31st May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Marguery stretches Grado Open lead over English duo
France’s Raphael Marguery (c) Agathe Séron
Raphael Marguery posted a solid four-under-par 68 in the second round of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Open on Friday to move two strokes clear of England’s Jason Palmer and Ben Evans as the Frenchman seeks a first Alps Tour victory.
Marguery’s 36-hole total of 11-under put him clear of Palmer, who had the round of the day with a seven-under 65 and Evans (66), while another Englishman in Laurie Canter and Slovenia’s Matjaz Gojcic were two shots further back on seven-under.
Ireland’s Brendan McCarroll (71), fourth in the order of merit, was tied-24th on two-under as he seeks to move up the standings with leader Jesus Legarrea and third-placed Borja Etchart in action on the Challenge Tour in Spain.
Marguery’s bad back, which has been a problem for two years, was again suffering after another day in unseasonably bad weather in northern Italy but the Frenchman was upbeat about his victory prospects.
“My back’s not great but I’m making do with it. I made a few small mistakes today so I’ll change my strategy for those holes,” said Marguery.
“In general the plan for tomorrow is the same though. I won’t try and seek perfection all the time when there’s no need. On some holes par is a good score, and hopefully the birdies will keep dropping,” he added.
Palmer, beaming broadly on the range after his round as he handed out tips to his compatriots, said he was hoping for better weather on Saturday after coping admirably with the often foul conditions on Friday morning.
“I’m not usually a good wet weather player, so I hope the rain stays away tomorrow,” said the Englishman, seeking a first win since 2010.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the mix, but I had a good last round last week when I wasn’t in contention,” added Palmer, who came joint-fourth at the rain-affected Umbria Open on Sunday after he shot a 67.
Evans said the key was holing out on the greens before hitting his tee shot at the tricky par-three 18th and then duly making his birdie putt to join Palmer on nine-under.
England’s Andrew Cooley, who won the first two events of the season but has since lost form, missed his fourth cut in five tournaments when he finished three shots behind the one-under mark.
Cooley was playing with former Ryder Cup player Costantino Rocca, a tournament invite, who carded a 76 for a 10-over total.
From Grado
Tom Pilcher
Golfmanager Press Agency
30th May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Magnificent Marguery flys into Grado Open lead
France’s Raphael Marguery shot a seven-under-par 65 (c) Agathe Séron
Frenchman Raphael Marguery defied back pain and the menacing Italian skies to post a seven-under-par first-round 65 in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Open on Thursday for a two-shot lead.
Marguery was in the fourth group out on another gloomy summer’s day and despite back soreness which hampered his play at last week’s Umbria Open he managed four birdies on his opening nine and a further four on the way home.
Behind Marguery was compatriot Sebastien Gros, while fellow countrymen Frederic Abadie and Nicolas Peyrichou were among five players on four-under.
Twice Alps Tour winner this season Andrew Cooley, second in the order of merit, shot a three-under 69 in the presence of former Ryder Cup player and European Tour winner Costantino Rocca, who carded a six-over 78.
Rocca’s play was far off the high standards that made him a household name worldwide in the 1990s, unlike the game of Marguery who said the short course had been to his liking.
“You can attack, a lot of drivers and wedges which I like,” said the Frenchman, hopeful of avoiding any back pains for his second round as he seeks a first win on the tour.
“My back was quite bad, I hurt it last week and missed the cut. But it’s been like that for two years so I’ve become used to it. It’s just a case of managing it.”
Cooley was delighted with his solid opening round after missing three cuts in his last four events following his excellent start to the season with back-to-back wins in February and March, which took him to the top of the order of merit.
An excellent par save at the par-three 18th following an overhit first putt put a smile on the Englishman’s face on a special day for the 24-year-old.
“I didn’t find out until yesterday that I was paired with Costantino. This is a guy who has played in Ryder Cups, so it was pretty special. He’s really nice,” said Cooley.
With order of merit leader Jesus Leggarea playing on the Challenge Tour this week and fellow Spaniard Borja Etchart also competing at home, Cooley and fourth-placed Brendan McCarroll (71) of Ireland will hope to move up the list.
From Grado
Tom Pilcher
Golfmanager Press Agency
| Alps Tour Golf
First European Golf Elites' Symposium to take place at Golf National.
Waltraud Neuwirth, Alps Tour President, Jean-Lou Charon, French Golf Federation President and Donato Di Ponziano, PGA’s of Europe President, delighted to welcome their hosts for the 1st European Golf Elites’ Symposium.
The Alps Tour and the French Golf Federation organized on the 27th and the 28th of May the First European Golf Elites’ Symposium. During two days, international consultants presented their expertises about how to help young amateurs players to reach the elites golf and to succeed once they turned pro.
The schedule :
- Turning pro, by Donato Di Ponziano, PGA’s of Europe President and former Alps Tour President.
- The Formative Experiences of Category One Golfers & Critical Periods for Success on Tour, by Jonathan Wright, PGA Head of Coach Develoment for England
- Overview of Elites’ Policy Throughout Europe by France, Italy, Denmark and Scotland. François Illouz, Gianluca Crespin Morten Backhausen, Steve Paulding.
- Workshop INSTITUTIONS : Involvement of Amateurs in Professional Events, Involvement of Professionals in Amateurs Events. Amateur Status versus Open Golf by Christophe Muniesa, Executive Director FFGolf.
- Workshop COACHING : International schedule and preparation. Role of US university in amateur career. Launch of professional career by Jeanne Cho, Assistant Coach, Duke University.
- « You will never have better players than you have coaches » by Tony Bennett, Director of Education & Membership, The PGA’s of Europe.
- The Ryder Cup : Europe’s Team Game by Mark Lichtenhein, Head of Television, Digital Media and Technology, European Tour and Ryder Cup.
- Overview of the Professional Golfing World by Alain de Soultrait, Challenge Tour Director, Ivan Khodabakhsh, Ladies European Tour CEO, Waltraud Neuwirth, Alps Tour President.
- Rio 2016 Olympics Games & Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympics Games by Pierre Bechmann, Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews Captain.
- Round-Table « TOURS », Role of ‘Mini Tours’ and ‘Winter Tours’. Sports regulations, Link between the Tours, Qualifying Schools, Expansion to Eastern and Southern Countries.
26th May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Legarrea bags maiden victory in Umbria
Jeasus Legarrea (c) Claudio Scaccini
Spain’s Jesus Legarrea stormed to his first Alps Tour win with a nine-shot victory in the weather-affected Umbria Open on Sunday thanks to a final round of six-under-par 65.
After rain on all three days had wreaked havoc with the Perugia Golf Club layout and the event was shortened to 54 holes late on Saturday, Legarrea started with an eagle on the par-five first hole to extend his lead over Italy’s Alessandro Grammatica to five shots before he coasted home with a three-round total of 16-under, ahead of another home favourite Gregory Molteni (66).
“The first win is always very special. I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself and this will help,” said Legarrea, who had two runner-up finishes on tour last year and let a two-shot advantage slip going into the final round of the Open International de Rebetz earlier this month.
“I’m also very happy for all the great people around me,” added Legarrea, who gets tips off compatriot and twice major winner Jose Maria Olazabal.
The 26-year-old racked up four more birdies on the front nine to reach the turn in cruise control at six-under for his round while Grammatica (76) only went backwards and could not keep up with the Spaniard’s low scoring.
Legarrea’s landslide win was the biggest on the Alps Tour since Englishman Jack Senior’s 10-shot romp at the Guadeloupe Open last June.
From Wentworth
Tom Pilcher
Golfmanager Press Agency
25th May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Legarrea's birdie blitz opens up four-shot halfway lead
Jesus Legarrea from Spain (c) Agathe Séron
Spain’s Jesus Legarrea followed up his excellent first round at the weather-hit Umbria Open in Italy with a four-under-par second round 67 to open up a four-shot halfway lead on Saturday.
The 26-year-old, in form after finishing tied-11th and fifth in his last two Alps Tour outings, carded six birdies in his first nine holes and composed himself after a double bogey six on his 12th with two par-three birdies to close, handing him a commanding lead over home favourite Alessandro Grammatica, who fired a mistake-free 66 to close on Legarrea.
England’s Matt Wallace was alone in third on four-under while Legarrea’s co-leader after round one Nino Bertasio, who was up first thing this morning to complete his second round with an eight-foot par putt but missed it, was a stroke further back ahead of six players on two-under.
“Now back to bed!” tweeted Bertasio after his day began in disappointing fashion, the Italian and his fellow competitors set for another wait before the start of the third round due to the rain.
“Two hour delay to the official tee times,” said the Alps Tour, with the leaders originally scheduled to tee off at 4:00pm and unlikely to finish before darkness falls.
Order of merit leader Andrew Cooley of England missed the cut at three-over by two shots while last week’s winner in Austria Brendan McCarroll, second in the standings, also missed out.
From Wentworth
Tom Pilcher
Golfmanager Press Agency
24th May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Legarrea, Bertasio shine in Umbria Open first round
Jesus Legarrea co-leader with Nino Bertasio after first round in Umbria Open. (c) Agathe Séron
Spain’s Jesus Legarrea and local favourite Nino Bertasio defied the horrific conditions in the first round of the weather-delayed Umbria Open on Friday to open up a two-shot lead at six-under-par.
After play was held up by six and a half hours on Thursday it was Legarrea and Bertasio who made the early running at the sodden Perugia Golf Club, the Spaniard making an eagle at the short par-four 16th while Bertasio avoided any trouble in his flawless round of 65.
Another home favourite Matteo Peroni was in a share of second place alongside Slovenian Matjaz Gojcic with a host of players at two-under, while order of merit leader Andrew Cooley of England slumped to a four-over first round, two away from the cut which is likely to be made at two over.
Legarrea’s friend Jose Maria Olazabal, playing on the European Tour at Wentworth’s PGA Championship, said his compatriot was closing on a win after his last two Alps Tour finishes of tied-11th at the Open International de Rebetz and fifth at the Gosser Open in Austria last week.
“He’s improved a lot and the results are there, he just needs to finish off a tournament. With a better strategy and short game I think he’ll win. The most important thing is confidence,” said the twice U.S. Masters winner.
From Wentworth
Tom Pilcher
Golfmanager Press Agency
23rd May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Scott Henry fired -4 at Wentworth
Scott Henry and Nick Dye (c) Agathe Séron
The Alps Tour is proud of its rising stars. Once again, one of our former graduates performed well on the European Tour. Scott Henry, who only entered the BMW PGA Championship on Monday as he was on the reserve list, signed for a very solid four-under 68 to be two shots behind the clubhouse leader.
“I was very nervous this morning when I teed off. Well, that’s not the exact word, maybe more excited to be here. But it was so cold this morning. It is such a big event. I started with bogey but then my putting and chipping were great. I holed about 15 meters on the second for birdie. Then I played solid.”
Scott discovered what it is like to shoot low on the European Tour when a pack of journalists was waiting for him in the interview area. He first spoke to Sky Sports, then to Nick Dye,” THE” radio reporter on the European Tour, then the young Scot was surrounded by experienced writers before he gave his final interview to the BBC. What progress in two years since his maiden win at the Gösser Open!
Henry warned the journalists there were still three rounds to play but he said he was very happy with his performance. All the Alps Tour staff and players wish him all the best for the coming days.
From Wentworth
Agathe Séron
19th May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
McCarroll again!
Brendan McCarroll (second left) (c) Alessandro Pio
He did it ! Back-to-back win for Irishman Brendan McCarroll. All day long he and Martin Wiegele were neck and neck but the latter dropped one shot on ultimate hole to lose what was kinf of match play last round.
This is the second time in Gösser Open history that the defending champion captures back-to-back title. Scot Gordon Manson had graved his name four times on the Gôsser Open book and two in a row in the 90’s.
Austrian’s hopes were on one man’s shoulders ; Martin Wiegel and he battled during 17 holes to offer his public a trophy. After front nine, McCarroll had a single stroke advantage thanks to an eagle on the 9th. The first dropped shot of the day was on Wiegele’s scorecard. He gave on the fourteen a second shot clear to his opponent.
But story was written that suspens couldn’t stop here. McCarroll made a double bogey on the 15th par 3 and went back tie with crowd’s favorite. Both players arrived on the last tee with -14 total and the nice smell of extra holes needed was in the air. Gösser Open is used to have play-off and recorded the longest one on the Alps Tour tournament in 2008 : Martin Wiegele had needed 8 holes to win over Lattanzi and Rota.
The end of the 2013 chapter has eventually finished on the 54th green (3 round event). Wiegele dropped one shot as McCarroll played safely par to grab the trophy. With this win, McCarroll enters top5 of Alps Tour ranking at second position.
Wiegele shared his second place with Rhys Enoch who shot 65 and got his first podium of the season. Alessio Bruschi signed for the best score of the day with amazing 63 9-under-par to finished 4th. Jesus Legarrea finished 5th by his own. Austria’s Johannes Steiner scored 64 to climb to the 6th place. The best Austrian amateur (first right on the picture), Sepp Straka ended his pro event at 21st place alone with -5 total.
Agathe Séron
18th May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Wiegele and McCarroll co-leaders
Austria’s Martin Wiegele (c) Agathe Séron
Brendan McCarroll shot the perfect round, flawless 66 to be in good position to defend his title. Tie with him, Martin Wiegele, who was the last Autrian player to lift the great Gösser Glass Trophy in 2008.
The 2013 vintage in Maria Lankowitz tastes a little like the 2012 one. Branden McCarroll is leading over an Austrian player. Last year, Jürgen Maurer failed to disturb the 27 year old man from Northern Ireland. This year, he will face the experimented Martin Wiegele, Gôsser flagship player.
But there are two other men who will chase the leaders, respectively 3 and 4 shots back.. Spain’s Jesus Legarrea, in great form so far during this season. Legarrea played in the last group in France 3 weeks ago and did not manage to keep his level of game during last round. This experience will help him tomorrow to deal with the pressure. And finally, a challenger to watch out, Rhys Enoch from Wales, whose talent already seduce Chubby Chandler. Enoch has already been leading in opening season tournament in Egypt.
Agathe Séron
17th May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Trio to lead opening round in Austria
One of the leaders, Italy’s Mattia MILORO (c) Agathe Séron
A group of three players took the lead in Austria after Gösser Open first round. In form Spain’s Jesus Legarrea shot 65 alonside to Italians Mattia Miloro and Filippe Bergamaschi. Just one stroke behind, former champion Austrian Martin Wiegele and the Alps Tour order of merit leader England’s Andrew Cooley.
Scores are low for this first round on Maria Lankovitz Golf Course. The projected cut is one under par. In the afternoon, heavy rain stopped the game for a while and players on crouse waited for the greens to be dried. As a result, they were more receptive and scorboard became much more red thanks to multiple birdies.
Miloro recored 29 on front with five birdies in a row from 1st to 5th. Not to reduce this performance but every year there are questions about changing the first hole in a par 4. Pros usually cut this dogleg left and the average score on this hole is 4,36 with no less than 80 birdies and 8 eagles during this first round.
Defending champion, Branden McCarroll signed for solid 68-4-under-par. Young Austrian amateur, Sepp Straka, shot 69 for 15th place tie.
Agathe Séron
