PARIS, June 27 (UPI) -- Jean-Francois Remesy on Sunday became the first home winner of the French Open in 35 years at Le Golf National.
Despite a closing 1-over-par 72, Remesy won by seven strokes over Australian lefthanders Nick O'Hern and Richard Green.
"I don't realize for the moment what it means," said Remesy the 1985 French amateur champion. "Look back a few years and I could not imagine this. Other than a major, I can't win anything bigger."
The 40-year-old from Nimes double-bogeyed the first hole, but recovered to take the first prize of $601,427 with a 12-under-par 272 for the tournament held on a course set up tougher than ever before.
Green and O'Hern were tied for second after Green went in the water on the last hole, while joint halfway leader Ian Woosnam dropped from fourth to tie for sixth.
