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Gugler only falters once in his second win of the season in Belgium

The Iron Duke Belgian Open 2024

Cédric Gugler (-11) wins the Iron Duke Belgian Open 2024, his second title on the Pro Golf Tour this season. The Swiss allowed himself his only bogey of the entire week on the penultimate hole at Hulencourt Golf Club, but ended up one shot ahead of Finland's Alex Hietala (-10). Third place (-7) is shared by Carl Siemens, Florian Moosmeier, Hannes Hilburger (all Germany), Dario Antonisse (Netherlands) and local hero James Meyer de Beco.


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Genappe, Belgium – Cédric Gugler remained flawless for 52 holes. Then his flawless record at the Iron Duke Belgian Open was history - and the Swiss player recorded his first bogey. Gugler went onto the 17th with a two-shot lead - and promptly became nervous. "I felt the pressure a little when I made a bogey on the 17th," the 24-year-old revealed. "You really notice it, especially when putting. Your hands get a bit harder and you no longer have the feeling you had at the start of the round."

Thanks to a final par, this single bogey remained just a minor blemish. After his second consecutive round of 67 (-4) and with an overall score of -11, he won one stroke ahead of Finland's Alex Hietala. Gugler was therefore able to accept the late mistake with a smile: "It's a shame, but it doesn't really matter now. The main thing is to win." The man from G&CC Zurich already knows the feeling of victory. Gugler celebrated his first title on the Pro Golf Tour at the Allegria Open in Egypt in mid-March.

Leaderboard: All results at a glance
Order of Merit of the 2024 Season

At the time, Gugler described his first victory as a "milestone". The second triumph in Belgium is confirmation of what he has been working hard on for some time. "I've made a lot of progress mentally. I don't let myself get distracted. That's why it's working so well at the moment. Because I'm not looking at what the others are doing at the moment." The two successes this season therefore come as no surprise to him. "I know what I can do and I train hard. I know that I can play good golf if I'm simply ready in my head."

Gugler was ready at the Iron Duke Belgian Open from the moment he stepped onto the beautiful course at Hulencourt Golf Club for the first time. He knew straight away that this design would suit him. "It was funny: I already liked the course on the first hole of my practice round." Both the landscape and the layout of the holes were pleasing to his eye. "That might have triggered something mentally when you approach a tournament with such an attitude."

Although Gugler admitted to being "over the moon" after his second victory, he didn't want to get too euphoric. As emotionally stable as he was throughout the week in Belgium, he had himself under control even after the decisive par on 18. "I realize that three wins will get me straight onto the Challenge Tour. But I will start every tournament anew, shot by shot, and not look too much at the ranking." Speaking of rankings: Gugler moved up to fourth place thanks to his title win in Belgium. Frenchman Jean Bekirian remains number one.

The next stop on the Pro Golf Tour is The Cuber Open at Öschberghof (June 24 to 26).