Tour pro ends ten-year winless drought after ‘tough road’

There was plenty of drama on tour this weekend, particularly in France.

On the HotelPlanner Tour, the 54-hole leader withdrew before the final round, four men entered a play-off, and one pro ended a ten-year winless drought.

At Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil on Sunday, home to the the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, David Horsey returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in a decade.

The Englishman birdied the 72nd hole to join James Allan, Joseba Torres and Daniel Young in a play-off, before birdieing the first extra hole to prevail on a dramatic day in Normandy.

Horsey, a four-time winner on the DP World Tour, is now a three-time winner on the former Challenge Tour.

He boosted his chances of a return to the Wentworth-based circuit and reflected on a difficult five-year period.

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“It’s good to get it over the line,” the 40-year-old said. “It’s been a tough road the last four or five years.

“I’ve had a few injuries, and I haven’t been playing very well so it’s nice to finally start putting a series of rounds together.

“I’ve been playing well in single rounds, but to put four rounds together and win a tournament is very pleasing.

“It was also pleasing to see everything hold up under pressure. I’ve always felt recently that I have my game in a good place but never thought I could do it under pressure.

“To see that hold up today was great and hopefully it will for the rest of the season.”

The play-off was contested on the par-3 tenth, which Horsey birdied in regulation play. His second go at it on Sunday resulted in a three-foot birdie putt for victory.

“Hitting a great shot like that into the first play-off hole is very pleasing,” he said.

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“I made a birdie in regulation on the play-off hole. It was the perfect five iron for me, so I could stand up there, hit it and know it wasn’t going to go long.

“It came out perfectly and a little bit of wind off the right helped it come back to three or four feet, and I managed to hole it.

“Hopefully I can fine-tune the feelings I’ve come across and kick on and win a few more.”

The other talking point of the day was the leader heading into the day, Eddie Pepperell, who retired with a back injury prior to his tee time.

Pepperell, who hasn’t won on tour since the 2018 British Masters, was playing for just the second time after taking a break.

He withdrew from last month’s Turkish Open on the DP World Tour mid-round.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.