Alps Tour Golf | Enoch ready to rock… as they say

Enoch ready to rock… as they say

On European Tour website they announced today “Enoch ready to rock”. True but first on the Alps Tour? Wales Rhys Enoch recorded narrow margin lead after second round of Red Sea Little Venice Open. He had a 70-stroke-card to overnight 67 to lead by one at -7. On his toes a pack of 3 players, last week winner England’s Andrew Cooley, fellow Tom Shadbold and Spain’s Gerard Piris Mateu.

Most of the leading players after one round had to face a 30 km per hour wind. It started to blow at 11:00 after pretty fair morning. But the wind was not the only trick Mother Nature played. A locust invasion forced officials to close the practice for a moment – a revival of the eighth Plague of Egypt – . Last time locusts came from Sudan to go to Israel was in 2006 and the only way to get ride of them before they eat all the grass is to burn tires. The smell and dark smoke make them leave.

Whatever, on course, none of the players realized what was going on. Spain’s Gerard Piris Mateu was the first leader at the club house after shooting great 67.

“I played well but most of all my putter was really hot today. I was not that close to the flags but I holed long putts. This year I will try to play Alps Tour and Challenge Tour on invitations.”

To join him at -6, two Englishmen Cooley and Shadbolt. Cooley fired 5 under on front nine and did not seem to play the same course and conditions than other players.

From Jaz Hotel on Red Sea banks
Agathe Séron

“I holed 10 meters for eagle on the first hole, that kind of thing puts you in a good mood for the day. I had a really good par on the 7th. I never saw the fairway, I had to chip with very bad stance and finally I holed” he said. Being asked about his new status “I don’t think my win gave me more confidence. I am just playing well.”

Tom Shadbolt has been pro now for 2 years. He played the Open 2011 and events on Challenge Tour and European Tour as well. He spent last year on Euro Pro Tour but still seeking for “real” maiden win.

“I never won a big tournament like this, nothing that can be compared.” He explained his skills in the wind : “My coach made me train hard to be used to work with the wind so it really helped me today. I had two nice putts but I was quite close to the flags for the others birdies.”

Finally, at the end of the day, already famous Rhys Enoch holed birdie on the 17th to take the lead by his own. He confessed he struggled a bit more than during first round.

“As it was windy, I knew it was going to be a tough day. I tried to stay calm. I knew I was playing well but I struggled a bit with left wind. I had 2 drop shots on my first four holes. One was bad luck and the other, a mistake. I drove in the waste area and I had to make a short stroke to go out. Can’t save par.” But the 24 year player with Celtic Manor logo on his shirt got back to business soon.

“Then on the 8th, a par 3 my ball was just 5 centimetres to the pin, an easy birdie! On the 9th, I holed 4 meters and turned front nine level par. I did a very shot on the 10th and almost hit the green but to day I hit more irons to place the ball.”

No less than 12 players are in 4 shots and tomorrow can be the stage of interesting battle on Red sea banks.

From Red Sea banks
Agathe Séron