Richie Ramsay’s golden autumn has been rewarded with the certain assurance he will contest the three ‘Final Series’ events including the elite top-60 season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
This is after the Scot collected a third top-10 finish in his past four events in posting a French Open closing level par round of 71 for an eight-under par tally and a share of sixth place in Versailles.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts ended a seven-year winless drought signing for a one-over par 72 and win by a single shot at 13-under par.
Though the 36-year old former Ryder Cup star had to do it the hard way in forfeiting a three-shot overnight lead in tumbling to second place after bogeys and five, six and 12.
Colsaerts then in a 30-minute run brilliantly birdied 12 and chipped-in for an eagle ‘3’ on 14 but only to horribly put a ball into water on 15 for a bogey and fall back into a tie for the lead with Dane Joachim Hansen.
A Hansen bogey on 17 and in his eventual round of 68 for second place at 12-under handed a very emotional and teary-eyed Colsaerts, who pared his closing three holes, the honour of becoming the first Belgium-born in 61-years to lift the gleaming silver trophy.
Victory also secured Colsaerts the bigger prize of a two-year Tour exemption when staring at losing his Tour card in what could have been his penultimate event of 2019.
He said: “This is a very special moment for me as the French Open has always been very special given I am French speaking, and I have been coming here for I don’t know how many years.
“It’s been a long road and I’ve had so many people supporting me over the years, and that is why I am so emotional.
“I went through up-and-downs for so many years now that is just so good to win again.
“This win also changes everything for me for the next couple of years. Lighter schedule. I have a wife at home and a little kid now that I am going to be able to spend a bit more time with now, which is nice.”
Ramsay went into the last day five shots off the lead but struggled in the continuing cold conditions and with a preferred lie rule in effect.
The Scot, and again with his left thumb bandaged, could manage just two birdies but also dropped two shots in an equal best season finish after Ramsay was also fifth in May’s British Masters.
He said: “I’m pretty pleased with my efforts over the four days as I was actually 60/40 in deciding whether or not I was going to play this week.
“I’ve had my thumb taped to help ease the inflammation and it’s worked well.”
A year ago, Ramsay had only just managed to secure his Tour card in ending 2018 at 114th on the money list and just three spots inside the cut-off mark but has now moved to 55th on the Race to Dubai.
It means the Edinburgh-based Aberdonian is guaranteed starts in the final three $7m each events of the year, and starting in a fortnight with the November 4th commencing Turkish Airlines Open.
