Jean Hugo Wins in China to Secure Full Staysure Legends Tour Playing Rights

• Jean Hugo won the Reignwood Legends Championship at 13-under.
• Matthew Cort finished second three shots behind Hugo.
• Hugo secured full Staysure Legends Tour playing rights.

Jean Hugo claimed his first Staysure Legends Tour title with a three-shot victory at Reignwood Pine Valley in Beijing on Sunday, securing full playing rights through the end of 2027.

The South African returned a 1-under 71 in testing conditions to finish at 13-under, with Matthew Cort his closest challenger after a bogey-free 69.

Hugo had finished fifth at Qualifying School earlier this year, narrowly missing out on full playing rights. Limited opportunities followed, but victory in China came in just his fifth Staysure Legends Tour appearance.

“A lot of the year I’ve been depending on some other guys to try and get into tournaments,” said Hugo.

“Now it’s my fifth event, so I can’t really complain. It’s come quick enough and I’m very chuffed.”

Jean Hugo is your Reignwood Legends Champion 🏆🇿🇦 The South African claims his maiden Staysure Legends Tour title at Reignwood Pine Valley, securing victory in his first season on Tour. #StaysureLegendsTour #ReignwoodLegendsChampionship https://t.co/C3eq4UPdrO

— Legends Tour (@euLegendsTour) October 4, 2026

8th and 9th turn the contest

Gusts reached up to 40mph as Hugo set out to defend the one-shot lead he had established on Saturday over Stephen Gallacher.

“I don’t think it’s going to get any tougher than today,” said Hugo. “The course was brutal and you really had to be patient. It was so firm that at some stages you couldn’t quite get it to the pins.

“We all struggled a bit in the beginning, but I caught some momentum and just tried to stay focused.”

Gallacher drew level with back-to-back birdies at the 5th and 6th, leaving the championship finely poised before a two-shot swing at the par-5 8th.

Hugo hit an approach close enough for a tap-in birdie. Gallacher found the water and made bogey, handing the South African the outright lead again.

“I think nine changed a lot,” said Hugo. “He made a double bogey and that gave me a bit of breathing space going through the back nine. It gave me some momentum and also a bit of a gap.”

Hugo then made six successive pars from the 10th as the wind continued to test the field. Bogeys at the final two holes reduced his advantage, but he completed a final-round 71 to secure the title.

Cort posts the only bogey-free round

Cort made birdies at the 3rd, 15th and 16th in the only bogey-free round of the day. His 3-under 69 lifted the Englishman into second place at 10-under.

Jeev Milkha Singh, David Drysdale and Gallacher shared third place at 6-under. Singh recorded his third consecutive 70, Drysdale closed with a 71 and Gallacher signed for a 5-over 77.

Gallacher added 301.58 points to his season tally, extending his advantage at the top of the Road to Cambodia Order of Merit. He had taken the rankings lead at the European Legends Cup two weeks earlier.

The Staysure Legends Tour next heads to San Domenico Golf for the Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open from 22–24 October.

Related: Costa Navarino Golf Announces Exclusive Dan Grieve Coaching Partnership

The PGA master coach will lead his first academy in Messinia this October before returning for an expanded programme of golf schools and private tuition in 2027.

For the latest news in the golfing world, follow us on X.