History repeats itself for Delpodio

Italian Matteo Delpodio, 26 year old, won his fourth victory of his career, all grabbed on the Alps Tour. He shot 69 and did confirm that he was the best player of the winter series. He finished second last week but the Open Samanah was his. France’s rookie Sébastien Gros finally climbed on his first podium of his short professional career. At third place tie, England’s Gareth Shaw, Spain’s Jesus Legarrea and France’s Jérôme Lando-Casanova.

A group of three players were co-leaders at -4 as they turn first nine : Matteo Delpodio, Sebastien Gros and Jérôme Lando-Casanova. But the tricky course of Samanah hurt Frenchmen on back nine. Lando-Casanova dropped one shot on the 13th par 4 and Gros’ ball found the water on the 16th. Meanwhile nobody came back to worry 2010 Alps Tour winner Delpodio. He holed a birdy on the 16th par 5 and had a-2-stroke-advantage with one hole to play.

As you dropped a shot on the 18th hole on the first 2 rounds, what were you thinking teeing off :

“I staid in the same feeling as last week. Even more because this course is driving you crazy and it is so difficult to make birdy. I did not hole putt on first round and the key was to stay patient again and again. I had no idea about the leaderboard on the last hole. I did not know I were leading or not and honestly I made a bogey but with great shots. I hit the driver and the bunker was at 280 meters. I never though I could get it. Then I hit a great shot to recover but stay a bit short. I hat a 15 meters put and with all these slopes I needed 3 putts.”

Are you looking forward to start the season on Challenge Tour after these 2 great weeks ?

” For the moment, I enjoy my win. It is so difficult to come back on my circuit, I mean the one I won 2 years ago. I wanted to do well and everybody were expecting me to be on top of the leaderboard. I am very happy and I want to keep the feeling in mind. I want to say to young players that it is a great experience to play on the Alps Tour.”

Sébastien, you did better than last week…

“Frankly, I have just finished my round so for the moment I am thinking of the two par 5 I did not play well. But yes I am satisfied and I am happy. I learnt so many things during these past weeks. But still, I lost my ball after push slice on the 5th hole and I found the water on the 16th thanks to awful second shot but I want to remember my eagle : 3 great shot. Perfect drive, then 195 meters to the flag. I hit 5 iron 8 meters short and I holed the put. As my ball got out of the putter I knew it was going in…”

The two overnight leaders were taught a lesson the hard way. Neither Jack Senior nor Alessandro Grammatica kept their nerves during last 18 holes. They have never been in contention to win and signed for scores way over par.

By Agathe Séron

Grammatica and Senior aim for maiden win

England’s Jack Senior (picture) and Italy’s Alessandro Grammatica lead the congested leaderboard at Samanah Open. The Nicklaus Design golf course near Marrakesh was a terrible opponent to players today. Leaders are -4 total with a very single shot advantage. Spain’s Jesus Legarrea is -3 after signing for 71, one of the few scores under par today. France’s rookie Sebastien fired a astonishing 66 to tie 4th place with last week runner up Italian Matteo Delpodio, England’s Steven Brown and Spain’s Javier De Lope.

Today was a story of numbers. Bad ones and good ones but obviously maths explain well the past round. First of all, players teed off with 15 minutes delay due to frost on fairways. It was cold in the morning and the north wind started to blow to increase the freezing atmosphere. The best score of the morning was registered by France’s Christophe Brazillier with a 70-2-under-card. Meanwhile with a solid 71, Italian Alessandro Grammatica took the lead with -4.

The scores were better in the afternoon and speaking of numbers, France’s Sebastien Gros said : “It was more than a great day. I hit my driver really well so the ball rolled on the fairway and the biggest iron I hit on a par 4 was a 8 iron. Then I hit 15 greens but I only missed one for good as I was in the bunker on the first. But I saved par. My Moroccan caddy and I found a good way to read the greens and I holed good putts for birdy. Last week, the last day was really hard to me. I was on the podium with less than 9 holes to play and I blew up. I have a job to learn and to do this kind of mistake in the beginning is helpful to go forward quicker. I really felt a different pressure than on amateur event. I have to deal with it.” Sebastien Gros is the only player out of 95 not to have dropped any shot during his round.

Grammatica as well as Senior will play for maiden win. Delpodio and Legerrea, who did already share their last round last week will for sure chase the leaders and so will rookies Gros and Brown. The ending of the story is not written.

By Agathe Séron

Cryer edges clear in Samanah

England’s Matthew Cryer took the lead after his solid 4-under-par card on Samanah Golf course. On his toes, one shot behind, a team of hunters : American Tommy Schaff, Italian Alessandro Grammatica, Ireland’s Brendan Mc Carroll and finally England Steven Brown.

The sun kept on shining in the area of Marrkesh but as last week, players starting early in the morning had to face low temperatures. The main difficulty of Samanah golf course is the pace of the greens and obviously its length. No less than 6700 meters for a par 72, great challenge for a second event of the season.

Cryer who was complaining last week about his scores did improve efficiency. He holed 6 birdies and dropped two shots. At second place tie, American Tommy Schaff is the only player who has a free bogey card, next to him, cards are colourful. Best Moroccan player is Abdelkader El Hali, he shot 71, one under par and Tim O’Neal, last week winner, signed for 75.

The average scores of the day is 75,38 and the projected cut is +2.

By Agathe Séron

Samanah Open Day -1

Samanah Open day -1 : players of Alps Tour Winter Series are in the starting blocks to compet on the wonderful Nicklaus design golf course. Tomorrow, the show will go on for sure with one special group : last week winner, American Tim O’Neal playing with his runner-up Italian Matteo Delpodio.

But big names are to be watched as well. Walker Cup player, England’s Jack Senior or reserve Ross Kellett were closed to maiden win for their first pro event and this experience will help them. The most famous Moroccan player Younes El Hassani just came back from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic to try to shine on his home soil.

By Agathe Séron

O'Neal wins The Open Palmeraie PGP

American Tim O’Neal won the Open Palmeraie PGP 3 shots clear over Italian Matteo Delpodio. The 38 year old player from Savannah, Georgia did not show any sign of weakness and he fired 67 to increase his advantage and grab the Moroccan Trophy with a total of -16. England’s Jack Senior completed the podium with a final round of 71 for -9 total. Rookies Andrew Cooley from England as well and Scotland’s Ross Kellett tied fouth place.

The battle of the day was delayed this morning due to frozen greens. The night was clear and the temperature got down to -3°C (about 30°F). The leader at this moment admitted he was a little anxious.

“We had to wait because of the greens and I was a little nervous but once I started playing well as I holed the first birdy on the second hole, I felt more relax. I really play solid today, even more than during pas days. I only missed one green and dropped on shot on the 4th. After front nine, I had a look on the leaderboard. I like to know where I am. I saw one player -Delpodio- 2 strokes back so told myself that I had to hole more birdies.”

And he did right away on the 10th and 3 more until he teed off the last hole. Delpodio had finished with -13 so the American player could afford one or two mistakes. His fellows came to the last green to congratulate him and O’Neal finally smiled seeing and hearing the support. “A win is always important whatever the tournament and this one will fore sure give me confidence for 2012″.

Speaking of confidence, Italian Matteo Delpodio, 2010 Alps Tour winner, did a very good tournament and confessed his joy to recover this kind of feeling on a course.”Last year was tough. The key of my success in 2010 was patience. I lost this ability in 2011 and it cost me a lot. I recovered my swing last July and I work hard on my behaviour on course. Here, it is not true to say that I played with no pressure. Every body was expecting me to do a good result, a podium at least. I really enjoyed to play and I managed not to think about the results. For example, on the last tee, I did not look at the leaderboard so when I put I did not know if it was for a win or not. I put the best I could, I missed it but it was a great putt. I am very happy with my game and I am looking forward to start the season on the Challenge Tour.”

By Agathe Séron
At Palmeraie Golf Club

O'Neal two clear

American Tim O’Neal played solid during second round of Palmeraie Open PGP. He signed for an 67-five-under-par card to lead by two strokes over Scotland’s Walker Cup player Ross Kellett. At -8, there are other big names to challenge the two men. England’s Jack Senior, 2011 Walker Cup player as well, France’s Rookie Sebastien Gros, member of the National Team Winner at The Amateur Team Championship in 2011 and last but not least, 2010 Alps Tour winner, Italian’s Matteo Delpodio.

O’Neal did not cross the Atlantic for vacation. He honoured his host, the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association by proving his hight level of game. But the American is not the kind of man to talk big. He shown a cautious behaviour and explained that his goal was to play as solid for the last round as he did during 36 holes. It been a while since he lift a trophy and he knows that guys below will chase him tomorrow. Scotland’s Ross Kellett could be one of them. The 24 year old men from Motherwell shot 68 today and only dropped one shot, the second in 36 holes. Delpodio did the same kind of card. He made his one and only bogey of the day on his last hole, the 9^th; His safe tee shot -3 wood- ended in the bunker and he did not holed to saved the par. Delpodio’s last win was in October 2010 in France where he grabbed his third trophy of the season during Masters13.

The Moroccan were 17 in the field this week. The cut felt at level par and unfortunalty many of them staid on the wrong side. But the focus is worth being done on the best Moroccan player, one of the promising new talent of Atlas Pro Tour, Abdelkader El Hali. After a poor score yesterday with a card of 74 he fired 68 to come back at 22^nd position. Fellows Faycal Serghini and amateur Mustapha El Maouass made the cut too.

By Agathe Séron
At Palmeraie Golf Club

Gros and O'Neal co-leaders in Morocco

A rookie and a veteran are leading in Morocco after first round of the Open Palmeraie PGP. France’s 22 year old Sébastien Gros and American 38 year old Tim O’Neal (picture) both shot 66 six under par to take a one stroke advantage. On their toes, a group of five players, France’s Matthieu Bey and Scots Gavin Dear and Ross Kellet and Italy’s Niccolo Quitarelli and Nicolo Ravano.

The launch of the season was a success. The weather was perfect to play golf today, the sun did not miss its rendez-vous with players. Most of them coming from frozen Europe really appreciated to be on the first tee today.

On one hand, many good players are in Marrakesh this week as there is no tournament on Challenge Tour. Italian Matteo Delpodio, 2010 Alps Tour winner, and other former members such as Matthew Cryer, Gavin Dear or Christophe Brazillier took this opportunity to play. On the other hand, rookie Sébatien Gros who just turned pro did pretty as he competed for first time for money. His sister Lorellen was under the bag and no doubt that the scratch player young lady was a precious help to her talented brother. Gros said “The course is quite fair and each good shot is awarded. There is no rough no even if you miss the fairway it is not a big deal. But I admitted I putted well, that helps!”

American co-leader Tim O’Neal, despite his youthful face, is one of the most experienced player of the field. Savannah native used to play many full seasons since 1999 on the Nationwide Tour, the second level of the PGA Tour. He got an invitation to play in Morocco thanks to the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association. The Atlas Pro Tour, the Moroccan circuit has been supported Egolf, a professional circuit in North Caroline for 2 years now.

O’Neal holed more birdies today that any other kind of score on a hole, no less than 10! Humble, he said that no course can be said to be easy but admitted the Palmeraie golf course is open and allows a aggressive game.

Last but not least, this first round of the season was the D-day as far as no smoking new regulation was concerned. Sweets and Nicorette gums were at the first tee with tees and pin positions. But the story is that there was no story or much ado about nothing. Everybody played the game. Neither caddies nor players or referees smoked and the air staid pure by this side of Marrakesh.

By Agathe Séron
At Palmeraie Golf Club

Winter Series Day -2

Sunny day in Marrakesh for the practice days of the Winter Series. Two days before the first round of the 2012 Season on Alps Tour. Keeping away from frozen Europe, players are happy to be here in Marrakesh for the next two weeks.

In cooperation with the Atlas Pro Tour, promoted by the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association, the Open Palmeraie PGP and Open Samanah welcome 96 players in two 54-holes tournaments with a prize money of ?30,000 each.

First event will start on Wednesday morning.

By Office