The Scotsman started the day four shots off the lead, but he made nine birdies on his way to the best round of the week and a -13 total that was enough to see off overnight leader Simon Khan and Scott Hend, who finished tied-2nd on -11. It was a birdie-fest on the La Forêt course at Le Touquet, especially on the front nine, and as many as 15 players had a genuine chance of winning as a dramatic final round unfolded in northern France. Hutcheon made a good start with birdies at the 1st and 3rd holes. He dropped a shot at the par-5 5th but bounced straight back with a birdie two at the 6th. He thrust himself into contention with a birdie barrage of four in a row from the 9th that got him into a share of the lead. Three pars followed before he broke clear with back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17. He burned the edge for birdie from 20 feet on the final hole, but his magnificent 64 set the clubhouse target at -13. Khan, Hend and Robert Coles had a chance to catch him, but they couldn’t find enough late birdies to force a play-off. “I’m absolutely delighted,” said the three-time Challenge Tour winner. “It’s a lesson in perseverance and just sort of battling on through quite a few injuries, and so on. So yeah, I think it’s determination that has got me here. “I didn’t really expect to get in the mix as much. I started the day on five-under and just hoped for a good round. I was hoping to get to ten-under – that was my target at the start of the day. I managed to shoot three-under on the front nine and then birdied 10, 11 and 12. And I managed to sneak a couple more at 16 and 17. I thought I might be there or thereabouts, so I did have a feeling that I was going along quite well. But I was a little unsure about exactly how things stood until I saw the leaderboard at 17.” His finish was testament to how well his swing and putting stroke stood up under the pressure of going for your first win: “I managed to just swing the club on plane really and hit some nice shots trying not to get too much shape on the ball. And let the putter do the work, you know. I did have a good day on the greens. I holed some nice putts today. The greens were fantastic – they were a great pace and very true. They were a joy to putt on.” Hutcheon finished 8th on the MCB Road to Mauritius in his rookie season last year, and his first win on the circuit takes the 51-year-old to 7th on this year’s standings. While most players were racking up birdies on the first few holes, Khan dropped shots on the 1st and 4th to find himself playing catch up for the first time all week. He fought back valiantly

Peter Baker Last year’s MCB Road to Mauritius number one is back in action after missing the last two events to recharge his batteries ahead of a big second half of the season. He won the first event of the season in Barbados and added 3rd place finishes at the OFX Irish Legends and Swiss Senior Open to sit 4th in this season’s Order of Merit. “I’m looking forward to the rest of the year,” says the former Ryder Cup player. “I’ve had a good break and I’m back on it now, which is great, and really looking forward to the next few weeks. I’ve always played better when I’m fresh and I’m looking forward to playing. We’ve had a good run (at the start of the season). I’ve been up there a lot with the chances to win, so that sort of takes its toll. It was the right time to have a bit of relaxation and refresh to get ready for the second half of the year. “I’ve never played this course, but it looks lovely. It’s a beautiful area, so I’m really looking forward to it. My game felt good last week, so hopefully we’ll play well this week and see what we can do. Of course, it would be nice to win the MCB Road to Mauritius again. I think I’ve got six or seven tournaments left, so I need to play well and try to win one, if not more.” Scott Hend The Aussie returns to the Legends Tour this week after playing a couple of Asian Tour events since his last appearance at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship hosted by Colin Montgomerie. Hend started the season with four top-5s in a row, including a tied-4th finish at a major, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. He’s looking forward to getting back in action on the Legends Tour in France – on and off the course. “It’s good to be in France,” says the current MCB Road to Mauritius number three. “There’s some fantastic wines here, even in the grocery stores, and there’s a lot of cheese to be had this week. It’s always great to come for a visit here.” This is his first trip to Le Touquet specifically so he’s leaning on his fellow competitors for course info and hoping it suits his style of play: “I’m asking the boys for a few tips. There are a lot of trees and it’s quite benign at the moment, but who knows what’s going to happen when the tournament starts. They’ve said it’s pretty open and you can smash it. That’s usually pretty good for me. I find the best way to play golf is your natural way, and I’m generally sort of an aggressive type of person, sort of up front, so that’s how I play my golf.”   Brian Davis Davis is making his Legends Tour debut following a brilliant career that includes two DP World Tour wins in 248 appearances and five runners-up finishes in 386

This extensive project is set to be completed by October 2024 and will revolutionise the way the golf course is managed and maintained, in addition to taking a crucial step in the club’s journey towards greater sustainability. The advanced upgrade includes the installation of new main lines, lateral lines, a cutting-edge sprinkler system, and a state-of-the-art computer system. In total, more than 3,000 sprinklers and 40 kilometres of pipe will be laid to ensure full irrigation coverage across all 18 holes, encompassing all tees, fairways, approaches, and greens. “The irrigation overhaul provides Dubai Creek with the most advanced automated irrigation system available,” said David Taggart, Club Manager at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. “The golf course is our most important asset and water is our most important resource. By installing this new system, Dubai Golf is showing its commitment to providing the best possible playing conditions for members and guests, for many years to come. What’s more, we will be able to target our resources in much greater detail, saving significant time and more importantly 30,000,000 litres of water a year.” One of the standout features of this new system, installed in partnership with Rain Bird, is the ability to control and monitor irrigation in real-time through tablets and smart phones. This level of intelligence and insight allows golf course maintenance managers to efficiently adapt to the changing conditions and apply the minimum amount of water required to produce excellent playing surfaces. “Dubai Creek was named the number one golf resort in the UAE last year, and we are keen to continue driving the club forward and enhancing the playing experience even further. With this significant investment, the maintenance team at Dubai Creek will be able to work more accurately and efficiently, and ultimately deliver a golf course that is better conditioned than ever before,” said Chris May, CEO of Dubai Golf. “This isn’t just an incremental improvement; it’s a total overhaul designed to bring Dubai Creek to the forefront of sustainable agronomy practices but also to the attention of golfers worldwide as a must-visit golfing destination,” he added. Taggart commented: “Dubai Creek has built a significant legacy both locally and internationally since it opened in 1993. This sizeable investment allows the club to continue to build on that legacy and be prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. We are very proud of the excellent work our Superintendent, Harry Wells and his team produce and providing them with the state-of-the-art technology allows them to continue to set the standard for excellence in an environmentally responsible manner.” The team at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club continue to build on the success of hosting the DP World Tour’s Dubai Invitational earlier this year in which Tommy Fleetwood beat Rory McIlroy down the stretch and entering the Golf World Top 100 World Golf Resorts at #43 and as #1 in the UAE.

You wake up rested to the sound of cicadas. Rising, you slide open the glass doors to your garden. A few steps away, you sink into your pool for a morning swim, before you begin your day. A little later, as your loved ones gather in the shade under the pergola, you enjoy a catered meal cooked with fresh local ingredients. Your home smells of delectable food, fragrant herbs, and the sea. In a home located within the Navarino Dunes area of Costa Navarino, there’s no stress. Here, you have access to all the services and amenities of a five-star resort, and a plethora of activities to choose from at any time. The award-winning destination, which already offers beautifully designed villas for sale, recently expanded its offering with the introduction of a Villa Rental Collection. Here are all the reasons to rent a villa at Costa Navarino: Access to 5-star Resort Facilities and Amenities Pairing the freedom of having your own, spacious home with the comforts of resort facilities is the quintessential recipe for a relaxed summer. Navarino Dunes is the most extensive area of Costa Navarino, home of two five-star resorts, more than 20 restaurants, an Aqua Park, and the world-renowned Anazoe Spa. As a resident of a villa at Navarino Dunes, you have full access to the world-class facilities, amenities and services offered at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, including spa treatments, dining, sporting facilities, kid’s clubs, and the concierge service which can help you pick and plan from Costa Navarino’s plethora of recreational activities and experiences for kids and adults. Fully Managed Lifestyle All of the villas for rent come fully managed with services like housekeeping, as well as catering for any special requests. Besides having access to all of the resort facilities and services, you may also have many those services, from childcare by certified babysitters to culinary experiences, brought to your own home. Golf and Tennis Hub Over the last decade, Costa Navarino has grown into one of Europe’s most renowned high-end sports destinations. The four 18-hole signature golf courses, The Dunes Course, The Bay Course, The Hills Course, and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course, which are already home to golf tournaments and receiving prestigious golf awards annually, are set against breath-taking backdrops and all available to villa residents. Tennis enthusiasts, meanwhile, can enjoy the state-of-the-art Mouratoglou Tennis Center, the first of its kind in Europe, featuring twelve exceptional courts with surfaces including clay, hard cushion, and natural grass. Family-Focused Costa Navarino Residences provides privileged access to specially designed facilities and experiences for the whole family. Kids and young adults love the Aqua Park, which boasts waterslides, several pools, toys, and waterfalls. The kid’s clubs offer large and thrilling play spaces and innovative activities for children, designed to educate, entertain and create memorable moments for the youngest in the family. At the Division 16 space, teens enjoy bowling, VR gaming, breaking out of the escape room, karaoke, augmented reality air hockey, and much more, while special sports camps are also organized