DS Automobiles Italian Open - The debrief

Everything you need to know from a thrilling week at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

Adrian Meronk was a winner again, French stars were on fire and we had not one, not two but three holes-in-one as the 2023 Ryder Cup venue put on a show at the DS Automobiles Italian Open.

Here is everything you need to know.

Meronk wins in Rome after thrilling finale

Meronk held his nerve in a breathless back-nine battle to win the title as he kept his composure to hold off French duo Romain Langasque and Julien Guerrier and win by one shot. Meronk and Langasque duelled on the back nine, while overnight leader Guerrier kept in touch with them in a thrilling finale. The Pole edged ahead on the 16th hole with his fifth birdie of the day and holed a par putt from the edge of the green on the 17th. Langasque's challenge appeared to have ended with a bogey on the 16th, but he stunningly chipped in for a birdie on the penultimate hole to keep the pressure on. But Meronk would not falter as he birdied the 18th to finish one shot clear of Langasque, with Guerrier a further two back. "I didn't play as well as previous days so I had to grind a little bit, but I'm proud of myself and my caddie that we kept believing, kept hitting good shots and the putts on 17 and 18 were very big," he said. Meronk's second win of the season and third of his career moves him up to fourth in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.

The race to California is on

This week saw the start of the U.S. Open Qualification Series, giving two players the opportunity to tee it up at The Los Angeles Country Club from June 15-18. The top two aggregate points earners, who are not otherwise exempt, from the DS Automobiles Italian Open, Soudal Open, KLM Open and Porsche European Open will compete in the year's third Major Championship. That means there is still a long way to go but things are currently looking good for Langasque and Guerrier. While Meronk sits top of the standings after his win, he currently has good chances to earn his way to California via the Official World Golf Ranking and the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex when two of those exemptions reach their cut-off points on May 22, potentially leaving the door open for others, with Langasque and Guerrier currently second and third respectively.

Langasque goes low

Langasque made a little bit of history on Saturday as he broke the course record at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club with a stunning 62. The Frenchman reeled off seven birdies over the first 15 holes but the best was yet to come as he produced one of the shots of the day at the par-four 16th, driving the green before tapping in his eagle putt. He closed his round with back-to-back pars and said: "I did not expect nine under, I didn't expect to shoot a very low score on this course because it's quite a tough course. I didn't expect that score and I am very happy about it."

Guerrier enjoys big week

Guerrier is not afraid of the winner's circle, having taken the title at The Amateur Championship in 2006 and won twice on the European Challenge Tour in 2017. He matched his best ever DP World Tour finish in Rome as he finished third - a feat he achieved twice last season - and also took home €185,477.70, his largest cheque by almost €100,000. Will this be the season he claims his first DP World Tour win?

Three perfect shots

The season tally of holes-in-one reached 16 in the Eternal City as Shubhankar Sharma. Thriston Lawrence and Zander Lombard all executed a perfect blow. First it was Sharma on Friday, holing a five iron from 217 yards on the 17th, which led to him buying a crate of beers for the caddies.

Not much later in the day it was Lawrence making an ace to take home the big prize - a DS 4 PURETECH Automatic BASTILLE Business - thanks to a six iron from 227 yards on the seventh.

And on Sunday it was the turn of Lombard, holing a pitching wedge from 154 yards on the 13th to complete the hat-trick. Take a bow, gentlemen!

Practice pays off for Pepperell

Eddie Pepperell had not teed it up for three months when he arrived in Rome but that is not to say he was underprepared. The Englishman geared up for his trip to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club by using a simulator and it certainly seemed to work as he registered a top ten.

"I spent some good time at home. I had a simulator installed at home so I've done quite a bit of work on my swing," he said after an opening 69. "I've played quite a few times on this course at home on the simulator. It's amazing how realistic these simulators are these days. It was good." Well played, Eddie.