Gösser Open, Cianchetti leads on -9 after first round

16 May, 2019 – Maria Lankowitz (Aut) – The 8th tournament on the 2019 Alps Tour season is well underway on its most historical venue, beautiful GC Erzherzog Johann at Maria Lankowitz, near Graz, in Austria, one of the most appreciated date by players and organization alike.

Italian Luca Cianchetti shot a stunning 63 – minus 9 – to take an early lead, which never changed during a day when the weather conditions changed from pretty calm and mild in the morning, to windy and freezing towards the end of the game. Tied on second place, one stroke back, are two players, Austrian Bernard Neumayer, 28, who took advantage of the « home factor » to shoot a very consistent, bogey-free 64 (eagle on hole n. 1 and six birdies), and Frenchman Paul Elissalde, 23, who stumbled in a bogey-6 on hole 16 but had previously a great stretch of birdies (eight) and was able to react with one more, on hole 17.

« It was a good round from the beginning, I was minus three after four holes – said Cianchetti, 23, who won last March his first event as a pro in Egypt (Katameya Open) and is now 9th in the seasonal ranking – my game was not top from tee to green but I’ve putted really well, that was the key today. I was a bit stop-and-go, with 4 birdies on the front nine, then an eagle on my 10th hole (the 1st) followed by two birdies in a row. I’m very satisfied for the way I’ve managed my game today, even when on my back nine the wind picked up a bit ; then I’ve finished with a birdie on the last hole for a minus 9, which is my personal record ! I’m feeling confident with my game, I think I can be competitive and I’ll try to continue in this way. I like this course very much, it is in great conditions from tee to green, it’s perfect ; and Maria Lankowitz is a very pleasant place to be, the weather was good today, I’m enjoying it very much. I’m looking forward for next two days”.

144 players teed off today (35 amateurs), and 63 shot under par – 13 more than last year, so proving the ever-increasing level of the game on the Alps Tour. The prize money at stake is 42,500 euros, with a cheque for the winner of 6,162 euros.

First round results: click here

Second round draw : click here

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