The wait is finally over! David Horsey ended a decade long drought, clinching his 7th win as a professional at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge. We catch up with Jamie Rutherford for the first time since his triumph earlier this season in Cape Town, while we explore all that Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil has to offer.
Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. [Music] It’s official. We’ve hit the midway mark of the 2025 Hotel Planetour season. 14 events completed and after this week, 14 still to go. So far, we’ve paid a visit to eight countries and traveled over 50,000 km. All in less than 6 months. During that time, we’ve got to experience the sights and sounds of some spectacular settings. What’s up? What do you think? Yo, this is amazing. Never seen anything like it. It was all fun and games with a clash of sporting codes in India. Let’s go. That’s great. We should do this every week. We caused a splash kayaking and had a kick about in Abu Dhabi. Hey guys, come in. And we’ve got to know some of the game’s rising stars a little better. So, here I am. And here are the boys. They’re all set up. See more, guys. But while plenty has been happening outside the ropes, the class of 2025 have also produced where it’s mattered most. The season teed off in the Rainbow Nation with a local capturing the headlines. Daniel Van, he’d secure victory on the Hotel Planetour. Daniel Van scored an early double success at the SDC and My Golf Life Opens. Backto back Hotel Planetour wins and all but guarantee his promotion to the DP World Tour after just two events of the season. A past champion at Fan Court, Wilco Ninber’s love affair with the NT data pro continued wrapping up the South African swing with victory in George. From there, the tour traveled to India with Josh Bry clearly taking a liking to the subcontinent. First, he snatched victory in a playoff in Kolkata [Applause] and came agonizingly close to doing it again the following week. This time though, Queen Vidal came up trumps. What a part, what a time for Quinn Vidal to produce that at the Delhi Challenge. April saw backto-back events in the UAE and again a back-to- back champion. Renato Parator had lost his DP World Tour Card, but took a giant leap towards an instant return with double desert success. An incredible couple of weeks for Renato Paratory on the Hotel Planet Tour. [Applause] [Music] The tour touched down in Europe in early May, betting in for a run of 18 tournaments in 20 weeks. [Music] Spanish events at the beginning and end of the month were won by first timers Claymon Shamasur and Roco Repetto Taylor. [Music] An incredible finish from Rocco Rapetto Taylor. [Music] Jonathan Goat Rasmuson and Felix Mory added to their already impressive regimes with wins in Denmark and Switzerland. It’s the Frenchman who comes out on top at the Swiss challenge. Palmer Jackson picked up his first Hotel Planetour title in Czecha. While last week the veteran James Morrison made an emotional return to the summit in France. [Applause] Our journey started though with Jamie Rutherford at Zabula. How’s it going? And the nearly man for the past few years on the hotel plan set his sights on a title early on. For me I I really want to win an event. Um, obviously I’ve been very consistent in the last two years, but haven’t been able to win. I’ve had a couple of near misses. Last year I had a couple relatively close ones and the year before I had one one where I was close, but um I’ve had a lot of consistent play and a lot of sort of top 10 finishes in the last two years, but I would like to have more um opportunities to win, get myself in a couple better positions, maybe earlier in tournaments. He didn’t have to wait long. Just three weeks later, he was celebrating in Cape Town. And with family watching on, Jamie Rutherford captured his maiden title on the Hotel Planetour. [Applause] Despite that early success, the job is not yet done. a pass mark so far, but not yet the grade he’s hoping for by the campaign’s end. I would give myself a B. May maybe a low A. Obviously, you know, getting getting being able to win was was obviously a big achievement and something that was a big goal of mine. I feel like my consistency maybe hasn’t been as good as the last couple years and I’ve had a few weeks where I’ve been battling my swing and my game a little bit more than I would like, but um I’m definitely seeing signs the last few weeks of um close to where I want to be and um you know hopefully I can I can find some form now when we we’ve got a decent run of events. Jamie’s February breakthrough win came in Cape Town and saw him rocket up the rankings to second spot. But looking back now, the highlight of that week was having his nearest and dearest alongside to share the moment. Obviously, having my family there really is is the big thing. You know, it’s it’s tough for us guys. You know, I’ve been out on the tour now for for a decent amount of years, playing full-time, traveling a lot. You know, you don’t get to see your family and friends and girlfriend at home. So from that perspective, you know, to have them there watching me and then also get my first win on the Hotel Planet, that’s really special. I think that’s the like the main memory really from a golf perspective. You know, having the lead early on the Sunday, having really tough conditions and having a score in the clubhouse that I knew I had to beat when it was tough. I think I can take a lot from how I handled the the sort of the whole day and the back n particularly and how well I played. So, it’s a case of getting myself in that position again. Really, that’s you know, I know I can perform when it comes down to it. So, just need to get myself get myself back in those positions. Jamie followed up his win with a sixth place finish the following week at the NT data proam, but since then he’s failed to register a top 10 on the hotel plan. However, he was fully focused on a return to form in France. I had a nice check in with my coach yesterday just working through a couple of shots in the wind that I struggled with. But yeah, this morning I felt like I hit the ball nice in our practice round. Um, we had a doubles game with the lads which was which was good fun. And then I’ve got the prom tomorrow afternoon. So it’ll be nice to just just get out and like I said just be really concentrated on getting getting the T- shots where it needs to be. But no, I feel like my game’s been trending nicely and I’m feeling more comfortable. um than I have been in the last few weeks and I feel like um yeah ready to to put myself in contention again and try and have a really good week. Normand is golf PGA France Devodroy was the venue once again for the 12th staging of Lavodroy Golf Challenge. It’s an event which holds fond memories for Rutherford having finished sixth and third in the last two years. Amongst the past winners here are the likes of Marcel Seam, Aaron Ry, and Ryan Fox. And Rutherford would love nothing more than to add his name to that exalted company. Thursday afternoon and round one of Lavode Roy Golf Challenge. Adverse weather caused a delay to proceedings and looked to have affected Jamie. Starting at the 10th, two drop shots in his first five holes. Not the start he was looking for. Rutherford rallied though and taking advantage of the par fives he made gains at the 15th and 18th to go out in level par into his back nine and Jamie couldn’t maintain that momentum. Some missed opportunities saw him record seven consecutive pars before a disaster at the relatively straightforward par 58th hole. After losing his ball off the tea, Jaime would rack up a triple bogey 8. He’d finally tap in for a disappointing opening 75. Tied 116th, fully 10 shots back from round one leader Robin Corist. you know, obviously being so fresh off the course and finishing with a triple on the 17th, you know, is hard at the minute, but you know, I know I can shoot a good score around this golf course. I’ve done it in the past. So, you know, I’m not out the tournament. You know, if I can go and post a, you know, six, seven under like some of the guys have been able to do today, then I can get myself back in it. Um, just got to um, you know, go back and get some sleep and, you know, come out tomorrow fresh. And it’s a new day, so just just try and shoot the best score I can. Early Friday morning and Jamie was all set for round two at Lavode Roy Golf Challenge. It would prove a testing and demanding day. After opening with a bogey, another shot would go at the par 3/3 before three holes later, a triple bogey 7 put paid to any hopes of going low. Out in 40 and eight over for the week. Damage limitation was the priority now. With the putter misbehaving, four more shots went before a late rally with two birders in his last four holes clawed back some sort of respectability. But with dad Jeff watching on rounds of 75 and 79 added up to a week to forget. It’s obviously a shame to, you know, his travel was disrupted a little bit coming out here, um, which meant he couldn’t be here yesterday. And then obviously to like to shoot the scores I have is disappointing. I mean, I guess he’s got his money’s worth in terms of how many shots I’ve hit. You know, we’ll still have a nice weekend and we’re going to go on straight from here on to um on to open qualifying on Tuesday. So, you know, practice hard the next couple days and and travel over a little bit earlier um just gives me a little bit more preparation um for Tuesday and then and then I’m going to have I’m not playing next week’s event. So, um then can try and yeah get some work work done with my coach and uh just try and get back on track for the two events afterwards. Enjoying a rather more successful week was Robin Corist. Playing on home soil and fresh off a solid top 15 last week, the Frenchman followed up on his opening 65 with a 66, thereby heading into the weekend, three shots clear of another man in form lately, Daniel Young. [Music] Coming up, Golf for the Ages, our host venue’s mission for France’s golfing future. And we’ll see who emerged top of the pile at Lavoy Golf Challenge, all after the break. Welcome back to the Hotel Planetour and the 12th staging of Lavodroy Golf Challenge. An event that’s seen some notable names take home the trophy, but the locals had yet to cheer a French winner here. Hoping to buck that trend, Robin Co Seagrist with a decent lead over Dan Young. Eddie Prol was a welcome inclusion in the top 10, too. Could he continue to roll back the years on moving day? Or would another contender emerge? Your commentator, Josh Antman. Rounds of 66 and 68 had seen Daniel Young put himself into a good position heading into the weekend. Three back of co Seagris and he immediately close the gap with this birdie on the first hole. Just one top 25 all season for Albin Bergstrom but he was having a steady week in France. Saturday he really turned it on. However, six birdies up to this point. This birdie on 15 was number seven and he would sign for a 65 on moving day. David Horsey’s most recent win anywhere was 10 years ago at the maiden Denmark on the DP World Tour, a 66 on Friday and went one better on Saturday, signing off with this birdie on 18 and a tie for the lead going into Sunday. It was a mixed bag for Young around the turn. Bogeies are nine and 10 but bounce back on 12 after this delightful shot set up a birdie. He would be just two back heading into the final day. Leader overnight Robin Sio Seagris couldn’t quite find the avalanche of birdies he had on the first two days. This at 12 led to a birdie, but it was only his second in round three and a one over 73 would see him lose his lead. It was a three-way tie going into Sunday due to Eddie Peril going on a birdie blitz. He’d actually had a double bogey at six and a further drop shot at 17, but this was offset by nine birdies in his round on Saturday. His only win on the Hotel Planet came back in 2012 and that was in France. So, the country holding good memories for the man from Oxfordshire. So, a trio at the top heading into the final round. Home hopeful Robin Co Seagrist sat one back from a group containing Horsey Bergstrom and returning to form on just his second start after six weeks away. Eddie Petrol I’m pretty pleased I think looking back at Jimbo win last week hearing him say about what he said after the third round where he just felt happy to be playing better golf again irrespective of what happened on the Sunday and I feel somewhat similar. It’s results are you know good results come your way when you do good things. So, um I just hope this is the start of a, you know, a good run of goal for me, uh, which would just the results would reflect the good decision making. So, um, yeah, I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself tomorrow. I’m going to go out there and try and continue what I’ve been doing, stick to my little kind of mantras with routines that I’m trying to focus on with my each particular shot. Um, and there’s not that many of them, but um, yeah, just just go and trust the process and trust yourself and give it a go really. Now, Golf PGA France deodory was host to the hotel planetur for a week, but it’s a venue that offers unique opportunities all year round. Uh we have a short game academy, the golf court academy, and we have also Alus performance. We we have young guys and boys and uh they come like for two three four years and they will go either to study in US or somewhere else or to uh play professionally. Some choose to go into teaching which I like to so it’s kind of a a prep school for for youngsters. [Music] I met uh Jean Clude um in 20 2018 and now he’s a he’s a good friend and uh and a sponsor. So I’m happy to work with him. He wants to have a good facilities in Lov for training. So for the French golf is amazing to have this man. [Music] Yeah, we have like 50 nationals. So, uh, amateur six amateurs and, uh, and French golf is quite represented at at this level and, uh, it’s nice to have them here. I think they understand how important it is to, uh, to be successful on on this hotel planner tour. And then the condition did did also improve every year as they they keep improving on the game. So we are we are like a bit of a challenge for them and I love that [Music] all the uh winners uh the past 11 winners most of them good success even in USA on the PGA tour. So it’s quite uh it’s a bit of a lucky charm and uh I’m happy with that. Well, sadly the luck of overnight co-leader Eddie Pil ran out. He was forced to withdraw with a back injury. So David Horsey and Elvin Bergstrom were left to battle it out in the final two ball. So that unfortunate injury to Pepil gave the lead contenders one less player to think about and David Horsey was right at it from the get-go. This huge birdie part of the first, the perfect start for the 40-year-old. [Music] Dan Young was playing in the penultimate group and got off to a poor start with a bogey at the first, but that seemed to ignite something in the Scott as he had five birdies in six holes with one of them coming here at six after this fine approach. [Music] Sabre Torres was playing on an invite in France and he was taking full advantage of the opportunity given to him. This birdie on 13, one of eight on the day and he would card a 66 and have to wait to see if that was good enough. Also playing on an invite this week was England’s James Allen. No cut made in five previous Hotel Planetary events this season, but Leverroy was very much to his liking. He came roaring through the field on Sunday and this was on the last for Birdie and it would eventually prove a crucial miss. a 65 and like Torres 16 under par would have to wait. So Torres and Allan in the clubhouse at 16 under par and they were joined by Young after this massive birdie part of the last meant a 67 for the Scott fist bump two and only one man could make it a fourway playoff in France and that man was David Horsey a battling back nine which included three drop shots but this birdie on the 72nd hole meant we were going to a four-way playoff to decide the winner. Yes, a fab four of David Horsey, James Allen, Jose Ba Torres, and Dan Young with the men left standing, but with the pressure firmly on now, who possessed the game to get it over the line. So, three Hotel Planetour wins between the four players in the playoff and they all belong to David Horsey. So, experience was very much on his side. Quick coin flip. Par three 10th hole. It was first up in the playoff and Horsey was first to go. A class approach from David Horsey. Almost guaranteed himself a birdie from there and the pressure was put on everyone else. Oh, smiles there from Horsey. Dan Young. Long range effort it was for him for Birdie. Great effort but it wasn’t to be. gave it a good go there. [Applause] Long range effort two for Torres. Remember in on an invite but couldn’t take advantage there. Another great effort from the Spaniard. James Allen just off the green. This is third shot. He had to make this and hope David Horsey would miss and Allen didn’t convert there. So, a big chance for David Horsey for the title. After almost 10 years away from the winner circle, David Horsey the champion once again. And with the victory comes a huge jump in the road to Morca rankings, looking to regain his card on the DP World Tour. Been a tough road, you know, the last four or five years. Few injuries, not been playing very well as well. So, yeah, it’s nice to sort of finally put start putting rounds together. You know, I’ve been playing well and putting single rounds together, but to put sort of four rounds or three rounds together and and sort of win a tournament is obviously, yeah, very pleasing. I’ve always felt recently sometimes, you know, I’ve I’ve got it in a good place and never thought that I could do it under pressure. So, if I got myself up there, it would never hold up. So, to see that hold up today um was very pleasing hopefully for for the rest of the season and then for the rest of my career. While Renato Paratoré retains his number one spot on the road to Morca rankings, Dan Young’s second place finish in France sees him climb into sixth place. Following his first victory in 10 years, David Horsey caners 97 places up to 12th. Check winner Palmer Jackson is up to 16th while sat in what will eventually become a critical 20th spot. Santiago Tario. Experience came to the four in our French fortnight with return to the winner circle for David Horsey and James Morrison. Up next, we head to Austria as the pursuit of promotion to the DP World Tour continues. [Music]
