Three successive Guernsey titles while still in her teens show just what she is capable of, but in her typically modest manner she admitted that she ‘expected to be down’ at the halfway stage of her 2026 CI final against Melissa McMahon at L’Ancresse.
In reality, though, Gaudion was 6 up on the trophy holder at that stage of the rematch of the 2025 final, having enjoyed a first round she would probably have never dreamed of, and that overnight lead was substantial enough to help her come through the Sunday morning fightback she knew would be coming.
While McMahon was not at her best on an unfamiliar course on Saturday, Gaudion was very solid as she went about her business in her usual, unassuming fashion, finding fairways and greens to ensure her opponent’s mistakes were capitalised on.
The home player won the first couple of holes to gather early momentum and by the time they reached the eighth tee Gaudion was already 5 up.
McMahon reduced the deficit by winning back-to-back holes around the turn, but she then found trouble at the 11th whereas Gaudion was safely on the green in two and did not need to hit a putt as the concession came.
The Sarnian then played the 13th in perfect fashion to make a birdie that took her 5 up for the second time and she extended her lead further on the long 14th.
McMahon got one back on 15, but after a couple of halves coming home, Gaudion finished the opening day by taking the last with a par and that left the Jersey champion with a mountain to climb on Sunday morning.
She did her best to scale that mountain as she started to chip into Gaudion’s lead by winning the second with an outstanding up-and-down from an awkward spot to the back left of the green before going on to win the third and fifth holes.
Importantly for her own state of mind, Gaudion won her first hole of the morning at the sixth to go 4 up with 12 to play, although by the time they reached the turn McMahon had reduced her arrears to two.
The home player regrouped well on the back nine, though, and four successive halves put her back firmly in the driving seat with holes running out and a pulled drive at the 14th would cost McMahon the hole as Gaudion went 3 up with four to play.
There was an immediate response as the visitor won the 15th, but the gap would not get any closer as the 16th was halved to leave McMahon in last-chance saloon.
With Gaudion virtually guaranteed a par at the 17th, having judged her putt from just off the left-hand of the green superbly, the Jersey player knew she had to have a good run at her own birdie putt and when it missed on the high side, she graciously picked up her opponent’s marker and offered her congratulations.
‘I played well,’ said 3 & 1 winner Gaudion. ‘It’s the third time I’ve played it and I’ve lost every previous time, but it was an advantage it was at home because we know the course, we know all the hidden slopes and bunkers.
‘Melissa is a great opponent – and she fights.
‘I started well yesterday, but then today I lost three holes early this morning, and it’s not easy losing three holes to come back.’
