Blondel's 17th misery lets in Hamon for title

MIKE HAMON has spent more than a quarter-of-a-century trying to win his club's biggest event - the open - and he finally achieved his ambition at L'Ancresse on Saturday. The L'Ancresse first-team captain shot a net 65 (69 gross) to pip Paul Le Noury for the top prize by two shots in a field of 174.

Hamon said the victory had come near the end of one of his finest seasons.

'I've been playing well all year. I reached the semi-finals of the island championships and did well in the club championships.

'It all clicked for a change,' he added.

'I think it is a big ambition for anyone at the L'Ancresse to win the open. It was a nice, steady round. It was a case of not getting into trouble.'

Out in 34, the four-handicap came home in a level par 35 to break 70.

Meanwhile, Bobby Eggo won the scratch prize for the fourth time in five years and 11th year all told in the 29th staging of the popular event.

The most successful player in Guernsey golfing history was out in 34 and back in 33 for a three-under 67.

Hamon said it always helped to play alongside a player of the quality of Eggo.

'It does help because if you can match him you know you are going to do well.'

One shot behind Eggo in the scratch stakes was the island's lowest handicap, plus-two Danny Bisson who can at least claim to have produced the day's outstanding shot, a wedge straight into the cup - which was damaged as a consequence - for an eagle two at the par four ninth.

Tony Blondel was another nearly man.

The former island football boss was on target for the day's outstanding score as he stood on the 17th tee.

But, eight shots later he trudged disappointingly to the 18th having quadruple-bogeyed the penultimate hole.

A par three at the last gave him a net 68, but it could so easily have been a 64 for the nine-handicap.

Another tale of what might have been came from the best former footballer in the field - Matt Le Tissier.

He finished a shot back of his uncle, Tony, the day after he had played his part in winning the Investec Team Golf competition.

Out in 37, the former England star and 2004 winner of the open, came back in 38 for a 75 gross, 69 net. But he won't have been amused to have bogeyed the final two holes.

The previous day he had teamed up with couson Jamie Blondel, Jason Savident and Mark Collas to score 87 points and win by two.