20th July 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Bech wins Alps de Andalucia
Spain’s Pol Bech ended 4 years without victory by grabbing Alps de Andalucia on shot clear over fellows Carlos Balmaseda and Javier Colomo.
Bech started the final round the perfect way with hat-trick of birdies on opening holes. He holed the 5th as well and at this moment of the day the story seemed to be over yet but he struggled a little with his game and his two opponents, Balmaseda and Colomo got closer and closer.
Balmaseda fired a flawless card 65 to finish -16. Colomo holed back to back eagle on 13th and 14th to share the lead with Bech. Teeing of the 15th, a play-off was scheduled. But Unfortunately, Colomo dropped one shot on the 16th and Bech managed to deal his slice advantage.
“I started a bit nervous, but knowing what I had to do all the time and I played first 5 holes just the way I wanted to play them, hitting good shots and holing good putts. From then, I don’t know if I relaxed myself a bit, lost the pressure or saw the advandtage and took it easy but things did not go in, I missed 2 shots and and got punished with two bogeys. »
« Then I saw the chance of a play off and felt if I could do one birdie, I could still win and after the 14th and until the end I played great golf. Last time I won was Campeonato de Cataluña 2009 and it feels great to win again to face the Qualifying School.
« I did not expect it, it is a long course and I normally do not do well on this type of course but I felt comfortable and every part of my game worked out really well »
Agathe Séron
19th July 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Bech to lead Spain's armada
Spain’s Pol Bech posted back-to-back 65 to take Alps de Andalucia lead. Amateur Belgium’s Thomas Detry, signed for second 66 in a row for second place two shots back. To complete the podium, two Spaniards, Ivo Giner and Javier Colombo.
The top of the leaderboard is almost 100 % Spanish after 36 holes played at Clu de Golf Playa Serena. One surprise though, young Belgium amateur, 20 year old, at second place. He had an invitation this week thanks to the Royal Belgiuem Federation and use it with honour.
“I am playing really well, I am not putting myself any pressure, I came here for experience, alone, with no family, or coach, or caddy. I played very solid. I am hitting all the fairways, today I just missed 1 green but I made a good up and down. I have not par any par 5 this week, I have birdied all of them. Tomorrow I will try to have fun but also try to win, it would be nice if I can win as an amateur”
Pol Bech will tee off for maiden win on the Alps Tour but already won on Peugeot Tour. His fellows Giner, former Challenge Tour player and COlombo, currently playing on the Asian Tour will, fore sure compet for the trophy as well.
“It’s been a very similar round as yesterday, I hit good shots from the tee, only missed 3 tee shots with no big mistakes and did not do over par. It has been a very correct day with the putter, although I left a few out there I have the feeling I have putted well.
I did not expect at all the eagle on 7th hole, it is a par 5 and I decided to play it conservative, hit driver, 4 iron from before the water and with a 52º holed it.
On the 9th I hit a good Driver, this hole has a dog leg and it was hard but on the good line but I crossed the fairway and left it unplayable behind a tree.
On the back 9 I did 3 good birdies but missed 2 of the last 3 greens, but I saved pars though. I am happy.
I am doing more physical training, my swing is getting better in the last 2 years and I feel well. Everything worked out well.
For tomorrow I prefer not to settle any goals, just play my game and enjoy it.”
Agathe Séron
| Alps Tour Golf
Pastor starts well in Andalucia
Spain’s Marcos Pastor fired course record 64 to take one stroke lead at Alps de Andalucia. A pack of five players, 4 Spaniards and Welsh Rhys Enoch share second place.
The course defended itself poorly face to Alps Tour young guns. The perfect conditions helped players to shoot low and the projected cut after 18 holes is -3 and half of the field played under par.
Pastor signed for a flawless card on Club de Golf Playa Serena golf course.
The truth is that during first three holes (started at 10th I played poorly, I did not hit the ball well but I managed to save pars and at 12th hole I hole a good par and everything went well. I gave myself an eagle opportunity on the 13th, I missed but it was the beginning of the perfect round. I holes for birdies on the 15th and 16th, it was a gimee on 17th and I holed more than two meters on the 18th to complete the strike.
On back nine, I played really solid, holed a good one for par on 8th. I did not change my swing but I trained better and I have a new putter.
Wales’s Enoch, tie for second, is coming back to the Alps Tour after few events played on Challenge Tour. Chubby Chandler’s protege is currently ranked 7th at the Alps Tour ranking, one back of a precious spot to avoid playing the Stage 1 of European Tour Qualifying School. His best result is 2nd at Gösser Open.
Agathe Séron
14th July 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Many Winners to attend the Alps de Andalucia
The Alps de Andalucia, which takes place next week at Club de Golf Playa Serena Almeria, will welcome eight winners on Alps Tour this year plus the Cadiz Juan Quirós, European Senior Tour player and Javier Colomo, currently competing On the Asian Tour.
Jesus Legarrea, currently ranked number 2 in the Alps Tour and winner of the Umbria Open, and Borja Etchart, who won the Open International de Rebetz lead this field. To complete: Englishman Andrew Cooley (both Egyptian events), Irishman Brendan McCarroll (Gosser Open), France’s Sebastien Gross (Open de Saint Francois Region Guadeloupe) and Edouard Espana (Peugeot Open winner in play off against Juan Parrón and Alfredo Garcia Heredia), England’s Steven Brown (winner of the most recent tournament, the International Open de la Mirabelle d’Or) and also current No.1 Alps Tour, Jason Palmer (winner of the Grado Open).
It will be the great week of professional golf in Andalusia, which will feature the best players in the Alps Tour, leading the Order of Merit in their struggle to reach the European Challenge Tour, which will get the top five ranking at the end of the season .
Two renowned golfers in Spain want to participate in this appointment: Juan Quirós, with 4 wins in the European Senior Tour and was recently appointed Ambassador for life of the Costa del Sol “for his contribution to spreading Andalusia as a destination course, carry the name of Andalusia worldwide, throughout his long and prolific career, and to be the best Spanish player of all time on the European Senior Tour, “and Javier Colomo, who after his victory in the 2011 Peugeot Tour Grand Final made the leap to Asian Tour successfully.
Golf Playa Serena is a 18-hole course, designed by Angel Gallardo and characterised by wide fairways, nine lakes and greens defended by bunkers of impeccable design. Considered one of the courses with the widest variety of wild birds, Golf Playa Serena has many species of high ecological value, thanks to the ecosystem created by the golf course and lakes many birds have found perfect conditions for settlement.
The Alps de Andalucia begins with a Pro-Am on Wednesday 17 July, and professional competition will run from Thursday 18t July, where 138 players will compete for the title. After the second round, a cut will define the top 40 and ties which will dispute the final round on Saturday 20 July.
JGolf 18.0 is a promoter and organizer of the Alps de Andalucia, which has the support of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, the Provincial Tourism of Almeria, Cuca, Kyocera, www.mipuntuacion.com, Wilson, Club de Golf Playa Serena , Hotel Playaluna, Reale and the Royal Spanish Golf Federation.
