Joannes takes control of Grand Final

Belgium’s Hugues Jr Joannes took the lead of the Alps Tour Grand Final today with a total of -11. Joannes made 8 birdies turning in the best card of the day (63, -8). 

The overnight leader David Borda (ESP) is one stroke behind (-10) while another Spaniard, Ivan Cantero Gutierrez, completes the podium (-9). 

« Today was just a day where everything fell into places I guess » Joannes said.  «  I did not start very well, I made 4 pars to start. Then, I made birdies on holes 5, 6 and 9 so I was 3 under through hole 9. And then I made birdies on holes 10, 11, 13, 14 and on 17 where I nearly made an eagle » Joannes explained. «  It was actually a really good day, I’m very pleased with it. The course is very nice, it can be tricky at times but it’s a really fun course to play. You have to hit good tee shots and obviously you have to putt well which I did today so it was a lot of fun » he continued.  «  We’ll see what happens in the next few days, the tournament is still long, there are still 2 more rounds to play, I’ll try to keep doing what I’m doing and if I do what I did in the last 2 days, it should be good » 29-year-old Joannes concluded.  

«  I did not play very well the front 9 as I made 9 pars, I missed a lot of putts » Borda said. «  It was a tough day, I struggled all day. I made a good birdie on hole 11 and then I got my good game back and made 2 birdies at the end. I’m pretty happy about the result today » he explained. «  I think I had a good round to head into the weekend and stay in contention » the Spaniard concluded.  

The top 50 players of the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking, are competing against each other through Sunday to determine the overall winner of the season.  The winner of the Grand Final will get 11,000 points while the runner up will grab 7,000 points. Following this week’s Grand Final, the top 5 of the ranking will take a full category on the Challenge Tour next year. 

Weather conditions were again sunny today at the Golf Club Des Iles Borromées with warm temperatures in the afternoon and practically no wind.

Tomorrow’s round 3 tee off is at 08h30 local time.