Jeremy Nicolle and Chloe Gaudion were crowned over the weekend at L’Ancresse as both dethroned the defending champions to claim their first titles in memorable fashion.
To cap it off, Bobby Eggo made it three wins out of four players for home players in the finals played by regaining the senior men’s title in trademark fashion as he birdied the last to beat Jeremy Phillips.
Guernsey’s Josh Neville came mightily close in the junior final, too, just being edged out by Aiden Wilson 1 up.
There was some stunning golf played across the four matches, none more so than from Nicolle, who found himself 4 down to Sam Quail after just eight holes of Saturday’s first round but responded by firing five birdies on the back nine to be just 1 down overnight.
He then started yesterday’s second round in sensational style, playing the first four holes in three under par, and he would make seven birdies over the course of the morning to set a pace that Quail was just unable to match as he won 2 & 1.
‘Considering 18 months ago I was in hospital and the physiotherapist handed me a ball to do slow grips on it, and the ball just fell out of my hand because I couldn’t move my fingers, I really did think perhaps I won’t play golf again,’ Nicolle said.
‘Probably three months later I was starting to get strength back in it, and then somehow managed to get to a semi-final of the Island Championship last year.
'To go through and win the Island Championship with my dad caddying and then to have him on the bag today and win this, it’s something really, really special.
‘Hopefully there’s more to come, but if I was to never pick up a club again, then I can be happy with what I’ve done in the sport.’
Gaudion turned the tables on Jersey champion Melissa McMahon in a repeat of the 2025 women’s final, with the 19-year-old Sarnian taking charge of the match on Saturday as she established a 6 up lead after 18 holes.
McMahon fought back hard yesterday and managed to close the gap to two coming down the stretch, but Gaudion held her nerve to convert her Island title into a CI crown at the third time of asking, 3 & 1.
‘It feels good. Last year was in Jersey, but last year was a bit different because I was flying straight out to the US the next day, but yeah, it feels good and to do it at home as well,’ she said.
More to follow
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