Christie knocks down the trophy

And the Oscar goes to…

England’s Alex Christie managed to take the win away from the overnight leader and followers and grab the trophy-statue of Colli Berici. He teed off 3 shots back of Hansen this morning and, step by step, climbed on the top of the leaderboard.

Christie had a quiet start compared to his playing partner Italy’s Nino Bertasio who eagled the first hole. The Englishman played six pars in a row before his putter starts to burn the greens from the 7^th to the 11^th green.

In the last group, Stian Hansen and Alessio Bruschi struggled to recover the momentum of second round. And in the penultimate group, Etchart and McCarroll had ups and downs and did not put pressure on the flying Englishman.

Christie’s main danger was under his eyes as Bertasio sunk a putt for birdie on par 3 16^th and hit a great chip and run on the 17^th to holed another easy birdie.

“I believe I could go into a play-off until the last hole. Alex missed his putt for par after his bunker shot in the 18^th and I still had a birdie putt. But I missed it. I started well and finished well but I was not consistent enough in the middle and Alex was fantastic.”

Jennie was following her boy friend for the first time in three years on the Alps Tour but she did in England. She observed that Alex’ body language proved that he was very calm and in her opinion he improved very much this part of his game.

“I worked a lot on my behaviour and especially on this golf course with the wind, you have to stay calm and committed. I won on a golf course like this in Portugal, very hilly. I am good with my brain, thinking where to put the ball and not to leave it the wrong side of the flag. And obviously , I played very well today.”

“This victory in Portugal was a few weeks ago, I had a four event swing, two rounds. I had 12 under to win by two. A win is a win and it gave me confidence.”

Christie’s goal is to build on this title and try to finish in the top 5 at the end of the year and to avoid the Stage one on the European Tour Qualifying school.

The UK players showered their friend with local champagne and the winner dedicated his win to Jane before the blue eye couple went on vacation in Venice to celebrate.

From Vicenza
Agathe Séron

Strong Hansen in the wind

Stian Hansen from Norway (c) Agathe Séron

Norway’s Stian Hansen, 26 year old, fired miraculous 66 in the wind in second round of Alps Tour Colli Berici 2014. Italy’s Alessio Bruschi and Spains’ Borja Etchart are one shot back

Stian Hansen is build to face strong winds, close to 1m90, 100 kg, the kind of athlete who can face gusts. The 26 year old player from Lillestrom plays his first season on Alps Tour circuit. His compatriot and friend, Jason Kelly convinced him to choose this satellite tour.

Hansen admitted he is a calm player, this behaviour was a important advantage today.

“I am not the kind of player to shout or to be upset on a golf course. I would rather talk to myself inside of my head to stay calm, I am definitively a calm player.

The wind was a big factor today. You need to try to get into wedge distances to get close but it is hard when the wind is strong like this. But I had a lot of chance when I had the wedge in my hand and I make a lot of birdies. And I holed a long putt on hole 11 so that was good to start with this.

I had a couple of wins in Norway but nothing big and not in a 3 round tournament. Tomorrow, I just need to be sharp of the tee, be focused. People are going to make bogeys, event double bogeys. You just need to forget your shots and keep on going forward. I hope I can roll enough putts to get a win”

Overnight leader, Irishman Brendan McCarroll struggled today and could only signed for one over to eventually finish 3 shots back of his room-mate Hansen.

Italian hope of a win lean on Alessio Bruschi’s shoulders. Bruschi last title on Alps Tour was in 2004. He won the Gösser Open. But last year, he also won the Italian PGA Championship and his experience could be an valuable asset tomorrow.

“Today was very different. It was very windy and the pins positions were more complicated. I tried to stay on the fairways and I managed to avoid mistakes. Tomorrow, I won’t pay attention to other players. I will stay focus on my game and I plan to repeat the strategy I had the first two days. You have to stay conservative on this course, there no way you can attack the greens.”

Finally, Spain’s Etchart could prevent his two opponents from lifting the trophy. Etchart managed not to have any 3 putts in two rounds and his confidence in his swing is great enough not to be afraid to go and fight for a second win on Alps Tour.

From Vicenza
Agathe Séron

Bruschi, Kim and McCarroll lead in Italy

Brendan McCarroll from Northern Ireland (c) Agathe Séron

Italian players, Alessio Bruschi and Joon Kim did well on home soil. They have not been framed by Colli Berici tricky golf course. They shot 66, 5 under par as multiple Alps Tour winner Northern Ireland’s Brendan McCarroll.

Alps Tour finally found spring after two wet weeks in France and Austria. But although there was no danger from the sky, the little golf course near Vicenza is full of tricks. It is not long, less than 5500 meters for a par 71 but punishment comes very quick if you miss your tee shots.

Bruschi, 32 years old, is an experimented player and he admitted that it is important to be smart and take time to adapt strategy on this kind of course.

“I played really well and I did not have any 3 putts. I only drop two shots but it was definitely a good day. On this kind of golf course you have to think very carefully where you want to hit you tee shot. This is the most important. Experience is obviously a big help to deal with the pressure.”

The temptation is big to hit driver when some pars 5 are no longer than 450 meters and pars 4 around 320 meters. But McCarroll who played poorly from tee yesterday during Pro-Am, managed really well to adapt his swing to take advantage of his impressive distance.

“Yesterday, I hooked a lot of my tee shots, so I changed my swing slightly, I flattened which helped. It helped the ball starts straight. I just wanted to enjoy my day. I did not care if I shoot over par or under par. So it seems to work. I put no pressure on myself at all. I holed a few putts that always helps. I had my only three putt on the last hole for bogey but it is ok. I struggled so much during past weeks so I really enjoyed my 5 under today. On my fist hole, I holed one meter and half so it was a good start. The next par three, I was 4 meters away and I holed. On the 16^th, I holed a pretty long one, more than 10 meters. This one was a bonus.”

The course defended itself very well and projected cut after opening round is +2.

From Vinceza
Agathe Séron