Alps Tour Golf | 2019 March

31st March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf

Italian rookie Scalise leads by one at New Giza

Weather conditions were milder today in Egypt at New Giza Golf for the second round of the New Giza Open, although still not what you would expect in this part of the world, with the wind blowing at peaks of 30 km/h and temperatures fluctuating between 13° and 18°.

Whatever the weather, it was another perfect day for Italian rookie Lorenzo Scalise, who added a 66 (7 birdies and one single bogey) to the 68 he signed yesterday and is now one stroke clear of Dutch Lars Keunen. With eight birdies and one bogey Keunen, 21, at his second year on Alps Tour, climbed five positions on the leaderboard – yesterday he was tied 7th with a 70 (-2) – and is now owner of the new course record, 65 (-7).

Alone in third position at -7, is rookie Frenchman Pierre Pineau (71-66), 19, also successful at the Qualifying School last December as Scalise and Parisian Frederic Lacroix, who sits in fourth position at -6 (72-66) tied with first-round leader Julien Foret. Lacroix, winner of the first tournament of the season at Sokhna, the Ein Bay Open, today climbed 19 steps in the rankings (he was tied 25th yesterday) ; his same second-round score 66 was posted by Argentinian Martin Contini (9th place, at -4) and Spaniard Angel Hidalgo Portillo (15th place, at -3).

« I’ve played even better than yesterday – said Scalise, 23 – the quality of my shots was certainly higher and I hit my drives well, this was one of the goals I had for the day ; I’ve also made some more putts, which always helps. The first holes were the key, I’ve started strong – I was minus 3 after 6 although it was cold and quite windy, and then in the front nine (my back nine actually, since I’ve started from hole 10) from hole 2 to 5 I could save pars and take advantage of two more birdies. Now I’m exactly where I wanted to be, on top, and if I can keep this rythm it will certainly be an interesting and amusing day ».

Fifty players made the cut on level par, among them only the 4 amateurs will not share the 40,000 euros prize money at stake.

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30th March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf

New Giza proves to be an excellent test with Frenchman Foret leading at -5

Although the first round could not be completed due to darkness – a couple of teams will have to finish tomorrow morning – we can already say that the verdict is unanimous : New Giza is a real gem, a spectacular course and a true test of golf.

Players are enthusiastic about the new venue chosen by Alps Tour for the New Giza Open, the second tournament of the March Winter Series, taking place in Cairo, Egypt. Only four months after its inauguration, New Giza Golf is hosting its first pro tournament, and although the severe weather conditions put to the test the players – especially those playing in the morning, with wind (and sand) blowing with gusts of 45 km/h – they all had words of praise for the work of art made by designer Tim Lobb.

While Spaniard Manuel Elvira was the best of the morning draw, at -3, scores improved a bit during the afternoon with the wind calming down, and Frenchman Julien Foret could take advantage of it by posting a spotless 67 (-5) with five birdies, which becomes the first record of the course. « When you score minus 5 in those hard conditions, you are satisfied by all means – said Foret, 36, winner of Open de Fes in 2006. « Everything worked really well for me from tee to green, and in the last five-six holes the wind was less strong; of course I could have done better, but I’m really happy. The course is outstanding, since I first came here I fell in love with it, the first practice day I’ve played 27 holes! Hats off to Alps Tour for choosing such a great venue, and to the designer for the fantastic job he did».

Alone in second position is Italian rookie Lorenzo Scalise, at -4 (one eagle, 5 birdies and 3 bogeys), also playing in the afternoon. « I’ve started solid with a birdie on the first hole, I knew I had to attack on the front nine because the strong wind was actually helping to reach the greens. I made a couple of stupid mistakes from the tee, a lack of concentration maybe, and I’ve hit fairway bunkers – something you really cannot afford to do here, but I’ve also made some 2-3 metres putts, something you cannot take for granted in the wind », conceded Scalise, 23, with a strong amateur career in the Italian team. « On the back nine I’ve played better, even if I left a couple of shots here and there ; I’m very happy with my 68, which would be a good score in the sunny weather and even more so today ». The course? «Fantastic and in great conditions, although it is very young ».

In third position at -3 (69), together with Elvira, are Italian Edoardo Lipparelli, Swiss Arthur Ameil-Planchin and Dutch Lars Van Meijel.

Final results of the first round will be finalised when the six players who had to leave the course due to darkness will play the last couple of holes, tomorrow morning at 7:00.

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27th March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf

Sweet winning feeling for Nemecz

Austrian Lukas Nemecz, 29, is the third winner of the 2019 Alps Tour season after catching the biggest prize in the Dreamland Pyramids Open, the first of the three tournaments of the “Second Swing” of the Egypt Winter Series hosted by three different venues in Cairo.

Nemecz was already leading yesterday on Dreamland GC with a three strokes margin, and he kept the same advantage today finishing on 204 (-12) with a final round in 70 (-2), three strokes clear of Italian Edoardo Lipparelli, 22, author of a great comeback from 10th position with a bogeyfree 66 (-6). In third position, on -8, his fellow compatriot Lorenzo Scalise, 23 (a 66 on last round for him, too) tied with brilliant French amateur Thomas Le Berre, 23, and Englishman James Sharp, 27, who dropped one position compared to the previous day with a 71 (-1).

«I’ve not been playing as good as the previous two days» said Nemecz, from Graz, winner of Gosser Open in 2017, «I did not hit as many fairways, but I’ve putted well – the greens are very difficult here! – and that kept me in the game. I remained very patient although in the end it was pretty close – on the 15th tee I was only one stroke clear of Lipparelli – but then I had two birdies on 15 and 16, so the gap was more comfortable».

«I think the key was actually the big move I made yesterday, a three strokes margin of course made it easier. Last year I was struggling with my putting, I’ve done a lot of work in the winter with my coach and it is really great that it has paid off already. Obviously I’m very very happy, also because now I’ve reached my younger brother Tobias (who had 2 wins on Alps Tour in 2014, ed.)!».

Nemecz is now leading the 2019 Order of Merit with 9.541 points after three tournaments, followed by rookie Frenchman Frederic Lacroix (winner of the first tournament of the season, Ein Bay Open, and 25th at Dreamland) with 7.092 points.

The Alps Tour will resume in just three days with the New Giza Open on a different venue, spectacular New Giza Golf Club.

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26th March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf

Nemecz back to old form, leads by three

A familiar name is sitting on top of the leaderboard, after the second round of the Dreamland Pyramids Open hosted by Dreamland Golf Club, in Cairo. Austrian Lukas Nemecz, 29, is doing very well in Egypt and on the tour where his career started, in 2013: he has added a spotless 66 (-6, with four birdies and one eagle) to the 68 he scored yesterday and, with a total of -10, has a comfortable three-strokes advantage over Englishman James Sharp, 27, winner of Cervino Open in 2017, and Argentinian Leandro Marelli, 27, member of the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica and looking for some experience in our Continent.

Nemecz has spent the last few years on the European and Challenge Tours with some mixed results, and is motivated to climb the Alps Tour ranking again to go back to the « First Division » having accumulated more experience: in the First Swing of the Winter Series last February, in Sokhna, he already recorded a 7th and a 6th place, so the premises are all there.

“It was a perfect day, really”, said Nemecz, who lives in Graz and is attached to Murhof Golf Club, “no bogeys and a nice eagle on hole n. 2 (his 11th), a par 5. I was probably helped by playing in the morning, with less wind. I already knew this course – and I like it! – because I had played this tournament back in 2015, when I had a top-ten finish”.

The cut fell on level par, leaving 43 players in contention (three amateurs among them) and fighting for the 40,000 euros prize money at stake.

The venue

DREAMLAND PYRAMIDS OPEN, 25-27 March
The Dreamland Golf Course is a world class facility located just a few minutes away from the Great Pyramids. The layout of the course was designed by the world renowned architect, Karl Litten and in 2010 the course was redesigned by popular Irish architect David Jones. At present it consists of 36 beautifully manicured challenging holes. The Championship Course in total measures an impressive 7,205 yards that can be played from five sets of tees, as well as a floodlit driving range. http://dreamlandgolf.com/

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25th March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf

Grimal starts off on the right foot

An overcast sky, cool temperatures and strong winds, with gusts of 30 km/h welcomed the opening round of Dreamland Pyramids Open, which started today at Dreamland Golf Club in Cairo, Egypt. It is not suprising then, that only 32 players scored under par: the best of them all was Frenchman Benjamin Grimal, 27, a rookie for Alps Tour but on his second season as a touring pro, who signed a 66 (minus 6) with 7 birdies and a single bogey towards the end of his round, on hole 8, a par-three (his 17th).

The weather conditions progressively improved during the day and Grimal might have taken advantage of them, having started his round in the last team, at 13:25, but his performance was nonetheless impressive as he ended the 18 holes with 2 strokes margin over six players – Austrians Ralph Leitner, 20; Timon Baltl, 23; and Lukas Nemecz, 29; Italian Alessandro Grammatica, 29 (who, in the last 5 holes, had one double bogey, 2 bogeys and 2 birdies!); Swiss Arthur Ameil-Planchin, 24 and Dutch Lars Van Meijel, 24 – which all scored 68.

« I’ve putted really well today – said Grimal – « all day I was not really attacking the flags but just trying to hit the greens since my iron game has not been very good lately; I’ve sinked a couple from 11 metres and a few from 3-4 metres, so that was really the key. The greens were not very fast, and you had to be careful on your approach shots and hitting the greens from the good angle. I’m very proud of the way I have played, I’m back after a very difficult year when I had serious injuries and I thought I might not be able to play again, so it is a great feeling ».

Tomorrow the weather forecasts are a bit more favourable, with less wind and milder temperatures in the 20s degrees; at the end of the day, only the best 40 players and ties will be admitted to the final round and to share the 40,000 euros prize money.

The venue
The Dreamland Golf Course is a world class facility located just a few minutes away from the Great Pyramids. The layout of the course was designed by the world renowned architect, Karl Litten and in 2010 the course was redesigned by popular Irish architect David Jones. At present it consists of 36 beautifully manicured challenging holes. The Championship Course in total measures an impressive 7,205 yards that can be played from five sets of tees, as well as a floodlit driving range. http://dreamlandgolf.com/

Stay tuned! www.wp-alpstour.ocs-sport.com and the app « Alps Tour Golf » (on App Store for iOS devices and Play Store for Android) will keep you updated on every news about Alps Tour.

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23rd March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf

Egypt & Pyramids on stage for the Second Swing of the Winter Series

In a couple of days, the Alps Tour schedule will rhyme with great golf and spectacular views on Egyptian pyramids. After a three-weeks break, our Rising Stars are gathering again for the Second Swing of the Winter Series: three tournaments in a row, played from March 25th to April 6th, with a field of 132 players for each venue; three different courses around Caire, with breath-taking sights of the pyramids: Dreamland Pyramids Open from 25 to 27 March on Dreamland GC, New Giza Open from 30 March to 1 April on New Giza GC – a new spectacular venue inaugurated last October – both on the West side of Cairo; and Katameya Dunes Open from 4 to 6 April, on the Lakes Course of Katameya Dunes (a Sir Nick Faldo’s design), on the East side of the Egyptian capital.

Our players are coming from all over the world, literally, with 19 nationalities represented, to test two courses for the first time, New Giza and Katameya, which are new additions to the Alps Tour schedule, while Dreamland is an « old friend » of Alps Tour, having hosted one of our tournaments the last time back in 2016, when our most brilliant rising star – Matt Wallace – won the first of his six titles of that year and started his stellar career towards Challenge and European Tour, where he is now 10th in the Race to Dubai.

All of the hottest players of the moment are already at Dreamland Golf Course, looking to accumulate points and high rankings from the start of the season; all eyes are on the first two winners of 2019, Frenchman rookie Frederic Lacroix, 24, and more experienced Englishman Ben Wheeler, 26, but also Italian Edoardo Lipparelli, 22, looks in great shape having just won the French Qualifying School with a large margin – 6 strokes – over Spaniard Xavi Puig Giner, and 8 strokes over fellow compatriot Michele Cea: they will all be admitted to play the four Challenge Tour events hosted in France this year, and of course they’re all in Egypt competing in the three Alps Tour tournaments, which boast a 40,000 euros prize money each.

The venues

NEW GIZA OPEN, 30 March-1 April
The highly anticipated New Giza signature golf course is well worth the wait. The 200-acre, 18-hole designer golf course is designed by award-winning Thomson, Perrett and Lobb and seamlessly melds the natural terrains creating an inspiring environment for all players, professionals and amateurs alike. Teeing off with views of the Great Pyramids of Giza is no longer a fantasy. As a particularly exquisite touch, the course is surrounded by a 4km walkway encouraging people to walk for health and leisure.
http://www.newgiza.com/life#golf-clubs-6-october-newgiza

KATAMEYA DUNES OPEN, 4-6 April
Created by nature – designed by golfing legend Sir Nick Faldo. Katameya Dunes is a masterpiece of golf course design, from the spectacular to the subtle. Katameya Dunes comprises the Lakes Course (7,435 yards) and the Palms Course (6,767 yards), with five tee positions to provide a challenge suited to any standard of golfer, from the beginner to the mid-handicappers and tour players. The rolling fairways, spectacular views from elevated tees and the challenge of raised greens are just part of the golfing experience at Katameya Dunes. As the unbroken sunshine sparkles off lakes and fountains, take your golfing enjoyment to a new level. http://www.katameyadunes.com/

Click here for the field of the Dreamland Pyramids Open

Click here for the field of the New Giza Open

Click here for the field of the Katameya Dunes Open

Stay tuned! www.wp-alpstour.ocs-sport.com and the app « Alps Tour Golf » (on App Store for iOS devices and Play Store for Android) will keep you updated on every news about Alps Tour.

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