GLENEAGLES, Scotland -- Frenchman Gregory Havret led from start to finish to capture the Johnnie Walker Championship on Sunday and win his third European Tour title.
Havret's closing 3-under-par 70 for a 14-under 278 total put him a stroke better than Briton Graeme Storm, who shot a 68.
The event was also the final one to count for Europe's Ryder Cup team but Havret, who was not in contention for a place, had set himself, instead, the goal of winning a Scottish double.
Havret's most prestigious victory had come in last year's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and the La Rochelle player was keen to capture another trophy.
"It's great to win leading all four rounds," Havret told reporters. "And it's good to do that, playing all four rounds under par."
Playing on the Centenary course that will host the 2014 Ryder Cup, Havret, who had a five-week break after finishing 19th in the British Open, stayed in charge of his destiny with an eagle at the ninth hole.
But he nearly let outright victory slip at the closing hole.
After adding two back-nine birdies he looked home and dry but, with Storm waiting in the clubhouse for a sudden-death shootout, bunkered himself at the 18th and needed to hole a 10 foot putt for par to avoid extra holes.
"It was just like Loch Lomond at the end. I had to get up and down from the trap to win there, but this winning putt was longer," he said.
Storm came through the field to finish two strokes ahead of Swede Peter Hanson (69), winner of the Scandinavian Masters two weeks ago, and former Ryder Cup Briton David Howell (71).
The event was also the final one to count for Europe's Ryder Cup team but Havret, who was not in contention for a place, had set himself, instead, the goal of winning a Scottish double.
Havret's most prestigious victory had come in last year's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and the La Rochelle player was keen to capture another trophy.
"It's great to win leading all four rounds," Havret told reporters. "And it's good to do that, playing all four rounds under par."
Playing on the Centenary course that will host the 2014 Ryder Cup, Havret, who had a five-week break after finishing 19th in the British Open, stayed in charge of his destiny with an eagle at the ninth hole.
But he nearly let outright victory slip at the closing hole.
After adding two back-nine birdies he looked home and dry but, with Storm waiting in the clubhouse for a sudden-death shootout, bunkered himself at the 18th and needed to hole a 10 foot putt for par to avoid extra holes.
"It was just like Loch Lomond at the end. I had to get up and down from the trap to win there, but this winning putt was longer," he said.
Storm came through the field to finish two strokes ahead of Swede Peter Hanson (69), winner of the Scandinavian Masters two weeks ago, and former Ryder Cup Briton David Howell (71).
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