Le Page defies own logic to win ‘the major’ in Guernsey

So much so that the affable 10-handicap also saw that particular trophy as out of his reach – that was until Saturday afternoon, when ‘Pago’ defied his own long-time prediction by winning the prestigious silverware thanks to a magnificent 66 nett.

‘It is the highlight of my golfing career,’ said Le Page, with a grin that he will surely be wearing for a long time.

‘As a 60-year-old, you think perhaps those days are gone, but actually winning this one is the best thing that’s ever happened in golf for me.

‘I used to look at the L’Ancresse Open and think “only the top players win that” and it wasn’t for me, then suddenly here I am winning it – it’s great.

‘It is the major in Guernsey and I’m so happy to have won it.’

Although he surprised himself with his victory, his form had been trending in the right direction having finished runner-up in the Tom Rihoy Trophy a week earlier.

When it came to the ‘big one’, Le Page had a favourable early-afternoon draw with the wind easing off slightly compared to the blustery conditions of the morning.

He made the most of it, going out in 39 gross, which included a birdie at the eighth, before coming home in 37 with further birdie threes at the 10th, where he holed out from off the green, and then, crucially, at the 17th.

That back nine saw him edge out Scratch Salver winner Steve Mahy on countback.

‘I had a really good late tee time. Funnily enough, Micky King told me who was leading before I went out, which normally puts a bit of a hex on things, but it was nice to know because coming up 17 I knew I had to birdie one of the last two holes to be in with a chance of finishing on top,’ Le Page said.

‘I birdied 17 and I had another 10-footer on 18 for birdie as well, which was a nice comfort zone, but I didn’t make that.

‘Having played so well the previous week and finished second when I thought I’d won – I came in with 42 points saying “hey, I’ve got it” and 43 was already in – it was sort of relaxing to know that I had done so well last week.

‘I wanted to put in a good score, but I didn’t know it was a winning score, so it was quite nice to end up with the 66 and then hearing Steve obviously did 66, I’m so pleased to finish ahead of Steve as well, being the great player he is.’

Le Page gave a word of gratitude to Kevin Masterton and Martin Ireland, saying it was great fun to play alongside them, with Masteron later joking that the winner’s round was so steady it was ‘quite boring actually Paul’.

‘It’s a bit like one of those fast laps on Top Gear, the slower it looks the better it is,’ Le Page said with a chuckle.

The victor also added special praise for the work of head greenkeeper Ollie Pennington and his team.

‘The course is just fantastic. The greenkeeper is just amazing with what he has done and it’s a real pleasure to play on it.

‘It’s a classic links course now, it’s running fast, it’s hard, but the greens are still really nice and rolling well.’

On a day of good scoring, Le Page was one of eight players to finish under par off handicap, with Gary King and Tony Crawley posting 67s, one better than Andy Chamberlain and veterans’ prize winner Peter Melhuish, who in turn were a shot ahead of Paul Le Tissier.

Mahy and Jamie Blondel were the other two players in the 60s.

• THE quartet of Mike Ayre, Paul Boyd, Joe Moriarty and John Booth took first place in Friday’s Open Team Golf with a score of 92 points. Second were David Morris, Paul Bougourd, Steve Gibbons and Steve Mahon with 90 on countback from Wayne Moore, Oliver Pennington and Shay and Sam Goddard.

Bobby Eggo had something to celebrate, too, as he got a hole in one on the seventh to win a £1,400 watch.