1st June 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Palmer overhauls Marguery for emotional Grado win
England’s Jason Palmer with former Ryder Cup player and European Tour winner Costantino Rocca (c) Claudio Scaccini.
Jason Palmer dedicated his two-shot Friuli Venezia Giulia Open victory to his late father after the Englishman carded a superb final-round six-under-par 66 to overhaul France’s Raphael Marguery on Saturday.
Palmer’s three birdies in his final six holes and mistake-free last round in contrast to overnight leader Marguery (70), whose two-shot advantage starting the day disappeared with a double bogey at the par-five ninth, took the Englishman to his first win since 2010 and top of the order of merit.
More poignantly Palmer told a large crowd at the presentation ceremony that the triumph was for his father, who passed away in January.
“I could never make him proud enough. So Dad, this is for you,” said Palmer, holding back the tears after former Ryder Cup player Costantino Rocca presented him with the trophy.
“I played really solid all day and I knew I was swinging it well because the first two days everything was working,” added Palmer, who moved above Spain’s Jesus Legarrea to take top spot in the money standings thanks to his 15-under Grado Open total.
While visibly disappointed about letting his lead slip, Marguery was full of hope for the rest of the season.
“A few mistakes cost me really bad today, especially after such a good start, but I’m proud of the way I fought until the end,” said Marguery.
“I think good things will happen as a result of this and I can’t wait to get back on the course,” added the Frenchman, delighted to have been in contention on the final day for the first time.
Tied with Marguery in second place were England’s Ben Evans (68) and Austria’s Lukas Nemecz (65), who hit the shot of the day with a wedge on the par-three fourth for another hole-in-one.
“It’s already my 10th ace I think, so I guess I’m a lucky guy,” said the grinning 23-year-old.
Brendan McCarroll posted the round of the day early on with a stunning nine-under 63, that included a booming drive to reach the 17th green.
“Not bad, missed a few putts,” said the Irishman, whose tied-fifth finish kept him fourth in the order of merit and edged him further ahead of Spain’s Borja Etchart.
From Grado
Tom Pilcher
Golfmanager Press Agency
31st May 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Marguery stretches Grado Open lead over English duo
France’s Raphael Marguery (c) Agathe Séron
Raphael Marguery posted a solid four-under-par 68 in the second round of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Open on Friday to move two strokes clear of England’s Jason Palmer and Ben Evans as the Frenchman seeks a first Alps Tour victory.
Marguery’s 36-hole total of 11-under put him clear of Palmer, who had the round of the day with a seven-under 65 and Evans (66), while another Englishman in Laurie Canter and Slovenia’s Matjaz Gojcic were two shots further back on seven-under.
Ireland’s Brendan McCarroll (71), fourth in the order of merit, was tied-24th on two-under as he seeks to move up the standings with leader Jesus Legarrea and third-placed Borja Etchart in action on the Challenge Tour in Spain.
Marguery’s bad back, which has been a problem for two years, was again suffering after another day in unseasonably bad weather in northern Italy but the Frenchman was upbeat about his victory prospects.
“My back’s not great but I’m making do with it. I made a few small mistakes today so I’ll change my strategy for those holes,” said Marguery.
“In general the plan for tomorrow is the same though. I won’t try and seek perfection all the time when there’s no need. On some holes par is a good score, and hopefully the birdies will keep dropping,” he added.
Palmer, beaming broadly on the range after his round as he handed out tips to his compatriots, said he was hoping for better weather on Saturday after coping admirably with the often foul conditions on Friday morning.
“I’m not usually a good wet weather player, so I hope the rain stays away tomorrow,” said the Englishman, seeking a first win since 2010.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the mix, but I had a good last round last week when I wasn’t in contention,” added Palmer, who came joint-fourth at the rain-affected Umbria Open on Sunday after he shot a 67.
Evans said the key was holing out on the greens before hitting his tee shot at the tricky par-three 18th and then duly making his birdie putt to join Palmer on nine-under.
England’s Andrew Cooley, who won the first two events of the season but has since lost form, missed his fourth cut in five tournaments when he finished three shots behind the one-under mark.
Cooley was playing with former Ryder Cup player Costantino Rocca, a tournament invite, who carded a 76 for a 10-over total.
From Grado
Tom Pilcher
Golfmanager Press Agency
