Queru scoops the big one after nervous wait

BRIAN QUERU had to wait half of Saturday to be confirmed as the 30th L'Ancresse Open champion. But the former Siam Cup rugby star was taking nothing for granted until the last cards were checked as dusk fell.

'Two years ago I was second and led all day only to lose when Kevin Lycett came in,' said the nine-handicap who shot a net 65 to win by two shots from James Adcock, Stuart Hamon and Martyn Blondel.

Queru was quick to praise his playing partner, John Goodall.

'I really enjoyed it. John helped me along and kept telling me to take my time.

'It was a long day and leading all day felt pretty good.'

The winner was further indebted to his regular partner when he thought he had lost his drive at the 14th.

Encouraged to keep looking for his ball which, as it happened, was a little further ahead than he thought, he found it with the five-minute period almost up.

'We found it with seconds to go and I went on to par the hole.'

Out in 38, the winner covered the inward half in 36, showing all his renowned competitive instincts to register a 74 gross.

His only blip along the home straight was a bogey at 15. He parred the 16th, birdied 17 and got his three at the last.

Of the trio on 67, Adcock will have rued a minor disaster on the par-four eighth where he took seven.

The eight-handicap was, however, still out in 39 and with a birdie at the last came back in 36 to take the runner-up prize on countback.

Hamon, son of the 2006 winner Mike, also enjoyed a good day.

Out in 38 with a couple of sixes on the fourth and ninth, he was back in 37 for his net 67 and third place ahead of Blondel who was back in 40.

One further shot back was Matt Le Tissier, winner in 2003.

He might have won again but for a sloppy front nine, which he covered in 40 and in contrast to his back nine which he finished with a hat-trick of birdies.

On the same 68 mark, Sean Mills finished even better, covering the inward half in 32 after a front-nine of 40, while Richard Vaudin's 68 won him the veteran's prize.

The scratch trophy was won by Bobby Eggo for the fifth time in six years and 12th time all told.

Island champion Jack Mitchell had led for a long while after shooting a level-par 70, but in the early evening along came Eggo with a two-under 68.