30th April 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Wallace hold firm in Tunisia
England’s Matt Wallace, with friend Reece Phillips on the bag for the day, stayed strong in the wind to shot 71 for -10 total during Tunisian Open moving day. David Borda, Enrico Di Nitto and Robin Goger are 5 shots further, ties for second place.
It was tough again to day, more than yesterday less than tomorrow. That is the forecast for final round. Early starters enjoyed fair conditions. Italy’s Enrico Di Nitto signed for the score of the day, 67.
« I was sick all night, I only slept 2 hours. It proves that the less you expect, the more relax you are. Everything went well, I only had 28 putts are the results is there. I wish I will be as chilled tomorrow to confirm. »
Austria’s Robin Goger, 20, had wind during his last holes. He shot 69 and was very happy with his score despite a dropped shot on the 17th.
« I feel more prepared to the pro circuit. When I had my card on Challenge Tour two years ago thanks to good results in European Tour Q School, I was too young. Now I can handle the circuit and be efficient. And each day, I learn from my mistakes. »
Spain’s Borda was playing in the last group with Wallace. They both recorded a one under par card. The day was intense due to strong wind and they were satisfied with their scores.
« That was the goal today, to play under par. I didn’t play great but I shoot under par. I’ve been looking for that for a long time so I am really happy. But I putted a lot better today which I worked on yesterday so I can put a combination of those, the game of the first 2 days and the putting of today, I will be up there so I am looking forward to tomorrow. I have the same margin distance now so I did not lost any or gain a shot so I am just going into tomorrow and try to work really hard. »
From El Kantaoui
Agathe Séron
29th April 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Wallace dug his advantage in Tunisia
England’s Matt Wallace increased his advantage going into the week-end in Tunisian Open on El Kantaoui golf course. He scored back to back under par card, 68 following his overnight 67, and too a 5 shot lead over Spain’s David Borda and Italy’s Leonardo Sbarigia. A pack of 6 players is one shot further back
The wind started as the sun rise and it was really tricky this morning to play. Afternoon was gusty as well but warmer. Wallace started with a bogey but corrected his mistake right away with an eagle and did not drop any shot more.
« It was tough, it wa very windy. Again, I bogeyed my first hole which is actually not too bad because the tenth is into the wind and it is quite tough but I eagled the eleventh again, I played it really nicely so it kind of get me back in the red numbers and I was playing really nice so it kept me going.
I was a little bit surprised about the scores (not that low) there are really really good players here but it was tough so if you don’t have the ball under control the course is very penal so you can go back quite fast. I am really happy with my score but still two days to go. »
The cut felt at +1, same score as last year. Liam Harper and Léo Lespinasse, both second in 2015 missed the cut.
At Port El Kantaoui
Agathe Séron
28th April 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Wallace set the pace
Matt Wallace confirmed his good form after great week on Challenge Tour in Egypt, he signed for 67 on El Kantaoui golf course to lead by one the Tunisian Open. At second place tie, England’s Andrew Jones and France’s Amaury Rosaye. Then a group of 6 players are one shot back with -3.
It was a fresh windy opening round compare to the beginning of the week. The temperature was not over 21° and clouds and wind alternated with sun during all day. The best score of the morning session was -3. French rookie Victor Perez was th first to record a 69 today.
« I played really solid during my first eight holes, from the 10th, I holed for birdie on the 11th, 14th and 15th. I dropped one shot on the 18th, my tee shot was really poor. Then I had ups and downs on the back nine. But I chipped very well. I only had 28 putts it helps to sign for decent score. »
With same score, fellow countryman Xavier Poncelet and a flawless card with 3 birdies on three pars 5. David Borda build his 3 under par card thanks to his driver, he hit 11 fairways out of 14. Last man to join the lead at the end of the morning session was England’s Ben Wheeler. Thomas Elissalde and David Morago played in the afternoon groups.
Amaury Rosaye hold the club house lead for a while with first 68 of the day.
« I had a shy beginning, I was playing well but I did not hole any putt. I did not make big mistakes. I dropped one shot on the sixth but I deserved it. I saved a good par on the seventh and I hit a great 4 iron on par 3 eight, 3 meters, but I missed. I was level par and it looked like my practice round when I did not hole any putt. I was patient And eventually I holed really good putts on back nine. »
Wallace is one of the best player of the Alps Tour. He recorded many podiums last year an eventually had his maiden win in Egypt in February. He finished 26th in Egyptian Challenge last week.
« I had a really good start on the front nine, I just didn’t convert anything. And I had chances on the first 3 holes and I made bogey on fourth so one over after nine I was quite disappointed because I played so well. But I stayed patient and I got through 6, 7 and 8 played down really nicely, I had a chance of birdie and I missed it and I missed 5 meters on the ninth but I kept on the back nine. I almost holed my second shot on 10th for eagle an then made eagle on the 11th and that really got me going.
I changed my coach in December because I lost some many chances last year to win and I just couldn’t get it done so I had to change. I have a coach now who had improved my mechanics and the technical stuffs I need to work on and I have been working really hard so I am really happy with that . I will try to keep it up. It is a long way to go as it is a four round tournament. »
At El Kantaoui
Agathe Séron
27th April 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Tunisia ready for National Open
Port El Kantoui golf course is ready to welcome the Alps Tour for the second edition of the Tunisian Open. Englishman Josh Loughrey (picture-left) won the inaugural Open in 2015 and it was his good luck charm as he sealed a second place at final ranking to earn the right to play on Challenge Tour this season.
The course is in great shape and players are looking forward to testing themselves as the weather forecast is said to be windy. The golf is on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea and it became very challenging. With 70 000 € prize money, Tunisian Open is the richest regular event of the schedule. The winner will received more than 10 000 €.
France’s Franck Daux, current leader of the Alps Tour, already recorded two wins this season. He won back to back events in Egypt last February to secure a 1000 point advantage over England’s Matt Wallace. The latter, thanks to his win during third event in Egypt, played on Challenge Tour last week and finished at 26th place. He arrived in Tunisia full of confidence about his game.
19th April 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Alumni and Members back to Sokhna
The leaders of the Alps Tour order of merit are back to Egypt this week thanks to their results in 2016. Franck Daux won back to back event in Sokhna last February, Matt Wallace wont the event in Cairo and David Carey, third at the ODM took the final invit. Antoine Schwartz, Alps Tour member, earns his invit thanks to a win in January.
They are more than 30 Alumni from Alps Tour to be in the field this week to honour the Egypt to come back in Challenge Tour schedule. Among them, current European Tour member Clément Berardo who played the Open de Espana in Valderrama last week.
Famous names are on the banks of Red Sea such as 2010 Alps Tour winner, Matteo Delpodio, and past years graduates, Jérôme Lando-Casanova, Matthieu Pavon, Darius Van Driel, Damien Perrier, Gareth Shaw, Steven Brown, Jason Barnes and Victor Riu.
Challenge Tour trusted Ali Mohamed, the golf manager, to organise a great event and Simon Higginbottom, Challenge Tournament Director, confirmed Alps Tour’s knowledge of the venue, thanks to its Director, Estelle Richard, was a great support.
