Having started some four shots off the lead at Apes Hill, Hend tore through the field with a barrage of birdies, coming home in just 30 to banish the painful memory of last year’s play-off defeat to Peter Baker – one of five runner-up finishes since a debut victory in 2023.
Greg Owen, who surged into the lead at the start of the day and at one point led by three, finished two shots back of Hend on -9 after an eventful final-round 69. Scotland’s David Drysdale – on his Legends Tour debut – tied for third on eight-under, alongside Q-School graduate Lionel Alexandre.
“It’s very nice,” said Hend, after what was a course-record round. “I feel like I’ve won it twice. It’s nice to redeem myself after last year’s loss to Bakes in the play-off. I thought if I could try and get my score to double-digits I might get lucky given the wind. I three-putted from three feet for birdie and that lit a match under me. Then I got round the back nine and had another three putt and that sort of flicked the switch to concentrate and try and play how I should.
“I looked at the board when we came through nine and saw that I was maybe one or two shots behind and I thought, well, if I can post something then funny things happen in golf tournaments in final rounds. And now it’s all done. I love collecting trophies and it’s just great to be back in the winner circle again.”
It was a topsy-turvy final day at Apes Hill in very challenging conditions with the lead changing hands multiple times before Hend finally prevailed after a sensational back nine that separated him from the field. Birdies at 15, 16 and 17 proved decisive, with the stunning 8-iron to five feet at the treacherous 16th being a highlight.
Overnight leader James Kingston – starting the day one shot clear after a closing birdie in round two – endured a horror start having double-bogeyed the first and then dropped another at the third. He would eventually finish at -7 after 72.
Playing partner Simon Khan’s first hole was equally disastrous as the former British Masters winner took a six and ended up shooting level par, finishing at seven-under. The third member of the trio that began at -7, Bradley Dredge, also faded after a dropped shot at the first, eventually carding a 72 to finish at -6.
In what was a remarkable opening hole for the lead group it was Greg Owen – also at -7 but playing in the group ahead – who seized the initiative, leaping to nine-under with sensational birdies at his first two holes. Remarkably, after little more than 30 minutes play, the Nottinghamshire man found himself with a three-shot lead.
But having made just two bogeys in 36 holes – the fewest in the field – Owen promptly gave both birdies back with dropped shots at three, five and eight – as his early lead evaporated. But resilience is a word mentioned in many a post-round interview, and an eagle at the ninth showed Owen has it in spades. But despite having many chances on the back nine he couldn’t quite find the birdies needed to keep pace with Hend and finished at -9.
“I played great, it’s probably the best I’ve played in a long, long time,” said Owen after securing second place in his first tournament of the year.
“I was very consistent and drove it beautifully all week. I had no idea what happened behind me. I got off to a great start, two-under after two and I thinking okay, but then I three-putted and it kind of stopped me in my tracks. I’ve started birdie birdie and I’m one-over through eight and really the front nine’s the scoring nine. But then I hit an enormous drive down nine, made eagle and it settled me down a little bit. I hit virtually every green on the back nine but just didn’t putt well enough.
“Overall it’s been a fantastic week, just my second event of the year. You always want a decent start, so I’ve done that. I’ve played a lot in Orlando where I live, playing really tough golf courses like Isleworth and Bay Hill. I knew I was playing well and my game was in good shape, now it’s time to just improve on the mistakes and move forward.”
Former Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher also threatened after getting to seven-under but late bogeys derailed his challenge. Lionel Alexandre hit four birdies on the back nine to join Drysdale in third, building on his impressive start to 2025. Having qualified via the Legends Tour Q-School the Frenchman finished 4th in February’s Staysure Marbella Legends and went one better this week. Defending champion Peter Baker, meanwhile was tied for 12th after rounds of 69, 71 and 70.
Day 3 Round Up Video
