Back to back win for Wallace

England’s Matt Wallace led from start to finish in the Tunisian Golf Open at El Kantaoui to claim his second straight victory on the Alps Tour.

After earning his maiden title in Egypt in February, the 26-year-old Londoner continued his impressive run of form, shooting a final round 70 for a 72-hole total of 12-under-par and a two stroke victory over Italian Enrico Di Nitto.

“It’s been an amazing week. I’ve always wanted to go wire-to-wire as a professional so to be the first round leader and the last round leader and be at the top the whole way, it’s always been a massive goal of mine so I’m really happy,” said Wallace, who thanked his caddie, Reece Phillips, for keeping him cool and calm over the weekend.

“I wouldn’t say I was nervous but I knew Enrico would make some birdies coming in. I’m absolutely thrilled with the way I composed myself and played steady until the end and that’s a credit to my caddie as well, Reece, who’s helped me out for the last two days.”

Five strokes clear at the turn, Wallace had steady pars on the tricky 10^th and 11^th before making a clutch 12 footer for par on the 12^th to stay five ahead. His lead was cut to three after Di Nitto birdied the 13^th and 14^th but the Englishman made a crucial birdie putt on 15 to establish a four stroke lead.

After both players made par on the short 16^th, they headed to the uphill par-4 17^th where Wallace made another sensational birdie putt across the green before De Nitto converted his.

There was more drama on 18 after Wallace’s drive came to rest under a tree, but he hit an excellent approach shot to the green and, despite taking three putts to finish the hole, was delighted, commenting: “my best bogey ever.”

De Nito’s final hole was equally impressive as he holed a monster birdie putt to finish in solo second.

With his win, Wallace took a huge lead over Frenchman Franck Daux on the Alps Tour Order of Merit and said: “I just want to keep playing well. I love the Alps Tour, it’s a great platform. I was as nervous out there as I’ve ever been but you keep learning and I’ve learnt so much on the Alps Tour and I can hopefully take that on to the Challenge Tour and then European Tour after.”

From El Kantaoui
Agathe Séron
Quotes courtesy of Bethan Cutler