RICHARD GREEN’S first taste of Legends Tour golf may have lasted three more holes than anticipated, but it was worth the wait.
Perhaps it was an extra few minutes for the Australian to enjoy views of a place that, one day, he could call home.
According to La Moye captain Dennis Lavin, the Jersey Legends 2022 champion is exploring the possibility of relocating to the Bailiwick, having heaped praise on all aspects of Island life.
‘The vast majority of the professionals were effusive in their praise for La Moye and Jersey generally,’ said Lavin.
‘The winner even expressed a desire in wanting to move over here.’
Jersey is a place that has wowed tour players in the past. Most notably, former Masters champion and Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam relocated here after competing in the Jersey Open during the 1980s.
‘It was an incredibly proud moment for me as captain of this club,’ said Lavin.
‘A massive thanks has to go to Sarah Arora [tournament director] for pushing this event through as well as the Legends Tour.
‘The course was in fantastic condition and the praise we received from the players regarding the presentation of the links and the hospitality in the clubhouse was overwhelming.’
Jersey’s exposure to professional sport has strengthened of late.
The British & Irish Lions and England Rugby both chose the Island for squad training last year and now Legends Tour officials have committed to the venue for the foreseeable future.
With that in mind, there is a chance that locals will be seeing a greater number of high-profile individuals on Caesarean shores.
The La Moye captain said: ‘It was fantastic to have the celebrity presence during the week.
‘To hear so many of them praising our beautiful island can only bode well in terms of exposure and tourism. Jersey ticks so many boxes for people and sports teams alike and I wouldn’t be surprised to see many more professional teams decide to come here for their training, given its close proximity to the mainland.’
The Jersey Legends tournament was an event that deserved a grandstand finish.
It was duly provided by Green and former Open champion Paul Lawrie, who could not be separated after 54 holes of regulation golf.
Both players showed impressive resolve down the last hole of the tournament, where the duo’s approach shots nestled within ten feet of the hole.
Lawrie went first and he buried his birdie putt as Green watched on.
The lefty was not rattled, though, as he replied with a birdie of his own, draining a slippery right to left putt on the final green.
After stalemate over the first two play-off holes, it was the débutant Green who secured the victory with a par up the challenging 17th hole – straight into the teeth of the wind.
Christian Cévaer carded the best score of the week – a eight-under 64 in round one. However, a 77 and a 75 left him tied in 17th on Sunday night.
