Larrazabal crowned at Peugeot Alps de Barcelona

Pablo Larrazabal graved his name on the Peugeot Alps de Barcelona Trophy. He let nothing but a chance to those chasing him during final round. He shot 65 for -16 total, 4 strokes clear of fellow Ivo Giner. At third place, France’s rookie Gary Stal, who turned pro beginning of march and already got one win on home soil.

It was very windy when last groups teed of for last round. With this kind of weather surprises could be expected. But none of the competitors managed to put pressure of Larrazabal shoulders. Mr “happy face” shown great confidence and honour his favourite football team and leaving coach, the Barça, wearing red and navy blue shirt.

His unfortunate playing partner, Jaime Camargo, lost 7 shots after 6 holes and could only admire Larrazabal show. Ivo Giner could have been dangerous for the 2008 French Open winner but he dropped 2 shots on the 3^rd hole and two mores in a row on 15^th and 16^th.

France’s Gary Stal was the only surprise of the day. He shot 64, the best card tie of the week. On this part of the border, nobody was expecting him but the young man from Lyons has quite a reputation. He just turned pro, won in France his first pro tournament for first appearance. “I am happy to be third. In front of me, an European winner and the touring pro of San Cugat who knows the course very well.”

Larrazabal, who won French Open in 2008 and the BMW international Open in 2011, admitted he was a kind of nervous. “Believe it or not, I felt anxious because I really wanted to win. It is a different feeling than on European Tour. Here, I know everyone following me, great players such as Sergio Garcia won the Catalunya Championship and tome it is more than a victory. I would like to thank my fiancé Gala for caddying me. It did not happen since 2007 when I was playing on the Challenge Tour. She was a wonderful support. I would like to thank Match Golf and Peugeot for what they manage to do to promote golf in Spain. I already finished second twice on Peugeot Tour and once third on the Alps Tour (Bordeaux 2006) I wanted to do better.”

From San Cugat
Agathe Séron

Larrazabal shines at San Cugat

Peugeot Alps de Barcelona suits to Spanish players. The podium is 100 % red and yellow. Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal, confirmed his good start and took the lead at -11. Larrazabal signed for a refreshing 5 under par card. His behaviour charmed supporters and fellows. More than for 4 hours keeping on joking, smiling and saying good words among birdies. Jaime Carmago shot the score of the day with great 64 to climb on the second place of provisional podium one stroke back. Overnight leader, Ivo Giner is third after shooting 69 to aggregate -9.

Larrazabal is this kind of player you like to follow. Colourful character, passionate and taking some risks to do the show. “I started very well, holed 2 birdies and then I made a few mistakes but I finally made a good round. I played very well from the tee but did not hole anything. The conclusion is that I am 11 under but 6 of the birdies were with 2 putts. I came to have fun and make everyone enjoying it, I am playing the way I like, hitting driver on the holes I can and should and giving me lots of eagle chances but I didn’t holed. I would like very much to win, it is going to be great out there tomorrow, Ivo is closed and plays here, and it is going to be a great finishing round”.

Playing partner, young Javier Ballesteros did not have the same day. Despite his positive briefing, he maid some mistakes from the tee, often frankly missed the fairways but shown some recovery shots perfectly fitting with a Ballesteros heritage.

“I started very good, played good shots but on hole 4, I went to the left, the water, then 2 bad shots and 2 putts. I was not knocked out, I stayed calm and made a couple of birdies. I did not play badly, I am not unhappy but I was not lucky and could not made less. Yesterday I did not expect to shoot 5 under, got confidence but it is always difficult to repeat a good round. And most of all, I finished with 3 putts what I don’t like.

The weather conditions were tougher that during first round. Wind blown turning around helping players to loose their nerves on short holes. The cut is fixed at -1, including 3 amateurs.

From San Cugat
Agathe Séron

Giner shot low in his garden

Finally a real spring day to celebrate the first round of Peugeot Alps de Barcelona. Spain’s Ivo Giner, touring pro of San Cugat golf club, shot a wonderful 8 under par card to lead by one over England’s Jack Senior. Carlos Aguilar and European Tour winner Pablo Larrazabal share 3^rd place tie at 6 under. Javier Ballesteros pleased his fans. He signed for 65, 5 under and confessed as a joke that he was happy to have scored 8 shots better that his father in 1974…

Ivo Giner admitted that knowing very well the almost 100 years of age golf course of San Cugat helps him a lot. The course is short but full of tricks and almost each hole offer a safe option and an agressive one.

“I holed for eagle on the 17th, after hitting a good driver and holed an approach from 40 meters. I played well, did not make any mistakes, I saved a bogey chance with a good putt. I am happy. I missed birdie chances but I saved them for other days.”

Javier Ballesteros, 21 year old, is still amateur. Today was his first round on a pro event and he discovered thanks to the press that his father stated his professional career 38 years ago on the same golf course.

“I started a bit nervous, I thought I wouldn’t be but I was, but I hit a great drive on the first hole (the 8th) that calmed me a lot and I Holed a good birdie there. Then it has been a good round, I did not get into troubles except for the 3 putts on 16th. I played very solid from tee to green. I hit 18 greens, the best part of my game was short game. I have enjoyed very much playing with Pablo Larrazabal, I have seen him hitting incredible shots, he is the type of player I like, natural and talented. It has been a great round that I dedicate my father, I think he would be happy”.

The projected cut is -1.

From San Cugat
Agathe Séron

Javier Ballesteros at Peugeot Tour Alps de Barcelona

Tomorrow will start the Peugeot Tour de Barcelona at Sant Cugat, with the best field ever at the Peugeot Tour/Alps Tour: four European Tour players, one Senior Tour player, winners at the European Tour, Senior, Challenge, Peugeot and Alps Tour. And even more, tomorrow at 9.05h it will be history when Javier Ballesteros tees off at his first competition among professionals, at the same place his father did play his first professional tournament in 1974, Sant Cugat. And he will play with two winners, Pablo Larrazabal and Domingo Hospital.

Javier Ballesteros is 21 years old, handicap 0.4 and is studying at the Law School in Madrid. He started University in the United States but he droped it. “I studied at George Washington University for a month and a half, but wasn’t happy, I had more expectations, golf was great but I wasn’t very happy with it. It wasn’t for being away from home at all because I studied for many years in England before, there was something there that did not convince me. The news about my father being sick made me take the decision to come back. Back in Madrid I started at the Law School.

“I have always played golf, I was at the national team when I was 14 to 16 years old, and the fact of having it at home always made me think about being a golf pro in the future. But I have to finish University before, it is something my parents have always told me to do, specially my father but both of them, and that is my priority. Then we will see. I have not made an schedule or timing, it doesn’t mean that, when I finish college I will turn pro right away, we will see.

When I played the Pro-Am at the Castello Masters, Javier Gervas told me to let him know if I wanted to play any of the tournaments MatchGolf promotes; I was in Barcelona last weekend for the Barcelona Amateur Championship and I asked him for an invitation.

When I registered for the Peugeot Tour at Sant Cugat, I didn’t know that my father played his first professional tournament here; now that I know, is double excitement.

I like to play with golf professionals, with people that play better because I always learn. In Madrid I play a lot with Pedro Oriol and is a different training, you give a lot more. My goal for this competition is enjoy it, I don’t settle goals when I play a tournament, and mostly being an amateur. What I have to do is enjoy and learn. I have no pressure for being Seve’s son at all, I have nothing to demonstrate anybody, just me”.

Pablo Larrazábal and Txomin Hospital will share two first rounds with him. Pablo says: “We will see how he does, the goal is enjoy 36 holes with him, I hope he has a good time. I think they have put too much pressure on such a young guy. If we let him go his way a bit more and without so many comparisons, he will play much better”.

And Txomin Hospital: “I am very excited about playing with Javier tomorrow, and I would love him to play well, hoping everything goes well, turns pro and enjoys it, considering that having all the eyes on him, it is difficult for sons of great players. I remember playing a lot with Gary Nickalus at the European Tour and the pressure was even stronger for the comparison. I think he is very intelligent starting with big amateur tournaments and other like the Peugeot. I hole he enjoys game tomorrow and always, and that he gets good scores”.

By Carmela Fernandez Piera @ matchgolf

Presentation of Peugeot Tour Alps de Barcelona

The Peugeot Tour Alps de Barcelona receives the support of the Goverment of the Province of Catalonia which considers a sporting event as an economic engine for the region.

The tournament welcomes young amateurs and professionals like Javier Ballesteros (Seve’s son), the Scottish Kris Nicol who won the Qualifying School last November, Frenchman Sebastien Gros current leader of the Order of Merit. They will measure their game to very experienced players like Pablo Larrazabal, Txomin Hospital, Santi Luna and Carlos Rodiles among others.

Pablo Larrazabal thanks the Peugeot Tour to help him when he began his carreer by giving him playing opportunities. “It’s a pleasure to stay a week here at home, with my friends, on a course that I love, and try to write my name on the trophy like Sergio Garcia.”

Tomorrow, the opening pro-am will be held with 35 teams. Tournament will start on Thursday.

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Peugeot Tour Alps de Barcelona

After two Winter Series events in Marrakech, the Alps Tour will stop in Spain next week. In cooperation with the Peugeot Tour, Golf San Cugat will organise for the second year an Alps Tour and welcome the double winner on European Tour, Pablo Larrazabal (2008 Alstom Open de France and 2011 BMW International Open) and also the veteran Domingo Hospital (winner of Seniors Sicilan Open 2010). The amateur Javier Ballesteros (Seve’s son) will play the tournament too. The current Alps Tour Top Five players will be there and a total of 138 players will be on the starting grid of this first European event of the season.

Credit photo @ matchgolf.es

Jason Barnes shines in Kenya

England’s Jason Barnes took 7th place of the Barclays Kenya Open, his first Challenge Tour event of the season. Barnes was graduated from the Alps Tour finishing second at the 2011 Final Order of Merit.

Fellow Jordan Gibb, 2011 Alps Tour member as well, was 10th tie. France’s Xavier Poncelet finished 30^th and Scotland’s Scott Henry at 47^th place.