Rota and Hill in the race for maiden win

It was a day to break every ones nerves. France’s Michael Hill and Italian Andrea Rota were the strongest in the wind and lead the Open International du Haut Poitou with -2 total. The wind was strong all day. On course the feeling was different, every group though it was easier for the others but scores proved it was balanced for morning and afternoon draws. A group of 4 players are only one stroke behind the lead. England’s Jordan Gibb who signed for 70, 3 under in the morning, last week winner Jason Kelly and France’s Clément Gallois and fellow Emilien Chamaulte.

Romain Bechu shot the score of the day 69 to share 7th place with amateur Ugo Cossaud two shots back of Hill and Rota.

Andrea Rota played in the morning and felt satisfied as his second round was completed.

“I am happy, I managed to keep same behaviour as yesterday on course. It was tough and I have made some mistakes and bogeys but everybody did. The wind is strong and scoring only one over par is good. I am satisfied. I miss one or two birdies to be very happy…”

Michael Hill has been playing good for a few weeks now and he confessed that he had never felt so closed for maiden win.

“I played really solid, I only miss one shot. I know the course very well as I have played it often. It is a real weapon against the others players. I’ve been working with a mental coach, Olivier Cadeac, for 2 months now and the results are there. We found keys to help me staying focus on course and to understand when I go down or up.”

Finally, Emilien Chamaulte, who has played the French Open last week, enjoyed the course very much. Compare top the Albatross Golf National, he felt relax. Unfortunalty, he dropped 2 shots on the last hole and was angry about him despite third place tied.

“Even if I am still on the podium, I am disappointed. I really thought the leaders would be way lower and I missed the opportunity to take large advantage. I played so well on my first 9 but I did my first big mistake one the 10th. I had a mile free of danger on the left and found a way to be on the right in a ditch. I tried to play in the water. My white trousers got ruined and I stayed in the water. I finished even as bad with a double bogey on the 9th. I hit my second shot out of bounds… But still, I am in the leading pack…”

The cut is recored at +9, the highest cut on Alps Tour history. Last record was on same course with +7.

At Saint Cyr, Haut Poitou
Agathe Séron