Pavon defeated Piris in Italy

Matthieu Pavon from France

France’s Matthieu Pavon won his second Alps Tour title, the 2015 Servizitalia Open, defeating Spain’s Gerard Piris after third extra-hole. With this win, Pavon took the lead of the Alps Tour ranking.

Pavon seemed to be untouchable for a while during the last round. He had a 3 shot advantage and the challengers could not catch up with him. But in the second last group, Gerard Piris, 4 shots back, stroke an amazing shot on the 16th par 5 and he holed for albatross. Suddenly, Pavon only had a small edge over the Spaniard.

The drama was not at its end as the Frenchman dropped a shot on the very last hole and had to play against Piris in a play-off. Both players had one win on the Alps Tour. Pavon in 2013 and Piris this season last May.

The 9th hole was the scene of the duel in the sun. They both holed for birdie on their first and second try but Pavon did one shot better on his third attempt and he defeated his opponent.

With this win and the results of this last event to get the Stage 1 exemption, one player could regret having missed the cut, France’s Léo Lespinasse. He has been in the top 6 all the season and slide the the 7th place.

One man’s loss is another one’s gain and Gerard Piris enters the precious top 6. Matt Pavon, Harry Casey, Damien Perrier, Josh Loughrey, Andrea Maestroni and Gerard Piris are the players who will directly play the European Tour Q School stage 2 in November.

This is summer break for Alps Tour, next tournament is in Spain beginning of September.