HNA Open de France 2018 - Round 4

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Alex Noren overturned a seven shot deficit for the second time in Rolex Series event as he claimed the HNA Open de France title after a dramatic final day at Le Golf National.
Posted on
July 1, 2018
by
The Editorial Team in ,
Estimated reading time: 80 minutes

European Tour

HNA Open de France 2018

June 28 - July 01

Le Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en Yvelines

$7,000,000

June 28 - July 01

Le Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en Yvelines

$7,000,000

Round 4

Comeback king Noren edges French thriller

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

July 01, 2018

Alex Noren overturned a seven shot deficit for the second time in Rolex Series event as he claimed the HNA Open de France title after a dramatic final day at Le Golf National.

- Getty Images

“This golf course, it's very tough but there are also birdies out there if you hit the greens and if you hit the fairways. It there's any golf course that's tough to be in the lead, it's probably this one, and coming from behind, I thought I needed to get to eight under to have a chance for a play-off but there are so many tough holes.

“It feels amazing. I've been close this year in America and then two shots off Francesco's (Molinari) win at Wentworth. When you're out there, you really want this win, and it felt unbelievable to get it today. It's what I was putting and practising for, maybe a play-off, it was unreal how it went, and I didn't expect that.

Noren started the final round in a share of seventh place but moved serenely through the field with a closing 67, as Le Golf National hinted at some of the drama in store in September when it hosts The 2018 Ryder Cup.

“If I would be on the team, it would mean a lot. You get good memories from here. The first two years I came here, I thought I could never win around here, and the last three years, I've had good results. I think all of us golfers work that way, we like places that we have played good on before.”

Spanish stars Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, Ryder Cup player Chris Wood and American Julian Suri all had their chances to reel in overnight leader Marcus Kinhult, but each one, including Kinhult himself, gradually succumbed to the notoriously unforgiving Albatros Course, with Noren’s seven under par clubhouse target proving enough for his tenth European Tour title.

There was a certain sense of déjà vu for the 35 year old who also won the first Rolex Series event, the 2017 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, after coming back from seven shots back on the final day.

Noren’s compatriot Kinhult had held a two shot overnight advantage from Ryder Cup player Wood, but his challenge gradually faded as the lead changed hands several times, with the 21 year old carding a triple bogey on the fourth and double bogey on the 15th in his round of 76.

Kinhult was not the only one to experience the true test posed by the Albatros, with Suri holding a one shot lead on the 18th fairway, but the American found the water with his approach to the island green, and went on to make a double bogey six for a round of 69.

That meant he slipped back into a share of second place on six under par, alongside Scotland’s Russell Knox, who posted a fine bogey-free round of 65, and Wood, who threatened to force play-off before a bogey on the 17th hole proved one shot too many for the Englishman.

“I'm tired now. I put a lot into that today,`` said Knox. ``This course is a nerve-wracking course to play. A lot of high-stress holes. So I was really happy with my performance today.``

“It's not too windy, so you can hit the centre of the face and you should avoid the disasters, but you never know. It's stressful. I was out a lot before the leaders, I knew I was feeling a little nervous so they are going to feel more so coming down with all the people. I've done what I can, I tried my best.”

Garcia and Rahm were also unable to sustain their challenges, with Garcia’s round of 74 bookended by double bogeys, after the 2017 Masters Champion found the water on the first and 18th holes. He had to settle for a share of eighth place alongside World Number Two Justin Thomas (71) on four under par.

Garcia’s playing partner Rahm triple bogeyed the 12th en route to a one over par 72 as he finished tied fifth with Kinhult and Matthew Southgate, who matched Knox’s 65. Overnight leader Kinhult did have the consolation of claiming one of three spots in The Open Championship, with Suri and Knox also heading to Carnoustie later this month.

Pos.
Player
Nat
To Par
R1
R2
R3
R4
Total
1
Alexander Noren
SWE
-7
73
72
65
67
277
T2
Chris Wood
ENG
-6
70
68
67
73
278
T2
Julian Suri
USA
-6
70
70
69
69
278
T2
Russell Knox
SCO
-6
71
70
72
65
278
T5
Jon Rahm
ESP
-5
70
69
68
72
279
T5
Marcus Kinhult
SWE
-5
71
65
67
76
279
T5
Matthew Southgate
ENG
-5
71
73
70
65
279
T8
Alexander Bjoerk
SWE
-4
73
69
68
70
280
T8
Jorge Campillo
ESP
-4
73
71
70
66
280
T8
Justin Thomas
USA
-4
70
70
69
71
280
T8
Sergio Garcia
ESP
-4
72
70
64
74
280
T12
Adrian Otaegui
ESP
-3
74
70
66
71
281
T12
Dylan Frittelli
RSA
-3
71
71
71
68
281
T12
Henric Sturehed
SWE
-3
75
68
71
67
281
T12
Wade Ormsby
AUS
-3
73
71
69
68
281
T16
Michael Lorenzo-Vera
FRA
-2
77
69
68
68
282
T16
Nino Bertasio
ITA
-2
76
68
72
66
282
T16
Shane Lowry
IRL
-2
70
75
67
70
282
T16
Thomas Detry
BEL
-2
74
69
69
70
282
T16
Tyrrell Hatton
ENG
-2
74
67
71
70
282
T21
Andy Sullivan
ENG
-1
68
75
72
68
283
T21
Ashley Chesters
ENG
-1
73
72
70
68
283
T21
Haotong Li
CHN
-1
71
73
72
67
283
T21
Ian Poulter
ENG
-1
72
74
68
69
283
T21
Jordan Smith
ENG
-1
71
70
71
71
283
T21
Paul Dunne
IRL
-1
74
67
71
71
283
T27
David Horsey
ENG
Par
75
71
68
70
284
T27
Matthew Fitzpatrick
ENG
Par
71
69
72
72
284
T27
Pedro Oriol
ESP
Par
71
70
70
73
284
T27
Shubhankar Sharma
IND
Par
76
69
71
68
284
T31
Jeff Winther
SWE
1
77
68
70
70
285
T31
Ricardo Melo Gouveia
POR
1
71
74
69
71
285
T31
Richard Sterne
RSA
1
74
72
71
68
285
T31
Thomas Pieters
BEL
1
69
73
73
70
285
T35
Mikko Ilonen
FIN
2
72
69
71
74
286
T35
Sam Brazel
AUS
2
73
72
73
68
286
T37
Austin Connelly
CAN
3
72
71
74
70
287
T37
Fabrizio Zanotti
PAR
3
74
69
71
73
287
T37
Felipe Aguilar
CHI
3
71
74
71
71
287
T37
Graeme McDowell
NIR
3
68
77
70
72
287
T37
Matthias Schwab
AUT
3
74
72
72
69
287
T37
Raphael Jacquelin
FRA
3
75
68
72
72
287
T37
Steven Brown
ENG
3
77
68
73
69
287
T44
Bradley Dredge
WAL
4
67
72
75
74
288
T44
George Coetzee
RSA
4
74
70
77
67
288
T44
Jens Dantorp
SWE
4
74
71
70
73
288
T44
Ryan Fox
NZL
4
72
71
73
72
288
T44
Scott Hend
AUS
4
75
69
72
72
288
T49
Gregory Havret
FRA
5
70
70
77
72
289
T49
James Morrison
ENG
5
70
74
71
74
289
T49
Phachara Khongwatmai
THA
5
71
74
72
72
289
T49
Soren Kjeldsen
DEN
5
72
72
73
72
289
T53
Alvaro Quiros
ESP
6
74
67
74
75
290
T53
Nacho Elvira
ESP
6
74
68
79
69
290
T53
Jamie Donaldson
WAL
6
71
75
76
68
290
T56
Andrea Pavan
ITA
7
72
74
73
72
291
T56
Dean Burmester
RSA
7
69
74
76
72
291
T56
Hideto Tanihara
JPN
7
71
75
70
75
291
59
Stephen Gallacher
SCO
8
74
71
75
72
292
60
Richard Bland
ENG
9
72
72
76
73
293
T61
Brett Rumford
AUS
10
71
75
75
73
294
T61
Jacques Kruyswijk
RSA
10
76
69
80
69
294
T61
Josh Geary
NZL
10
73
73
75
73
294
T61
Lucas Bjerregaard
DNK
10
76
66
82
70
294
65
Alexander Levy
FRA
13
73
73
73
78
297
CUT
David Lipsky
USA
5
77
70
-
-
147
CUT
Jason Norris
AUS
5
77
70
-
-
147
CUT
Rafael Cabrera Bello
ESP
5
73
74
-
-
147
CUT
Renato Paratore
ITA
5
77
70
-
-
147
CUT
Seung-Su Han
KOR
5
70
77
-
-
147
CUT
Tommy Fleetwood
ENG
5
74
73
-
-
147
CUT
Charlie Ford
ENG
6
72
76
-
-
148
CUT
Chris Paisley
ENG
6
77
71
-
-
148
CUT
Danny Willett
ENG
6
73
75
-
-
148
CUT
Lee Slattery
ENG
6
72
76
-
-
148
CUT
Marcus Fraser
AUS
6
73
75
-
-
148
CUT
Mark Foster
ENG
6
74
74
-
-
148
CUT
Matt Wallace
ENG
6
74
74
-
-
148
CUT
Matteo Manassero
ITA
6
75
73
-
-
148
CUT
Matthew Baldwin
ENG
6
76
72
-
-
148
CUT
Matthew Nixon
ENG
6
74
74
-
-
148
CUT
Oliver Fisher
ENG
6
72
76
-
-
148
CUT
Richie Ramsay
SCO
6
73
75
-
-
148
CUT
Thongchai Jaidee
THA
6
76
72
-
-
148
CUT
Brandon Stone
RSA
7
74
75
-
-
149
CUT
Chris Hanson
ENG
7
79
70
-
-
149
CUT
Justin Walters
RSA
7
72
77
-
-
149
CUT
Lasse Jensen
DNK
7
77
72
-
-
149
CUT
Laurie Canter
ENG
7
75
74
-
-
149
CUT
Nicolas Colsaerts
BEL
7
73
76
-
-
149
CUT
Robert Karlsson
SWE
7
69
80
-
-
149
CUT
Romain Langasque
FRA
7
76
73
-
-
149
CUT
Sam Horsfield
ENG
7
78
71
-
-
149
CUT
Scott Jamieson
SCO
7
74
75
-
-
149
CUT
Shiv Chawrasia
IND
7
75
74
-
-
149
CUT
Thorbjorn Olesen
DEN
7
72
77
-
-
149
CUT
Connor Syme
SCO
8
75
75
-
-
150
CUT
David Drysdale
SCO
8
73
77
-
-
150
CUT
Nico Geyger
CHI
8
77
73
-
-
150
CUT
Peter Hanson
SWE
8
75
75
-
-
150
CUT
Robert Rock
ENG
8
77
73
-
-
150
CUT
Zander Lombard
RSA
8
77
73
-
-
150
CUT
Ashun Wu
CHI
9
79
72
-
-
151
CUT
Benjamin Hebert
FRA
9
77
74
-
-
151
CUT
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
RSA
9
80
71
-
-
151
CUT
Jeung-Hun Wang
KOR
9
76
75
-
-
151
CUT
Jin-Ho Choi
KOR
9
81
70
-
-
151
CUT
Lorenzo Gagli
ITA
9
76
75
-
-
151
CUT
Marcel Siem
GER
9
77
74
-
-
151
CUT
Maximilian Kieffer
GER
9
75
76
-
-
151
CUT
Mikko Korhonen
FIN
9
72
79
-
-
151
CUT
Romain Wattel
FRA
9
76
75
-
-
151
CUT
Ross Fisher
ENG
9
79
72
-
-
151
CUT
Aaron Rai
ENG
10
80
72
-
-
152
CUT
Adrien Saddier
SCO
10
74
78
-
-
152
CUT
Erik Van Rooyen
RSA
10
77
75
-
-
152
CUT
Jason Scrivener
AUS
10
80
72
-
-
152
CUT
Julien Quesne
FRA
10
75
77
-
-
152
CUT
Pablo Larrazabal
ESP
10
75
77
-
-
152
CUT
Paul Waring
ENG
10
80
72
-
-
152
CUT
Trevor Immelman
RSA
10
76
76
-
-
152
CUT
Yusaku Miyazato
JPN
10
75
77
-
-
152
CUT
Andres Romero
ARG
11
73
80
-
-
153
CUT
Darren Fichardt
RSA
11
76
77
-
-
153
CUT
Edoardo Molinari
ITA
11
74
79
-
-
153
CUT
Gavin Green
MAS
11
76
77
-
-
153
CUT
Julien Guerrier
FRA
11
81
72
-
-
153
CUT
Martin Kaymer
GER
11
77
76
-
-
153
CUT
Oliver Farr
WAL
11
79
74
-
-
153
CUT
Ryan Evans
ENG
11
80
73
-
-
153
CUT
Scott Fernandez
ESP
11
79
74
-
-
153
CUT
Gregory Bourdy
FRA
12
80
74
-
-
154
CUT
Haydn Porteous
RSA
12
81
73
-
-
154
CUT
Sebastien Gros
FRA
12
73
81
-
-
154
CUT
Christofer Blomstrand
SWE
13
79
76
-
-
155
CUT
David Howell
ENG
13
74
81
-
-
155
CUT
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
ESP
13
79
76
-
-
155
CUT
Soo-Min Lee
KOR
13
79
76
-
-
155
CUT
Clement Sordet
FRA
14
78
78
-
-
156
CUT
Rak Cho
KOR
14
78
78
-
-
156
CUT
Victor Perez
FRA
15
77
80
-
-
157
CUT
Bradley Neil
SCO
16
79
79
-
-
158
CUT
Carlos Pigem
ESP
16
80
78
-
-
158
CUT
Daniel Im
USA
16
76
82
-
-
158
CUT
Matthieu Pavon
FRA
16
85
73
-
-
158
CUT
Tapio Pulkkanen
FIN
16
82
76
-
-
158
CUT
Thomas Aiken
RSA
16
80
78
-
-
158
CUT
Thomas Bjorn
DEN
16
81
77
-
-
158
CUT
Joakim Lagergren
SWE
17
79
80
-
-
159
CUT
Daniel Brooks
ENG
18
79
81
-
-
160
CUT
Adam Bland
AUS
19
84
77
-
-
161
CUT
Chase Koepka
USA
19
81
80
-
-
161
CUT
Robin Sciot-Siegrist
FRA
20
83
79
-
-
162
CUT
Andrew Dodt
AUS
23
81
84
-
-
165
CUT
Jose Maria Olazabal
ESP
27
85
84
-
-
169
DSQ
Marc Warren
SCO
Par
79
-
-
-
79
RET
Andrew Johnston
ENG
Par
82
-
-
-
82
RET
Callum Shinkwin
ENG
Par
81
-
-
-
81
RET
Lee Westwood
ENG
Par
77
-
-
-
77
Pos.
Player
Nat
To Par
Total
1
Alexander Noren
SWE
-7
277
T2
Chris Wood
ENG
-6
278
T2
Julian Suri
USA
-6
278
T2
Russell Knox
SCO
-6
278
T5
Jon Rahm
ESP
-5
279
T5
Marcus Kinhult
SWE
-5
279
T5
Matthew Southgate
ENG
-5
279
T8
Alexander Bjoerk
SWE
-4
280
T8
Jorge Campillo
ESP
-4
280
T8
Justin Thomas
USA
-4
280
T8
Sergio Garcia
ESP
-4
280
T12
Adrian Otaegui
ESP
-3
281
T12
Dylan Frittelli
RSA
-3
281
T12
Henric Sturehed
SWE
-3
281
T12
Wade Ormsby
AUS
-3
281
T16
Michael Lorenzo-Vera
FRA
-2
282
T16
Nino Bertasio
ITA
-2
282
T16
Shane Lowry
IRL
-2
282
T16
Thomas Detry
BEL
-2
282
T16
Tyrrell Hatton
ENG
-2
282
T21
Andy Sullivan
ENG
-1
283
T21
Ashley Chesters
ENG
-1
283
T21
Haotong Li
CHN
-1
283
T21
Ian Poulter
ENG
-1
283
T21
Jordan Smith
ENG
-1
283
T21
Paul Dunne
IRL
-1
283
T27
David Horsey
ENG
Par
284
T27
Matthew Fitzpatrick
ENG
Par
284
T27
Pedro Oriol
ESP
Par
284
T27
Shubhankar Sharma
IND
Par
284
T31
Jeff Winther
SWE
1
285
T31
Ricardo Melo Gouveia
POR
1
285
T31
Richard Sterne
RSA
1
285
T31
Thomas Pieters
BEL
1
285
T35
Mikko Ilonen
FIN
2
286
T35
Sam Brazel
AUS
2
286
T37
Austin Connelly
CAN
3
287
T37
Fabrizio Zanotti
PAR
3
287
T37
Felipe Aguilar
CHI
3
287
T37
Graeme McDowell
NIR
3
287
T37
Matthias Schwab
AUT
3
287
T37
Raphael Jacquelin
FRA
3
287
T37
Steven Brown
ENG
3
287
T44
Bradley Dredge
WAL
4
288
T44
George Coetzee
RSA
4
288
T44
Jens Dantorp
SWE
4
288
T44
Ryan Fox
NZL
4
288
T44
Scott Hend
AUS
4
288
T49
Gregory Havret
FRA
5
289
T49
James Morrison
ENG
5
289
T49
Phachara Khongwatmai
THA
5
289
T49
Soren Kjeldsen
DEN
5
289
T53
Alvaro Quiros
ESP
6
290
T53
Nacho Elvira
ESP
6
290
T53
Jamie Donaldson
WAL
6
290
T56
Andrea Pavan
ITA
7
291
T56
Dean Burmester
RSA
7
291
T56
Hideto Tanihara
JPN
7
291
59
Stephen Gallacher
SCO
8
292
60
Richard Bland
ENG
9
293
T61
Brett Rumford
AUS
10
294
T61
Jacques Kruyswijk
RSA
10
294
T61
Josh Geary
NZL
10
294
T61
Lucas Bjerregaard
DNK
10
294
65
Alexander Levy
FRA
13
297
CUT
David Lipsky
USA
5
147
CUT
Jason Norris
AUS
5
147
CUT
Rafael Cabrera Bello
ESP
5
147
CUT
Renato Paratore
ITA
5
147
CUT
Seung-Su Han
KOR
5
147
CUT
Tommy Fleetwood
ENG
5
147
CUT
Charlie Ford
ENG
6
148
CUT
Chris Paisley
ENG
6
148
CUT
Danny Willett
ENG
6
148
CUT
Lee Slattery
ENG
6
148
CUT
Marcus Fraser
AUS
6
148
CUT
Mark Foster
ENG
6
148
CUT
Matt Wallace
ENG
6
148
CUT
Matteo Manassero
ITA
6
148
CUT
Matthew Baldwin
ENG
6
148
CUT
Matthew Nixon
ENG
6
148
CUT
Oliver Fisher
ENG
6
148
CUT
Richie Ramsay
SCO
6
148
CUT
Thongchai Jaidee
THA
6
148
CUT
Brandon Stone
RSA
7
149
CUT
Chris Hanson
ENG
7
149
CUT
Justin Walters
RSA
7
149
CUT
Lasse Jensen
DNK
7
149
CUT
Laurie Canter
ENG
7
149
CUT
Nicolas Colsaerts
BEL
7
149
CUT
Robert Karlsson
SWE
7
149
CUT
Romain Langasque
FRA
7
149
CUT
Sam Horsfield
ENG
7
149
CUT
Scott Jamieson
SCO
7
149
CUT
Shiv Chawrasia
IND
7
149
CUT
Thorbjorn Olesen
DEN
7
149
CUT
Connor Syme
SCO
8
150
CUT
David Drysdale
SCO
8
150
CUT
Nico Geyger
CHI
8
150
CUT
Peter Hanson
SWE
8
150
CUT
Robert Rock
ENG
8
150
CUT
Zander Lombard
RSA
8
150
CUT
Ashun Wu
CHI
9
151
CUT
Benjamin Hebert
FRA
9
151
CUT
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
RSA
9
151
CUT
Jeung-Hun Wang
KOR
9
151
CUT
Jin-Ho Choi
KOR
9
151
CUT
Lorenzo Gagli
ITA
9
151
CUT
Marcel Siem
GER
9
151
CUT
Maximilian Kieffer
GER
9
151
CUT
Mikko Korhonen
FIN
9
151
CUT
Romain Wattel
FRA
9
151
CUT
Ross Fisher
ENG
9
151
CUT
Aaron Rai
ENG
10
152
CUT
Adrien Saddier
SCO
10
152
CUT
Erik Van Rooyen
RSA
10
152
CUT
Jason Scrivener
AUS
10
152
CUT
Julien Quesne
FRA
10
152
CUT
Pablo Larrazabal
ESP
10
152
CUT
Paul Waring
ENG
10
152
CUT
Trevor Immelman
RSA
10
152
CUT
Yusaku Miyazato
JPN
10
152
CUT
Andres Romero
ARG
11
153
CUT
Darren Fichardt
RSA
11
153
CUT
Edoardo Molinari
ITA
11
153
CUT
Gavin Green
MAS
11
153
CUT
Julien Guerrier
FRA
11
153
CUT
Martin Kaymer
GER
11
153
CUT
Oliver Farr
WAL
11
153
CUT
Ryan Evans
ENG
11
153
CUT
Scott Fernandez
ESP
11
153
CUT
Gregory Bourdy
FRA
12
154
CUT
Haydn Porteous
RSA
12
154
CUT
Sebastien Gros
FRA
12
154
CUT
Christofer Blomstrand
SWE
13
155
CUT
David Howell
ENG
13
155
CUT
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
ESP
13
155
CUT
Soo-Min Lee
KOR
13
155
CUT
Clement Sordet
FRA
14
156
CUT
Rak Cho
KOR
14
156
CUT
Victor Perez
FRA
15
157
CUT
Bradley Neil
SCO
16
158
CUT
Carlos Pigem
ESP
16
158
CUT
Daniel Im
USA
16
158
CUT
Matthieu Pavon
FRA
16
158
CUT
Tapio Pulkkanen
FIN
16
158
CUT
Thomas Aiken
RSA
16
158
CUT
Thomas Bjorn
DEN
16
158
CUT
Joakim Lagergren
SWE
17
159
CUT
Daniel Brooks
ENG
18
160
CUT
Adam Bland
AUS
19
161
CUT
Chase Koepka
USA
19
161
CUT
Robin Sciot-Siegrist
FRA
20
162
CUT
Andrew Dodt
AUS
23
165
CUT
Jose Maria Olazabal
ESP
27
169
DSQ
Marc Warren
SCO
Par
79
RET
Andrew Johnston
ENG
Par
82
RET
Callum Shinkwin
ENG
Par
81
RET
Lee Westwood
ENG
Par
77

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The editorial team at Golf Today strives to provide readers with captivating content that celebrates the rich heritage and exciting developments in the world of golf. Their collective expertise and dedication ensure that Golf Today remains a premier destination for golf enthusiasts seeking the latest news, insightful analysis, and engaging stories from the world of golf.

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