25th February 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Widemann's fireworks in Egypt
France’s Alex Widemann (c) Alps Tour
France’s Alex Widemann grabbed maiden win thanks to final round 65 for -17 total. The 23 years old player from Golf des Bouleaux lifted the trophy of the third edition of Red Sea Little Venice Open.
He was tie with Englishman Tom Shadbolt when he teed off around noon in the last group. His opponent holed for eagle on the 3rd hole whereas he holed 4 birdies and one bogey on the first seven hole. He increased his advantage on the back nine showing great confidence in his putter.
“ I think I needed to miss that cut last week to fix my issues. Long game was good but as during the Q School in December, my putting was very poor. I have worked on it between the 2 events and I managed to recover my confidence and I did not miss any lines.”
Widemann has changed his status with this win but the good man, who just finished his metalworking industry HDN, stays humble.
“ I know that a win is just a beginning. I will try to play as many events as I can and hopefully I keep on doing well.”
Shadbolt ended 4 shots back of the win, finishing second on his own. To complete the podium, England’s Matt Wallace and France’s Léo Lespinasse. The latter confirms his good form as he already climbed on the third step last week.
24th February 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Shadbolt and Widemann co-leaders
England’s Tom Shadbolt, 27 year old (c) Agathe Séron
England’s Tom Shadbolt, 27 year old since last week, signed for the best score of the 65, -10 to share lead with French rookie Alex Widemann. Both of these players will tee off for maiden pro win tomorrow and try to grab the Red Sea Little Venice Open trophy.
England’s Andrew Cooley won the last two editions of the tournament and another name will be engraved on the cup. The overnight leader, Matt Wallace handed over the tournament command to his compatriot Shadbolt as he could not play better than 74, 12 shots more than during his first round and third on his own.
The playing conditions were different as the wind disturbed the players from mid morming to mid-afternoon.
Widemann, 22 year old from east of France, could be the surprise of the week. Shadbolt never won on the Alps Tour but finished once third in Spain last June during Peugeot Open and recorded his best result in Italy last september finishing second at La Pinetina Memorial GB. Widemann fired back to back 67 to tie for lead.
At fourth place tie with -7, a group of 3 Frenchmen, Léo Lespinasse, Nicolas Peyrichou, David Bobrowski and one Spaniard, Eduardo Larranaga.
23rd February 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Wallace surged clear in Egypt
England’s Matt Wallace (c) Agathe Séron
England’s Matt Wallace surged clear after crazy opening round of Red Sea Little Venice Open. He signed for 62 course record to lead by three shots. Wallace missed the cut last week and this score is 10 shots better than his last year when he did not manage to play the third and final round as well. Wallace best result is a fourth place at Colli Berici Open 2014.
The playing conditions were nice. Although the sun was very shy, it was very quite as far as wind is concerned.
Defending champion, Andrew Cooley, had a tough day. he dropped four shots in a row from 3rd to 6th hole and turned first nine in 41. Cooley, whose three Alps Tour wins, have been sealed in Egypt, scored 76, quite far from the estimated cut line.
Scot John Henry and France’s David Bobrowski share second place with -7 and a group of 3 players are one shot behind, Irish amateur David Carey, France’ Léo Lespinasse confirming last week good form and former European tour player, Swiss Julien Clément.
19th February 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Elissalde snatches Egyptian trophy
Thomas Elissalde (c) Agathe Séron 2014
France’s Thomas Elissalde won his second Alps Tour title as he finish -9 at Red Sea El Ein Bay Open. In a very windy day, his compatriot Matthieu Pavon is one shot back. Frenchman Léo Lespinasse and Spain’s Juan Antonio Bragulat share third place with -6 total.
Elissalde is one of the 2014 Alps Tour graduates. He was leading since the first round and kept his hands on the trophy until the end.
“It was not windy this morning but in one blink of an eye, it became freezy with strong gusts. The temperature felt around 10° C and it was pretty much like home! Teeing of I just decided to try to do a good round, to be patient and to play my game.”
“I have been working hard this winter on technical points to hit the ball longer from the tee and I was really looking forward to testing it in a tournament to see if I was able to drive this way under pressure. It has worked. As the weather this winter in Biarritz was not that great , I focused on long game and fitness to improve tonic effect in my swing. I hit my driver longer. My irons are still the same but still, driving is important.”
“When I left the 15th green, I saw that Matthieu was tie with me. Unfortunately, I hit a very poor shot on the 16th and there was no chance that I did a par. I holed a nice putt for birdie on the 17th, 5 meters and when I was walking the last fairway, I’ve seen that Mat was -8 so I played my wedge aiming the middle of the green to do par and win.”
“A win is a win and even if Alps Tour is not my circuit anymore, I felt pressure and I am happy I managed to deal with.”
Quotes Agathe Séron
18th February 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Elissalde still on top
Thomas Elissalde (c) Agathe Séron 2014
Thomas Elissalde confirmed his good form and keeps his shoulders one shot higher than his closest fellow competitor, England’s Steven Tiley.
The 22 year old from Biarritz shot 69 today for -10 total after second round of Red Sea El Ein Bay Open. Elissalde, Challenge Tour player this season, won his maiden title in 2014 as a rookie when he lifted the big beer glass Gösser Open trophy.
On his wheels, Englishman Steven Tiley, playing this week thanks to an Alps Tour invitation. The 32 year old player from Royal Cinque Ports golf club in Kent is not a rookie in this part of the world. Tiley won the Egyptian Open in 2009, the oldest Middle East pro event (1921). Tiley best result ever is a 26th place recorded during the 139th Open Championship in Muirfield.
A group of 3 players are 4 shots back of the lead. Alps Tour winner, Matthieu Pavon and Juan Antonio Bragulat and France’s Clément Batut whose best result on Alps Tour is a 9th place last year during this opening event of the season.
The cut felt at +2 and former European Tour players such as Federico Colombo, Andrea Maestroni and Julien Clément did not make it.
17th February 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Elissalde 2 clear
France’s Thomas Elissalde (c) Agathe Séron 2014
France’s Thomas Elissalde did brilliant start in Red Sea El Ein Bay Open. He fired 9 birdies and 2 bogeys to take a two stroke lead over fellow countryman Leo Lespinasse. The two young men, respectively 22 and 20 year old, live in South West of France in Biarritz area.
Elissalde is one of the 6 players graduated last year to play Challenge Tour in 2015. The Egypt Campaign is a good way for him to warm up before his circuit resumes. Weather has been fair despite coolness in the morning.
Léo Lespinasse had a tough first season in 2014 as he had no full category but he played well during Q School in last December and Lespinasse’s goals are higher this year. The young man shot a flawless 67 card. One shot behind, another Frenchman, Clément Batut and England’s Steven Tiley, playing an Alps Tour event for the first time.
16th February 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
2015 season, Day -1
The launch of 2015 Alps Tour season is close and players are ready to tee off the 3rd Red Sea El Ein Bay Open. Who’s going to succeed England’s Steven Brown ?
The field on the banks of the Red Sea is impressive for this first event of the season. No less than 15 Alps Tour winners and four Alps Tour ranking winners are about to play the great course of Jaz Little Venice Soknha Resort.
It has been now three years that the Alps Tour is raising the curtain of the new season in this warm and nice place of the world. Former Alps Tour players come to practice whereas full members already got in mind the final Alps Tour top 5 to play on upper circuit next year. Rookies and experimented players enjoy playing with sun shine, finally.
Last year winner, Englishman Steven Brown scored 66 final round to achieve -10 total. The bets are open for a better score in 2015. At second place, Spain’s Borja Virto, the best graduate as he now got a full categpry on European Tour. Then, third on the podium last year, France’s Clément Berardo, who targets to do better this week.
4th February 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Winter Series in Egypt
Sokhna Golf Course
Alps Tour will open its season in Egypt as in 2013 and 2014. But relationships with this friendly country and representatives have grown and there will be 3 events from February the 17th to March the 4th.
Alps Tour players are now used to fly to Cairo to avoid European low temperatures and to warm up in Egypt after winter break. Sokhna Golf Club is pleased, once again, to host the Red Sea El Ein Bay Open from the 17th to the 19th of February and the Red Sea Little Venice Open from the 23rd to the 25th of February. The resort on the courses offers great facilities to practice and to relax after golfing day. All former players of the event know that Egyptian hospitality is high ranked on this part of the Red Sea.
A third event will be played near Cairo and Dreamland Golf Club will host the inaugural Dreamland Pyramids Open from the 2nd to the 4th of March. The 7200 yard back tee course will be a real test for the players.
