Stuart Manley: The one-time Manchester United trialist with sights on DP World Tour return

A Walker Cup winner in 2003, Manley turned professional later that year and quickly secured a first European Tour card via qualifying school.

He has progressed through qualifying school on six occasions in all, as well as booking a DP World Tour place twice through his performances on the Challenge Tour.

The frustration for Manley has been failing to keep hold of a place at European golf's top table.

"I know I can compete out there," he says, "but I haven't done it consistently enough."

As a result, Manley is among of number of Welsh golfers battling it out on this year's Challenge Tour, where finishing in the top 20 come the end of the season will secure a DP World Tour place in 2024.

Manley's win in Brittany - his first since 2021 and the fourth of his career on the Challenge Tour - saw him jump from 53rd in the rankings to 14th.

He put himself on course for victory thanks to a second round of 62, the lowest - as far as he can remember - of his tour career.

"To do that at 44, to still mix it with the youngsters, feels great," Manley says.

"I was chuffed to bits especially as the course was very tough, which made it even more pleasing."

He came through to win despite struggling for his best form over the weekend, with a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole securing a two-shot triumph over Lee Slattery and Manuel Elvira.

There was time for a quiet celebration on Sunday evening, before focus very quickly turned to this week's Challenge Tour event, which also takes place in France.

Manley will then return home to try to claim a place at next month's Open Championship, via a 36-hole qualifying event taking place at Royal Porthcawl on Tuesday, 4 July.

He has played in only one major, the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale.

"I loved the Open," Manley says. "I just want to get back there."

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