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
22nd February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Wallace in the race… Again! Richard Jouven co-leader
England’s Matt Wallace will play in last group for the second week in a row. He leads the Dreamland Pyramids Open 2016 with -5 total alongside French rookie Richard Jouven. A group of 3 players are two shots back, France’s Antoine Schwartz, David Carey of Ireland and England’s Andrew Jones.
The weather conditions were, once again, difficult. The wind was strong all day long and the temperature not as expected in this part of the world. The cut felt at +6, the second highest on Alps Tour for many years. It had been +7 once in Haut Poitou due to strong winds as well.
Wallace has another chance to grave his name on a trophy, the first in his career. He will have to fight again another Frenchman. Last week it was Franck Daux, tomorrow, Richard Jouven and his ultra experimented caddy Jude, previously on Henrik’s Stenson bag among other famous names. Wallace carded a second card level par after his opening 67 round. Jouven scored a second card under par, 69 to add to his first 70.
But the leaders’ bigger threat could come from their own country. Andrew Jones, playing only his second Alps Tour event, is on his toes. Jones had finished on the podium last week thanks to best score tie, -9. The man knows how to shoot low. Antoine Schwartz of France won in Egypt in January and is currently leading another european satellite tour.
21st February 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Big guns, Colombo (pict), Jones and Wallace to lead in Cairo
Big guns took commands in Dreamland Pyramids Open. Former European Tour player, Italy’s Federico Colombo and last week, respectively runner up and third Matt Wallace and Andrew Jones fired -5 in tough weather conditions.
Among the 3 leaders, only Colombo had the chance to tee off this morning in a quiet atmosphere. He holed 4 birdies and one eagle on the 15th as he only dropped one shot on par three 4th. Jones and Wallace confirmed their good form of the last week. Despite strong gusts of wind in the afternoon, they both managed to score 67 and Jones signed for flawless card.
France’s Raphael Marguery is one shot back. The Frenchman did begin his journey in Egypt with a very bad joke for the airlines company, his bag was delayed. He first borrowed some clubs then eventually got back his own set. He scored 68 without any dropped shot.
The projected cut is +2. Same weather conditions forecasted for second round.
