France’s Romain Langasque finally earned his maiden European Tour victory in the ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor after a briliant back nine. Pictures by GETTY IMAGES

ROMAIN Langasque stormed to victory at the ISPS Handa Wales Open, overturning a five-stroke deficit to win his first European Tour title.

The Frenchman started the final day at The Celtic Manor Resort in a share of sixth place.

The 2015 Amateur Champion was five shots behind 54-hole co-leaders Sebastian Söderberg and Connor Syme, from Scotland.

But the deficit was cut to just one stroke after his second birdie of the day on the sixth hole.

Langasque continued to lurk one shot back after another gain on the ninth. And Romain drew level with a fourth birdie of the day on the par five 11th hole.

Successive birdies at the 15th and 16th holes saw the 25-year-old sign for a bogey-free 65 and an eight-under par total as a nervous wait followed.

Bogeys on the 14th and 16th holes dashed Syme’s hopes of a maiden European Tour victory.

Both he and Söderberg – who beat Rory McIlroy to the 2019 Omega European Masters title at Crans in September – found the water at the par five 18th.

That mistake ultimately ended the Swede’s chances at the 11th hour.

Conor Syme (right) made a double bogey at the last to drop down the leaderboard but was rewarded with a place in the US Open at Winged Foot, in September.

Great back nine earned the win

LANGASQUE, who has been tipped by many Tour pundits to make a break-through win for more than a year, was delighted with his final round.

Romain said: “I was playing really good since the start of the week.

“I was only focusing on doing my thing – that was the only objective I had on Monday with my coach.

“I’m so happy with the way I played the back nine. I played really, really good. I had so many birdie opportunities.

“The second shot on 16 and the first shot on 17 were my two best shots of the week.

“That shows that the work we have done the past few weeks has worked, and I’m pretty happy,” added Langasque.

“It was one of the first times I didn’t feel the pressure. I was focused on every shot.

“The first shot I felt pressure was the wedge on 18, because I was looking to be shorter and have a longer shot. But I flushed my four-iron.

“The wedge wasn’t easy because I wasn’t close and the two putts were under pressure. Before that I was cool and feeling really well on the course.

“The wait was long. But when you come back from five shots and you’re in a position like that it’s good.

“It’s long but it’s a good pressure and a good moment. I’m just enjoying my time now.”

•For final scores at the ISPS Handa Wales Open click here.

Välimäki and Syme earn US Open spots

LANGASQUE’S victory elevated him to 31st in the 2020 Race to Dubai Rankings.

It also earned him a place in next month’s US Open at Winged Foot, in New York, after he moved inside the top ten on the UK Swing Order of Merit.

The top 10 golfers not already exempt on that list, including Syme and runner-up Sami Välimäki, from Finland, have now secured their berths in the second Major of the COVID-19 interrupted season.

Langasque won The Amateur Championship five years ago at Carnoustie to earn his Open debut at St Andrews that summer.

He also made the cut when playing in the 2016 Augusta Masters and turned pro after his US Open debut at Oakmont, where Dustin Johnson claimed his first Major victory.

In March 2016, Langasque had beaten Hampshire’s Scott Gregory in the final of the Spanish Amateur Championship.

Three months later Gregory succeeded him as Amateur Champion by beating Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre in the final at Royal Porthcawl.

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The signature 17th hole with the 13th green in the foreground at Lumine’s Hills Course, which will stage the European Tour Qualifying School Final next month.

THE Lumine golf resort which will host the final stage of next month’s European Tour Qualifying School has upgraded the Hills Course before the 156 players battling for their 2020 playing rights arrive in Tarragona.

Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community, which has two championship courses, has also refitted the Lakes Course clubhouse as part of an ongoing €2million redevelopment programme.

A major fairway drainage project on the Hills Course has been central to ensuring a high quality of fairway turf throughout the year on the Costa Daurada course.

As a result, the rough lining the fairways has also become much more defined, giving even the best golfers an additional challenge if they miss the short grass.

Adjoining areas of play have been improved and are also much better defined now thanks to the addition of nearly 20,000 plants and shrubs that line and shape the walkways.

The improvements not only improve the overall look and feel of the course, but are ready to claim any errant shot that goes their way, says the course’s general manager Calle Carlsson.

All the buggy paths have also been upgraded with new kerbs and improved routing, to better protect the fairway and rough.

On the Lakes Course, the clubhouse is now an even more focal point for guests visiting Lumine as the result of a major refit.

The design aims to offer a lighter, more open plan environment that maximises the view over the daunting par five 18th hole and the water hazard surrounding the green.

The reception area has also been modernised, with new sign in technology that will make check-in much more efficient, while the pro shop has received a complete refresh, aimed at creating a premium boutique feel with improved display areas.

Calle Carlsson said: “It has been quite an undertaking, but we are delighted with the results so far, with many more changes to come in the months ahead.

“Not only have the changes enhanced the playability of the Hills Course, the premium feel we have created in the Lakes Course clubhouse enhances our reputation as a premier golf destination.

“We look forward to welcoming the next generation of potential European Tour players in November and, beyond that, the many thousands of golfers that visit every year to play.”

The upgrades have been completed ahead of the European Tour Final Qualifying Stage, which takes place over six rounds from November 15-20.

Those teeing it up in November will not only face a sterner test across all 108 holes on both courses, they will also be able to take advantage of the improved facilities when recuperating after their round.

European Tour Qualifying Final Stage tournament director Mike Stewart said: “This is the eighth year we have visited Lumine as part of Qualifying School – and the third time it wll host Final Stage.

“Every time we come back the team has made improvements and their commitment to presenting both courses in top condition for the event is very impressive.

“We always get great feedback from the players and look forward to working with the team to deliver another fantastic event next month.”

•To book your stay at one of Spain’s premier golf and leisure destinations, and for information about the packages on offer click here.

The new reception area in the clubhouse of Lumine’s Lakes Course which will greet the 156 players who make it through to the final stage of the 2019 Euorpean Tour Qualifying School

Amateur Champions shone in Spain

AMONG those who came through European Tour Qualifying School in 2018 were two former Amateur Champions.

Hampshire’s Scott Gregory and France’s Romain Langasque earned a full Tour card along with America’s Kurt Kitayama, who went on to win twice in his first 11 appearances on the European Tour between December and March.

Ironically the two players had met in the final of the 2016 Spanish Amateur Championship at Royal Valencia Golf Club.

Langasque, who had won the Amateur Championship in 2015 at Carnoustie, went on to win a one-sided final, but it spurred on the Corhampton golfer, who was crowned Langasque’s successor just three months later at Royal Porthcawl – beating Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.

The pair were Walker Cup team-mates a year later in Los Angeles are now and both playing on the European Tour after MacIntyre qualifed via the European Challenge Tour in 2018.

Last year’s ETQS winner in north-east Spain was Spaniard Alejandro Canizares while Florida-based Englishman Sam Horsfield was the first winner of the final stage held at Lumine, back in 2017.

Lincolnshire’s Nathan Kimsey was the surprise winner three years ago, the last time ETQS was held at PGA de Catalunya – the ninth year in row the final stage was held at the Girona venue.

Essex’s Richard McEvoy and Simon Khan were the winners in 2003 and 2009 respectively.

Three Englishmen in a row claimed the title after Khan – Northumberland’s Simon Wakefield, Somerset’s David Dixon and John Parry from Yorkshire, in 2012.

After eight venues across Europe hosted the first stage in September and October, players will be heading to Spain in the first week of November fighting for about half of the 156 places availble at Lumine.

The four venues are Alenda Golf and Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, in Alicante, Desert Springs, in Almeria, and Bonmont Golf Club in Tarragona.

All four tournaments will take place from November 7-10, with the first round of stage three commencing at Lumine, just five days after the final round at stage two

•For more information about stage two of the European Tour Qualifying School click here.

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