4th June 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Thomas Elissalde birdied extra hole to win in French Indies
France’s Thomas Elissalde won his second tittle in a year after his victory sealed in 2016 in Italy. The player from Biarritz handled the pressure of the play off the best way to defeat his opponents fellow countryman Anthony Renard and Italy’s Alessamdro Gramatica.
The latter had on shot advantage heading to the last round but his could not keep the pace on back nine and dropped one shot on the last hole to give hope to Renard and Elissalde. Anthony Renard fired 68, -3 and had to wait the last putt of the last group to enter extra time of play with Elissalde.
Elissalde was the strongest of the three and holed for birdie to win Open Saint François Guadeloupe.
« To do birdie to win in play-off, it is amazing »
Ugo Coussaud remains on top of Alps Tour ranking despite his week off and thanks to his win, Thomas Elissalde enters the top 5. Adria Arnaus, Lukas Nemecz and Lars Van Meijel complete the top respectively 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
3rd June 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Grammatica in the race for maiden win
Italy’s Alessandro Grammatica, -7 total, took pole position on his own heading to Open Saint François Guadeloupe last round. Overnight leader Robin Roussel is one shot back neck and neck with fellow countryman Thomas Elissalde.
Grammatica signed for best score of the day, 67.
« I played very well from the tee and on the greens as well. I started a little bit nervous this morning but after a birdie on the 13th, my 4th hole, I felt much more confidence and I played very round during the all round. But I know it is still a long way to go. »
The Italian player will play on Saturday to try to seal maiden win on Alps Tour.
France’s Raphaël Marguery is two shots back of the lead thanks to second round 68. The cut felt at +3 including 2 amateurs Jonathan Haykel and Martin Farfal.
Alps Tour leader Ugo Coussaud took a week of after his win in Paris and none of the top 5 will play final round. JB Gonnet, currently 6th and Robin Roussel 7th are the ones who could take advantage of it and improve their position.
23rd June 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Trio to lead in France, Grava, Tisserand and Grammatica
A group of 3 players share the lead of Open International de la Mirabelle d’Or with -4. France’s Thomas Grava (pict), amateur Hubert Tisserand and Italy’s Alessandro Grammatica.
Summer finally arrived in Europe but in a brutal way. Last week was sad and wet in Metz, about 17° C and today, the temperature was more than 30°C in the shade. Players suffered a lot from the heat.
Grava, 22, declared his 6 month work with mental coach is helping him a lot.
« I managed to play shot by shot. I understand way better the way I feel and what to do if stress comes. My putting was efficient. I took clear decisions and results are there. I only made one mistake today on the 16th, a par 3. But all in all, it was a nice round. »
Tisserand is a student of University of South Carolina, and had a solid 2015-2016 season. His stats on pars4 are really impressive, -6.
Grammatica, whose best result is a runner up place in 2012 in Italy, had six birdies and 2 bogeys to signed for -4.
A pack of 4 players is one shot behind, Nelson Da Silva, Uli Weinhandl, Fabien Marty and Lucas Vacarisas.
