The Irish golfer finished one shot behind the Blot Open de Bretagne winner, Alfie Plant of England.

The Englishman posted a two under par round of 68 to finish on 11 under par, one-shot clear of

Plant started the final round in pole position alongside McGee, however two bogeys in his opening four holes saw him drop down the leaderboard, before recovering brilliantly with five birdies to regain his position at the summit.

Plant is now a two-time winner

The 29-year-old, now a two-time Challenge Tour winner, was delighted to add the Blot Open de Bretagne to his Hopps Open de Provence victory last season and believes playing in France brings out the best in his ability.

“It feels amazing because it’s another dream come true,” he said. “I feel at home here in France because it’s not too far away, the courses are quite similar and it’s a great country to be in.

“It’s great to get my second win on the Challenge Tour and it has reassured me that I can win out here. It’s nice to get it done a little bit earlier in the season this year because it leaves me with a lot of golf left to play and a better chance of securing a place in the top 20 on the Rankings. It’s very exciting times.

“My last two wins I’ve been on my own so it was amazing to have my dad here with me this week. I’m going to take each week as it comes. I’ll listen to my mind and my body and make the best decisions that I can.”

Spaniard Borja Virto posted a three under par round of 67 to finish in third place on nine under par, while Germany’s Freddy Schott finished fourth on eight under par.

Englishman David Dixon finished in fifth position on six under par, while home favourite Ugo Coussaud finished a shot further back on five under.

Englishman Todd Clements, Spaniard Emilio Cuartero and Swedish duo Pelle Edberg and Mikael Lindberg shared seventh place on four under par.

Victory in France means Plant climbs 103 places to 13^th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings on 45,323 points, 53,833 points off top spot.

The Road to Mallorca now heads to Italy for the Italian Challenge Open at Golf Nazionale from June 30 to July 3, 2022.

Final scores (Irish golfers in bold):

269 A PLANT (ENG) 65 67 69 68, 
 270 R MCGEE 61 73 67 69, 
 271 B VIRTO (ESP) 64 69 71 67, 
 272 F SCHOTT (GER) 66 71 68 67, 
 274 D DIXON (ENG) 67 73 65 69, 
 275 U COUSSAUD (FRA) 69 68 68 70, 
 276 E CUARTERO BLANCO (ESP) 74 68 70 64, M LINDBERG (SWE) 68 69 73 66, P EDBERG (SWE) 72 66 71 67, T CLEMENTS (ENG) 70 71 68 67, 
 277 D GERMISHUYS (RSA) 70 71 72 64, J GARCIA (ESP) 71 71 67 68, D MCELROY 70 65 72 70, R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) 64 67 72 74, 
 278 I CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP) 67 68 76 67, C BOUNIOL (FRA) 69 72 66 71, M ORRIN (ENG) 68 70 68 72, 
 279 A SADDIER (FRA) 67 71 73 68, S MANLEY (WAL) 70 67 72 70, 
 280 S PETERSEN (SWE) 66 72 74 68, J PRINSLOO (RSA) 67 68 75 70, J FAHRBRING (SWE) 70 65 73 72, B EVANS (ENG) 66 72 69 73, 
 281 Z BAI (CHN) 67 71 76 67, S TILEY (ENG) 69 70 75 67, R EVANS (ENG) 71 67 75 68, D FOOS (GER) 68 71 74 68, G BOURDY (FRA) 72 69 72 68, S GROS (FRA) 69 73 66 73, 
 282 G STAL (FRA) 70 69 77 66, V LOPES (POR) 69 70 74 69, A GRENIER (FRA) 68 71 73 70, J MCDONALD (SCO) 68 71 73 70, J THOMPSON (AUS) 66 76 70 70, M MANASSERO (ITA) 71 71 69 71, B RITTHAMMER (GER) 70 70 70 72, L JERLING (RSA) 68 73 64 77, 
 283 A BARBE (AM) (FRA) 69 72 75 67, D YOUNG (SCO) 67 73 73 70, J KENNEGARD (SWE) 71 65 76 71, G MOYNIHAN 71 70 71 71, R WATTEL (FRA) 70 69 72 72, F MORY (FRA) 71 69 71 72, R DINWIDDIE (ENG) 68 70 69 76, J LANDO CASANOVA (FRA) 70 64 72 77, 
 284 V RIU (FRA) 66 75 74 69, J ARNOY (NOR) 70 68 76 70, E DI NITTO (ITA) 69 73 72 70, W ENEFER (ENG) 69 67 71 77, 
 285 P MARGOLIS (FRA) 69 72 80 64, J THOMSON (ENG) 68 70 74 73, P FIGUEIREDO (POR) 72 70 69 74, 
 286 J QUESNE (FRA) 68 74 72 72, B EASTON (RSA) 64 76 73 73, F PALSON (SWE) 67 75 71 73, 
 287 N REGNER (AUT) 68 68 77 74, 
 288 P BAEK (DEN) 70 69 78 71, G BRIXI (CZE) 70 70 74 74, 
 290 A DAYDOU (FRA) 65 76 80 69, K ULENAERS (BEL) 70 72 74 74, 
 291 X PONCELET (FRA) 70 69 77 75, 
 292 P FOULQUIE (FRA) 71 67 79 75, 
 293 A DEL REY (ESP) 75 66 74 78, 
 295 J ADARRAGA GOMEZ (ESP) 72 70 75 78.

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McGee enjoyed a good moving day with a three under par round of 67 and will go in search of a maiden European Challenge Tour victory tomorrow.

Englishman Plant posted a one under par round of 69 and despite carding three birdies, he was forced to settle for a nine under par total after bogeying two of his final three holes at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André.

The leading duo are closely followed by overnight leader Robin Sciot-Siegrist, who sits in third place on seven under par.

Plant will look to secure his second Challenge Tour title on French soil after he claimed an emotional victory last season at the Hopps Open de Provence.

Ireland’s McGee, who posted a sensational nine under par round of 61 on the opening day, is teeing it up in only his second event on the 2022 Road to Mallorca and believes club selection is key to successfully navigating the links-style course in Brittany.

“I hit a couple of poor shots to start but luckily chipped in for birdie on the second hole,” he said. “The wind was strong out there and you have to focus on choosing the right club because it can change at any moment.

“It’s tough because I played so well in round one and you get used to seeing everything go into the hole. After hitting a few poor shots yesterday, I kept trying to push and became too aggressive. It’s important to just relax and let it happen.”

Spaniard Borja Virto sits in fourth place on six under par, while South African Luke Jerling, who posted a six under par round of 64, German Freddy Schott, home favourite Ugo Coussaud and Englishman David Dixon share fifth place on five under.

Round three scores (Irish players in bold):

201 R MCGEE 61 73 67, A PLANT (ENG) 65 67 69, 
 203 R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) 64 67 72, 
 204 B VIRTO (ESP) 64 69 71, 
 205 L JERLING (RSA) 68 73 64, D DIXON (ENG) 67 73 65, F SCHOTT (GER) 66 71 68, U COUSSAUD (FRA) 69 68 68, 
 206 M ORRIN (ENG) 68 70 68, J LANDO CASANOVA (FRA) 70 64 72, 
 207 C BOUNIOL (FRA) 69 72 66, R DINWIDDIE (ENG) 68 70 69, B EVANS (ENG) 66 72 69, W ENEFER (ENG) 69 67 71, D MCELROY 70 65 72, 
 208 S GROS (FRA) 69 73 66, J FAHRBRING (SWE) 70 65 73, 
 209 J GARCIA (ESP) 71 71 67, T CLEMENTS (ENG) 70 71 68, P EDBERG (SWE) 72 66 71, S MANLEY (WAL) 70 67 72, 
 210 B RITTHAMMER (GER) 70 70 70, M LINDBERG (SWE) 68 69 73, J PRINSLOO (RSA) 67 68 75, 
 211 P FIGUEIREDO (POR) 72 70 69, M MANASSERO (ITA) 71 71 69, F MORY (FRA) 71 69 71, R WATTEL (FRA) 70 69 72, A SADDIER (FRA) 67 71 73, I CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP) 67 68 76, 
 212 J THOMPSON (AUS) 66 76 70, E CUARTERO BLANCO (ESP) 74 68 70, G MOYNIHAN 71 70 71, J MCDONALD (SCO) 68 71 73, A GRENIER (FRA) 68 71 73, J THOMSON (ENG) 68 70 74, S PETERSEN (SWE) 66 72 74, J KENNEGARD (SWE) 71 65 76.

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The Irish golfer carded two eagles, seven birdies and two bogeys to move three shots clear of South African Bryce Easton, Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Spaniard Borja Virto and Germany’s Alexander Knappe, who share second place on six under par.

McGee decided to take a break from competitive golf after the Covid-19 pandemic and made his first appearance on the European Challenge Tour for almost two years at the Empordà Challenge earlier this month, where he recorded a top 20 finish.

Now based in Florida

The 31-year-old recently moved to Florida in the United States and although he hasn’t been playing golf competitively, he has still found the time to fine tune his skills on the course.

“I’m delighted with my round today,” he said. “I haven’t been playing competitively for a couple of years now and this is only my second Challenge Tour event of the season.

“Due to Covid I decided to take a break from the professional game and went to live out in the United States and that’s where I’ve been for the last year and a half. I wasn’t able to travel into Europe but it’s nice to be back.

“I’ve probably played more golf being in Florida than I would have back at home. I’ve been playing every day and sometimes getting in 36 holes which has helped.”

Two eagles in first eight holes

McGee was delighted to make two eagles in his first eight holes in Brittany and believes the links-style course, where accuracy off the tee is paramount, is well suited to his game.

“It was a great feeling to get two eagles,” he said. “The 11^th hole was a short par five and I made the most of it. On the 17^th I holed out from the fairway with a wedge which was a nice surprise.

“I like the course because you have to hit it straight and that suits my game. You need to be pretty accurate with your approach shots and then you can make birdies.”

Englishman Alfie Plant, Frenchman Alexandre Daydou and Finland’s Matias Honkala share sixth place on five under par. Five players share ninth on four under, including Germany’s Freddy Schott and Englishman Ben Evans.

Ruaidhrí McGee will tee off alongside Englishman Todd Clements and home favourite Adrien Saddier at 2:00pm today.

Scores after round one:

 61 R MCGEE (IRL),
64 R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA), B VIRTO (ESP), B EASTON (RSA), A KNAPPE (GER),
65 A PLANT (ENG), A DAYDOU (FRA), M HONKALA (FIN),
66 V RIU (FRA), S PETERSEN (SWE), B EVANS (ENG), F SCHOTT (GER), J THOMPSON (AUS),
67 I CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP), D YOUNG (SCO), R DAWSON (IRL), A SADDIER (FRA), F PALSON (SWE), D DIXON (ENG), Z BAI (CHN), J PRINSLOO (RSA),
68 A ZEMMER (ITA), M LINDBERG (SWE), N REGNER (AUT), J THOMSON (ENG), J QUESNE (FRA), L JERLING (RSA), M ELVIRA (ESP), J SCHAPER (RSA), D FOOS (GER), A GRENIER (FRA), R DINWIDDIE (ENG), M ORRIN (ENG), J MCDONALD (SCO),
69 M LECHNER (AUT), U MALCOR (AM) (FRA), U COUSSAUD (FRA), P MARGOLIS (FRA), S TILEY (ENG), E DI NITTO (ITA), W ENEFER (ENG), C BOUNIOL (FRA), V LOPES (POR), A BARBE (AM) (FRA), A BJORNSSON (ISL), M BULLEN (ENG), G KRISTJANSSON (ISL), J SAINZ (ESP), S GROS (FRA), G BOYD (ENG),
70 G BRIXI (CZE), K ULENAERS (BEL), J FAHRBRING (SWE), J LANDO CASANOVA (FRA), R WATTEL (FRA), D MCELROY (NIR), L ROBINSON (ENG), D BOOTE (WAL), G STAL (FRA), S MANLEY (WAL), X PONCELET (FRA), D BORDA (ESP), P BAEK (DEN), T ELISSALDE (FRA), S GANDON (FRA), D GERMISHUYS (RSA), T STRYDOM (RSA), T CLEMENTS (ENG), B RITTHAMMER (GER), J ARNOY (NOR), J RUTHERFORD (ENG), P MOOLMAN (RSA), T GANDY (IMN),
71 J KENNEGARD (SWE), C MIVIS (BEL), J GARCIA (ESP), R EVANS (ENG), M MANASSERO (ITA), F MORY (FRA), P FOULQUIE (FRA), M MOHR (ENG), P MCBRIDE (IRL), G MOYNIHAN (IRL), H ELLIS (ENG), H TISSERAND (FRA), G KING (ENG), M GRADECKI (POL), S GREGORY (ENG), D BROWN (ENG), M RADUREAU (FRA), E BERTHEUSSEN (NOR), M DANIELSSON (FRA),
72 P EDBERG (SWE), J ADARRAGA GOMEZ (ESP), G BOURDY (FRA), S FERNANDEZ (ESP), P FIGUEIREDO (POR), E CATHERINE (FRA), B NEIL (SCO), N LEGENDRE (AM) (FRA), C ROSS (SCO), T MCKIBBIN (NIR), J PARRY (ENG),
73 J LONG (ENG), C VERROUGSTRAETE (FRA), S HENRY (SCO), D PERRIER (FRA), J DICK (ENG),
74 M WIEGELE (AUT), E CUARTERO BLANCO (ESP), F BERGAMASCHI (ITA), E ESPA?A (FRA), T SLOMAN (ENG), M DECOTTIGNIES-LAFON (FRA), S DEL VAL (ESP), P ELISSALDE (FRA), R SANJUST (ITA), A ESMATGES (ESP), P BEAUVY (AM) (FRA), B BAUMGARTEN (USA), T SANTA (FRA), A ARIZABALETA (COL),
75 A DEL REY (ESP), B RUSCH (SUI), V BJ?RL?W (DEN), D RAVETTO (FRA), R VALLAEYS (FRA),
76 C SAHLSTROM (SWE), H LEGEAY-GAUCHER (FRA), M GASPAR (POR), P ROLLAND (FRA), S KRAAI (NED), A VELASCO (ESP), D DARNAUD (FRA), C POLETTI (FRA), L RUUSKA (FIN),
77 J MURPHY (IRL), J KO (FRA), L WEBER (FRA), D GUICHARD (FRA), R LESTER (IRL), K KOIVU (FIN), A BACHELIER (AM) (FRA),
78 C HEBERT (FRA), C BERARDO (FRA), B KEDOCHIM (FRA), C CANNON (ENG),
79 M WAITE (ENG), P LESCASTREYRES (FRA), J VECCHI FOSSA (ITA),
80 J PINTO BASTO (POR),
81 V JOFFRAY (FRA),
84 R FABRE (FRA),
86 R LE BOT (FRA).

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