptian Classic 2023
Eight birdies, nine pars and only one bogey! Thanks to a masterful performance in the final round of the Red Sea Egyptian Classic 2023, Clement Guichard secured the title in the second event of the 2023 Pro Golf Tour season at the Ain Sokhna Golf Club. It is the first victory for the 22-year-old since he joined the Tour in 2021. The Frenchman ended up with a clear six-stroke lead.
Ain Sokhna, Egypt - Guichard started the final day tied with Aydan Verdonk. However, with four birdies in the first seven holes, he quickly made it clear that it would be very difficult for the competition to beat him on this day.
It only became tense for a short time when Verdonk came within two strokes with three birdies between hole seven and eleven in the course of the round. But the Dutchman could not keep up the pace of his opponent in the final sprint. Guichard took advantage of the favourable conditions due to the lower wind and crossed the finish line with a spectacular 65 (-7) after shooting 68 and 70 on the previous days.
At 13 under par, he ended up six strokes ahead of Verdonk, Mike Toorop (Netherlands), Antoine Auboin and Victor Veyret (both France). He will receive a cheque for 5,000 euros for his first title on the Pro Golf Tour.
Impressive shape early in the season
Guichard, who had been preparing for the season at his home club Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil in Normandie, has been playing on the Pro Golf Tour since 2021 and has steadily improved. Last year, he knocked on the door several times and finished the season in 14th position. In the previous week, he also finished third in the Red Sea Ain Sokhna Classic, only two strokes behind the tournament winner Christian Bräunig
Leaderboard: All results at a glance
"I couldn't be happier," said the delighted winner, whose strong putting was the basis for the premiere title. "I could have won tournaments last year, but unfortunately I didn't quite manage it. Now I am even happier that it worked out. This victory feels really amazing."
Dream start after mediocre warm-up
Yet Guichard didn't really have a good feeling about the task ahead on the driving range before the final round. "I hit the ball very badly in the warm-up and was already thinking to myself 'Wow, what's going on today?' But then the birdie happened on the first hole and all of a sudden everything was going in the right direction."
With the win, he takes the lead in the Order of Merit of the still young season. After a short break, the action resumes with the third tournament of the Pro Golf Tour's Egyptian Swing. The Little Venice Red Sea Open is on the programme from 4 April. Once again, the challenging golf course of the Golf Club Ain Sokhna will be the venue.
