23rd February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Matt Wallace finally engraved his name on Egyptian Trophy

England’s Matt Wallace build his maiden win on Alps Tour with patience and will. He signed for final round 69 to win by one shot over Ireland’s David Carey and Antoine Schwartz of France.

Wallace who finished runner up last week and third the week before manage to keep his hands on the trophy. He holed 3 birdies during his first 4 holes to set the pace but dropped 2 shots on the 6th and 7th to give his challangers hope. Meanwhile, Schwartz was -7 total as he turned first nine -4.  The latter won in Egypt in January.

Wallace’s playing partner, Richard Jouven, could not record better than par.The threat was in the second last group but as a sign of fate, Schwartz boggeyed the 16th and Carey the 17th. Wallace did not make any mistake and finally enjoyed the taste of a much deserved victory.

After the Winters series in Egypt, France’s Franck Daux is leading the order of merit thanks to his two wins. Matt Wallace is second, David Casey third, Julien Foret 4th and Daniel Osorio 5th.


22nd February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Wallace in the race… Again! Richard Jouven co-leader

England’s Matt Wallace will play in last group for the second week in a row. He leads the Dreamland Pyramids Open 2016 with -5 total alongside French rookie Richard Jouven. A group of 3 players are two shots back, France’s Antoine Schwartz, David Carey of Ireland and England’s Andrew Jones.

The weather conditions were, once again, difficult. The wind was strong all day long and the temperature not as expected in this part of the world. The cut felt at +6, the second highest on Alps Tour for many years. It had been +7 once in Haut Poitou due to strong winds as well.

Wallace has another chance to grave his name on a trophy, the first in his career. He will have to fight again another Frenchman. Last week it was Franck Daux, tomorrow, Richard Jouven and his ultra experimented caddy Jude, previously on Henrik’s Stenson bag among other famous names. Wallace carded a second card level par after his opening 67 round. Jouven scored a second card under par, 69 to add to his first 70.

But the leaders’ bigger threat could come from their own country. Andrew Jones, playing only his second Alps Tour event, is on his toes. Jones had finished on the podium last week thanks to best score tie, -9. The man knows how to shoot low. Antoine Schwartz of France won in Egypt in January and is currently leading another european satellite tour.


21st February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Big guns, Colombo (pict), Jones and Wallace to lead in Cairo

Big guns took commands in Dreamland Pyramids Open. Former European Tour player, Italy’s Federico Colombo and last week, respectively runner up and third Matt Wallace and Andrew Jones fired -5 in tough weather conditions.

Among the 3 leaders, only Colombo had the chance to tee off this morning in a quiet atmosphere. He holed 4 birdies and one eagle on the 15th as he only dropped one shot on par three 4th. Jones and Wallace confirmed their good form of the last week. Despite strong gusts of wind in the afternoon, they both managed to score 67 and Jones signed for flawless card.

France’s Raphael Marguery is one shot back. The Frenchman did begin his journey in Egypt with a very bad joke for the airlines company, his bag was delayed. He first borrowed some clubs then eventually got back his own set. He scored 68 without any dropped shot.

The projected cut is +2. Same weather conditions forecasted for second round.


17th February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Back to back win for Daux

Franck Daux did make Sokhna his home by winning second title in 2 weeks. He lifted the Red Sea Little Venice Open trophy and raised the French flag once again in Egypt. His playing partner, England’s Matt Wallace push him to play his best game as he holed seven birdies in a row.

Daux had a 2 stroke advantage when he teed off this morning and after first nine, he was 4 shots ahead of Aaron Zemmer.

« I was playing well but I missed a couple a putts for birdies. Then we arrived on the part of the course I liked very much, which was also played last week. I knew I could do a few birdies there and I told to myself – Ok let’s go for them -. »

And he did, from the 10th to the 13th. But Matt Wallace was on the same rhythm and answered shot by shot.

« I dropped one shot on the 15th and then I realized that Matt’s putter was on fire. He had 6 straight birdies and I was wondering how low he was. I was only 2 shots back. On the 17th, I think my chip and run shot kind of kill him because he did not expect me to have such an easy putt for birdies and he 3 putted the hole. I had then a 3 shot margin going into last so I felt relax but it was the most stressful round I ever played. Matt was amazing. »

Wallace had played a few last round in the last group but he showed how accurate was his game.

« I could not catch him to day, he was too strong. I had a shy start but going back to the club house, the series of birdies I holed was so great. But you know, I needed to have the honor not to let him putt pressure on me but each time he made a birdie as well. But definitively, it was the best last round I ever played. »

The best score of the day was signed for twice. England’s Andrew Jones and Belgium’s Guillaume Watremez tied for the course record with 63, -9. Jones took the third place on his own thanks to this brilliant card.


16th February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Daux hold firm in Egypt

Franck Daux kept his advantage going into last round of the 2016 Red Sea Little Venice Open. He shot 71, one under, to secure a 3 shot lead. Matt Wallace of England is two shots back and Austria’s Robin Goger and Michele Ortolani of Italy are ties for third place.

The course defended itself way better today as many players struggled with the greens. The pin positions were trickier and the hot temperatures were hard to deal with.

The best score of the day was recorded by France’s Thomas Elissalde. The latter won last year on this course combination A/B. The native from Biarritz shot a brilliant 65, 7 under par with five birdies and one eagle.

« You can understand it when you see my card, I putted so well. I holed from everywhere. At the beginning of the round I did not play too well but it went better and better and eventually, I carded a low round. »

Overnight leader Franck Daux struggled to find his rhythm but it is always difficult to follow a low round with another one. He managed to shoot under par though and he is in good position for back to back win in Egypt.

England’s Matt Wallace’s goal was to be in the last group and he did it. Wallace is still in the hunt for maiden on Alps Tour and his motivation is high to prevent Daux from winning twice.

The cut felt at +2, 44 players including one amateur, France’s Antoine Moreau tie for 13th.


15th February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Daux set rythm in Sokhna

Franck Daux of France kept on shinning in Sokhna golf club. He fired 63, -9 and set the course record af A/B course. He only had one bogey because of a penalty he gave himself on 15th fairway.

It was a great day in Sokhna today. The sun was generous and hot temperatures warmed up the atposphere quickly. The club house leader of morning players was Belgium’s Kevin Hesbois with -5.

« I had to say, I holed many putts and that was the key today. I had some dropped shots but all in all a good day though. »

Enlgand’s Liam Harper and France’s neo pro Léonard Bem signed for same score to tie for second position but the leader took a four shot advantage thanks to stunning 63.

Obviously every part of his game went in the right direction but his playing partners appreciated his honesty as well.

Daux grounded his ball and he made it move on the 15th fairway. He had to replace it and dropped one shot.

« It was obvious that it was my fault. The ball moved half a couple of centimeters and still, it had moved. »

Enrico Maccario said « It was very classy and honest. Even if we are playing a gentlemen sport and this behavior is normal, it is always very nice to see that it happened. There was no witness, neither Léo or I did see anything. So very elegant from Franck. »

Franck Daux won his maiden title last week and he said his confidence is high and that he hit very close to the pins.

« I have been playing well for a couple of weeks now and I tried to keep on staying focus to the play and not to be a spectator of myself. I adapted my putting well on greens wich were a bit pumpy at the end of the day. Very happy with this nice advantage after one round. »


11th February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Daux sealed maiden win in Sokhna

France’s Franck Daux sealed maiden win in Ein Bay Open. He signed for impressive 65, -7 to win with a 3 shot advantage over overnight leader, Julien Forêt. A group of 3 players tied for third place : England’s Matt Wallace, Spain’s Daniel Osorio and Enrico Di Nitto of Italy.

It was only slightly breezing today on Sokhna golf course and those fair playing conditions were perfect to expect low scores. Franck Daux took advantage not to be in the last group. He admitted it was a nice position to go for hunting the leaders. His target was very ambitious.

« I knew I was 3 shots back and I figured that Julien (Forêt) could shot -5 so my goal was -9. I started pretty well, I hit really solid iron shots and I managed to hole putts very soon. I made birdie on the 1st, third, 6th and 7th so I turned -4. I saw that I was tie with Di Nitto I think but they were 3 holes behind me.

I kept on saying to myself that it was not enough and I holed a hat trick of birdie from the 10th. Finally I holed two good putts, more then a meter at the end of the round and it could have been different if I had missed them.

I was 3 of 4 times in contention last year but it was too early. You know I almost quit golf 2 years ago but I gave myself one last chance and when I was leading last Spring in Spain it was to soon. Now I feel way more confident and that makes the difference. I am very happy with the work of my coach, Laurent Cabanne. We just came back from 2 weeks in the USA to practice and I am sure it was a big part of my success today. »

With this win, Daux earned an invitation to play the Egyptian Challenge Tour next April.


10th February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Foret soars in Ein Bay Open

France’s Julien Forêt fired an amazing 67 in windy day during second round in Sokhna Golf Club. He leads the Ein Bay Open with -8 total one stroke better than Italy’s Enrico Di Nitto and two ahead Spain’s Daniel Osorio.

Experimented Forêt, 33, took the lead after 36 holes in Egypt. The windy was quite strong today on Sokhna golf course and the atmosphere was fresh. Former European Tour player from Neo Caledonia tamed the greens to signed for best score of the day.

« I played really solid, especially with this wind today. I made one or two mistakes but I managed to erase them with a strong putting. I am pretty satisfied with my game today. It was better than during first round. I had scored low though but the game was not that good.
I like very much the course. It is way more difficult with the wind, you have to strike the ball well and there is no room for luck. »

The course is in perfect conditions, greens pace is 10.4 and only the best players could deal with them. Forêt holed 7 birdies and only dropped 2 shots. There are only 2 others players who broke 70 today, Di Nitto, to secure a second position going into last round and fellow countryman Federico Maccario to climb to 6th position.

Tough playing conditions made the cut higher than expected, 42 players at +3.


9th February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Daux on his own in Egyt

Franck Daux of France shot 67, -5 during opening round of Ein Bay Open in Sokhna Golf Club in Egypt. A group of three players is one shot back, England’s Ben Wheeler, Italy’s Enrico Di Nitto and Spain’s Daniel Osorio.

The weather was fair today, nice and sunny in the morning and with a little breeze in the afternoon. Ein Bay Open is the first of the 3 event winter series in Egypt and the winner will earn an invitation to play the Egyptian Challenge Tour in April.

Many players beat the course as 23 of them shot under par. Defending champion, France’s Thomas Elissalde struggled to recall the good memories he had on the course as he signed for a 77, +5 card as his younger brother Paul.

A pack of seven players is tie for fifth place with -3. Among them, England’s Tom Shadbolt and France’s Julien Foret who won the Coupe de France Pro in Morocco mid January.

The projected cut is +1.

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