Maiden win for Chris Paisley

Former Walker Cup player, England’s Chris Paisley won his maiden win in Spain on Peugeot Tour de Valencia. He shot a very solid 64 7-under-par card to overpassed his nearest rival Spain’s Alfredo Garcia Heredia. He signed for a -14 total and with this win became the British player to watch for the 2011 Alps Tour season.

Last november during Alps Tour qualifying stage, observers had noticed a new great swing and behaviour on Tessali couses. Journalists and officials had agreed to say that this player, Chris Paisley, could be a great challenger for 2011. They were right.

Paisley, graduated from Tennesse University is not a stranger as far as good results are concerned. As amateur, he won the Bank of Tennesse Intercollegiate in 2007, was a member of Walker Cup and Palmer Cup in 2009 and recently finished at 3rd place on NGA Hooters Tour and got this same result 2 weeks ago on HI5 pro Tour. He expected a win but this came quicker than he thought.

“I trusted my game, I knew I could win but did not expect it to come so soon. I played great, I had a good start, played very comfortable with a great feeling. I tried not to get too excited and control myself and my game until the end of the round, and I managed it. My iron game was very good, I was always very close to the pin, and I struggled a bit with the long game. The best part of my game was back 9, I made a great par on 16th, played good 17th and the birdie on 18 was amazing. I felt some pressure on 17th when Alfredo made the birdie, I wasn’t looking at the scores until then so I knew I needed a good finish, I hit a gret shot on 18th.”

At second place, unlucky Spain’s Alfredo Garcia Heredia. He admitted his game wasn’t as good as during previous days. Italian Marco Crespi climbed on the third place on the podium.

Agathe Seron

Alfredo Garcia Heredia one stroke clear

It was a rainy day in Valencia today and it was not this kind of weather players dreamed of as they teed off for 18 holes.

Spain’s Alfredo Garcia Heredia has already talked about improving his confidence during first round and he confirmed his feelings today. He was the only player to sign for a bogey free card on Golf Club de Escorpion. He shot 67, -4 and 9 under total to lead by one stroke ahead of fellow Francis Valera.

New Alps Tour member, England’s Chris Paisley, nearly 25 year old, is at third position after great 66 for -7 total.

Then to complete top 5, two well known players, Italian Marco Crespi, 3 time winner on the Alps Tour and Englishman Jason Barnes, 2010 winner of Acaya Open. Barnes fired the score of the day, a 7 under 64.

The cut is fixed at +1 and the weather forecast for last round is very bad and it should rain all day long.

Agathe Séron

Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (c) Peugeot Tour

Three way in Valencia

The first round of the Alps Tour season took place at Golf Club Escorpion during Peugeot Tour Alps de Valencia. This tournament was a kind of a good luck charm for last year winner, Italian Matteo Delpodio. It was his maiden win and won the final Alps Tour ranking.

This year, three great players took a splendid start to run for victory. Austrian Uli Weinhandl and Spain’s Fernando Garcia Heredia and Francis Valera shot a five under round 66 to lead by one. All these players have often proved their skills and talent.

Alfredo Garcia Heradia, 29 year old, gained his playing card on Tour by finishing 19th at Q School last December: “I really played well from tee to green. It is a great start, good for training and feel confident for newt tournaments on Tour”.

Uli Weinhandl, 34 year old, 3 time winner on Alps Tour, is well trained to be THE 2011 player. He made the cut in India on Challenge Tour last January and played some events this winter and had good results. Last year he was very closed to enter the upper circuit. “It was a very nice day. I had very good playings partners, good players Spain’s Carlos Del Moral and Frenchman Julien Foret. I was 5 under after 10 holes and had a bogey free round which always nice. I just struggled a little bit at the end”.

Last but not least, the third man on top today was Spain’s Francis Valera, 34 year old as well, former European Tour player and 2 time winner on Challenge Tour. Valera is living in Crans Sur Sierre Switzerland and will focus his season on the Challenge Tour. “It is my first round of the year and it is great to start like this. I enjoyed to come here, to play with friends and see everybody. Last year I made some changes on my swing, I don’t like to make big technical changes, but there are some you really need to make and help a lot. If I keep playing like this, I think I can win again, but there are many good players that also want to win; I am here to get feelings, and most of all, have a good time, and if something good happens, it would be great”.

Behind leaders, a group of 4 players: France’s Cedric Judlin and Julien Gressier, Italian Marco Crespi and Spain’s Carlos Del Moral.

Agathe Seron

Francis Valera (c) L.C. Peugeot Tour

Alps Tour & Peugeot Tour in Valencia, European Capital of Sports in 2011

From Italy, France, Austria, England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Northern Ireland and, of course, reach Bétera, Valencia, theses professional players begin the season with one main objective: to reach the European Tour following in the footsteps of players like Carlos del Moral, Borja Etchart, Alfredo García Heredia and Sebastian Garcia, who will fight for victory tomorrow in the Peugeot Tour of Valencia.

And it starts in a city that has been recognized as European Capital of Sport, Valencia. 126 players will try to achieve the best possible results on Thursday and Friday and try to beat the cut of forty players to fight for victory on Saturday.

Christopher Grau, Councillor for Sports of Valencia, was proud that Valencia is the venue for the start of the tour: “We are very pleased that MatchGolf and Peugeot have chosen Valencia to start its season, and Peugeot Tour and Alps Tour bringing 126 golfers from 11 European countries that will enjoy our city. Receive the title of European Capital of Sport for us is to bring the sport to all corners, and we’re working on it with a calendar from January to December will host some of the most important events of the Spanish sports in different disciplines. Of course, golf occupies an important place in our calendar and we hope this tournament is a success and return to our city in future editions.”

Javier Gervas, Director General of MatchGolf, promoter and organizer of the tournament: “Valencia has always been a special place in our calendar, so that in ten of the thirteen editions of the Peugeot Tour circuit we started here, and have come here great players who are now on the European Tour, such as Valencian Carlos del Moral. Valencia is betting heavily on sports, and deserves recognition, we are pleased to collaborate with the City to reach all corners of sports, including golf, we want to have a very special place, and we look forward to future collaborations.”

Estelle Richard, Director of Operations for Alps Tour: ” Alps Tour are proud to start the circuit, thanks to our agreement with the Peugeot Tour, the European Capital of Sport 2011. It is a pleasure to be part of the sports program which includes events like the America’s Cup, Formula 1 and the ATP Tour. Golf is once again in the coming Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, and this is the best recognition as a sport worldwide.”

Carlos del Moral: “As a Valencian athlete I’m very proud that you have been given this recognition to my city, the truth is that sporting events are held here very important, and we are increasingly Valencian athletes of various specialities, we are competing outside Spain. I’m very proud of my city, but this recognition of Valencia makes me feel even more proud as an athlete because it shows that things are doing very well.”

Peugeot Tour 2011