17th July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
2015 Servizitalia Open
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Report Final Day
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Pavon defeated Piris in Italy
Matthieu Pavon from France
France’s Matthieu Pavon won his second Alps Tour title, the 2015 Servizitalia Open, defeating Spain’s Gerard Piris after third extra-hole. With this win, Pavon took the lead of the Alps Tour ranking.
Pavon seemed to be untouchable for a while during the last round. He had a 3 shot advantage and the challengers could not catch up with him. But in the second last group, Gerard Piris, 4 shots back, stroke an amazing shot on the 16th par 5 and he holed for albatross. Suddenly, Pavon only had a small edge over the Spaniard.
The drama was not at its end as the Frenchman dropped a shot on the very last hole and had to play against Piris in a play-off. Both players had one win on the Alps Tour. Pavon in 2013 and Piris this season last May.
The 9th hole was the scene of the duel in the sun. They both holed for birdie on their first and second try but Pavon did one shot better on his third attempt and he defeated his opponent.
With this win and the results of this last event to get the Stage 1 exemption, one player could regret having missed the cut, France’s Léo Lespinasse. He has been in the top 6 all the season and slide the the 7th place.
One man’s loss is another one’s gain and Gerard Piris enters the precious top 6. Matt Pavon, Harry Casey, Damien Perrier, Josh Loughrey, Andrea Maestroni and Gerard Piris are the players who will directly play the European Tour Q School stage 2 in November.
This is summer break for Alps Tour, next tournament is in Spain beginning of September.
16th July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Pavon sets the tone
Matthieu Pavon of France Credit: Tristan Jones
France’s Matt Pavon was very committed to gain his pass to the Stage 2 of European Tour and his game was very sharp today. He scored 68 to take a narrow lead heading to the final round of 2015 Servizitalia Open.
The French native from South West of France holed seven birdies versus 3 bogeys to go 4 under par today and it was enough to take a one shot advantage over England’s Matt Wallace and Ireland’s David Carey.
The overnight leader, Italy’s Joon Kim struggled to maintain his level of game and had to sign for a shy score, 73.
A pack of 5 players are -8 so the last round should be very challenging for the winner to dig an advantage and hold the trophy.
The cut eventually felt at -2.
| Alps Tour Golf
2015 Servizitalia Open
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Report Day2
15th July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
2015 Servizitalia Open
[sc:GTPlayer id=”2015_07_15_21_report_day1″ ]
Report Day1
| Alps Tour Golf
Kim starts hot in Italy
Joon Kim of Italy Credit: Tristan Jones
Italy’s Joon Kim signed for flawless 64, -8, to lead the 2015 Servizitalia Open by one stroke. Spain’s Gerard Piris had one dropped shot for a 65 card, third tie France’s Julien Gressier and Matt Pavon who both signed for 66.
The sun was very generous on the course of Golf Club Lignano during opening round of the last event on Alps Tour before summer break. It was very hot and most of the players had to suffer from the heat. But the scores were really good and the projected cut is already -2 after only 18 holes.
The challenge this week is to stay or to enter the Top 6 of the Alps tour ranking to avoid playing the Stage 1 of European Tour Q School to go straight to the stage 2. In case of a win, Joon Kim could enter the ranking but it is not only on his shoulders as the others players will battle to earn precious points.
Piris as well, winner in Italy in May, could as well get his exemption in case of a win. But the path is still long to the final results and birdies are no numerous on this course that the odds are very tight among all the players.
14th July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Last Chance for Q School exemption
Servizitalia Open 2015 is the last tournament to get an exemption to play directly the European Tour Q School Stage 2 for the Top 6 – six. All tournaments matter in the ranking but this week in Italy, near Venice, is something special for Alps Tour members.
The Top 6 of the Alps Tour Order of Merit will earn a precious season pass for the Stage 2 of the European Tour Q School. Currently, the lucky ones are Harry Casey, Damien Perrier, Josh Loughrey, Léo Lespinasse, Matthieu Pavon and Andrea Meastroni.
The latter won the order of merit in 2004 and managed to enter the top 30 in the Q School final to play an full season on European Tour. None of the other players ever played on main Tour but the statistics are in favour of those who avoid the stage 1. All the Alps Tour members who managed to obtain their card the past three years, did not have to play stage 1.
Hot weather is expected in Venice area this week and the famous ranking is to be announced after last round on Friday afternoon.
3rd July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Sunny win for Maccario
Italy’s Federico Maccario won his maiden title on Alps Tour with 67 as final round and – 17 total and lift the Flory van Donck trophy in Mont Garni Golf Club. His fellow countryman Valerio Pelliccia finished second on his own thanks to a seven under par card. A group of three players share third position of the podium, France’s Raphaël Marguery, England’s Josh Loughrey and Spain’s Gerard Piris.
The latter learnd the hard way that golf can provide incredible or amazing story for joy or tears. Piris was co-leader at -17 teeing of the 17th. He had just holed for birdie on par 5 16th and was tie with Maccarrio. But the golf course played a bad trick to the Spaniard and he dropped 4 shots to slide from the leading position to the third.
With this win, Federico Maccario jumped to the 13th place of the order of merit. Harry Casey keeps his pole position, ahead of Damien Perrier, Josh Loughrey, Léo Lespinasse and Matt Pavon.
2nd July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Duel for Piris and Maccario
Gerard Piris of Spain Credit: Tristan Jones
Federico Maccario from Italy and Spain’s Gerard Piris share the lead of Alps Tour Mont Garni with -11 total. A group of 3 players is one shot behind but the top of the leaderboard is pretty congested and the final round should be a good drama.
Maccario did not make any mistake and holed five birdies during the round. The other leader, Gerard Piris, had a more colourful scorecard with 2 bogeys, 7 birdies and an eagle for great 66, -7. Piris has already won this season in Frassanelle Open last May in Italy and a second win could make him enter the top 5 of the Alps Tour ranking.
But someone shot even lower today to come back on the right side of the cut line, Spain’s Eduardo Larranaga. He recorded 2 eagles, 6 birdies and a bogey for a superb 64, -9.
On the leaders toes, Toni Ferrer, Tom Shadbolt and Josh Loughrey. The latter won in Tunisia and will do everything to recover his first place at the order of merit.
The cut felt at -3 including 50 players.
1st July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Four way tie in Belgium
Nicholas Peyrichou of France Credit: Tristan Jones
France’s Nicolas Peyrichou holed five birdies on his last six holes to be the first on top of the leaderboard. Italy’s Andrea Maestroni, Valerio Pelliccia and Spain’s Toni Ferrer at -7 joined him later. A pack of five players is chasing them one shot behind.
The first round of Flory Van Donck trophy was played in great conditions, nice weather but with high temperatures in the afternoon. The 6300 meters par 73 struggled to defend itself and players shot low today. The projected cut is -2 after one round.
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