A very emotional Nicolas Colsaerts ended a seven-year winless drought to capture the Open de France in signing one-over par 72 and win by a single shot at 13-under par on the Le National course in Versailles.
Though the 36-year old former Ryder Cup star had to do it the hard way in forfeiting a three-shot overnight lead to fall 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 and fall back into a tie for the lead with Dane Joachim Hansen.
Though a Hansen bogey on 17 and in his round of 68 handed Colsaerts, and with three closing pars, the honour of becoming the first Belgium-born in 61-years to lift the gleaming silver trophy and the third Tour title of his career.
After 7 years Nicolas Colsaerts is a winner again on the European Tour 🇧🇪🏆@Coelsss #OpenDeFrance pic.twitter.com/enM4OSN4mZ
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 20, 2019
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 for me 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.
“Also, this win 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 nicet really have a week like that for a
long, long time.
“I can now play a lighter schedule as 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.”
