27th September 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Van Driel finally won in France
Netherlands’ Darius Van Driel finally broke the curse and won his maiden trophy thanks to level par final round. With this win, he jumps on top of the Alps Tour ranking. Ties for second place France’s Jean-Pierre Verselin and Damien Perrier.
Van Driel was in the overnight leader with a two stroke advantage over local hero, Alex Kaleka. The latter started the best way with a birdie on the first hole and his playing partner dropped two shots in a row on 3rd and fourth. Van Driel struggled to enter the round and Kaleka was in control. At the turn, the two men were -10 and it seemed that once again, Van Driel couldn’t lift a trophy. During the last 3 weeks, he was each time in contention and finished 3rd, 2nd, 2nd.
But this time, the bad dream was for Kaleka. He had two awful holes as he made double bogey on the 12th and triple on the 13th. His hope just blew up and Van Driel holed pars until the end to finally won his maiden win.
France’s Damien Perrier, in the last group last Sunday, did a perfect come back with flawless 65, -6 to record his second runner-up place and his seventh top 5 of the season.
Josh Loughrey lost his leadership at the Alps Tour ranking despite a nice fourth place.
26th September 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Van Driel finally ?
Netherlands Darius Van Driel is in contention for victory for the third week in a row. He leads the Marcilly Open with -11 by 2 shots over local playing pro France’s Alex Kaleka.
Darius Van Driel recorded four runner places this season and last Sunday, during prize giving ceremony, he was told by the officials that his turn has now come. Solid and consistent in Marcilly, he scored 66 during first round and 65 today to lead by 2 shots over France’s Alex Kaleka.
The latter signed for flawless 65 in his own garden. The Frenchman is the local hero and he even has a course named Kaleka in Marcilly Golf Club.
Third man on the provisionnal podium is Scot John Henry with -7 total thanks to 68 second round. The cut felt at level par.
18th September 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Perrier sparkled in Poitiers
Damien Perrier of France Credit: Tristan Jones
France’s Damien Perrier took the lead after opening round of Open International du Haut-Poitou with 69, -4. Fellow countryman Alex Kaleka and Spain’s Daniel Osorio are one shot back.
Poitiers is west of France and fall has arrived early this year, with rain, wind and low temperatures. Heavy rain flooded the course of Saint Cyr on Monday and Wednesday. The weather conditions during this first round was tough. Fair for one hour, then windy in the morning and a few showers of heavy rain all afternoon. Play had to be suspended for 45 minutes at 13h40 and 4 groups could not complete their round.
During morning session, Spain’s Daniel Osorio signed for best provisional score 70. He equalized his best score, -3, in fourth appearance in Saint-Cyr.
“It was a tough day because it was very windy. On my front nine, I played really bad, poor iron game, but it was weird because I chipped in on the second for birdie and I holed a bunker shot for birdie as well for birdie. Eventually, on the back nine, I started to play better. I made two good birdies so I recorded 70, -3.
The golf course is very demanding. It looks easy but you have to hit straight from the tee otherwise you have no shot to the green. And with this new tee on the 17th, which used to be an easy birdie hole, it is now a tough challenging par 5.”
France’s Alex Kaleka joined Osorio at the very end of the day and his playing partner, Damien Perrier signed for the best score, 69, -4.
“You know, last week when I missed the cut it was the fist time since march 2014!!! I am very consistent, my statistics before last week were excellent and I was second at the ranking without a win.
I fell confident and I started to hole some good putts for birdies, on second I holed 6 meters, about 5 meters on the third. I never had to save a par. It was a good day. I had 32 putts and the score is there.”
Alps Tour leader Josh Loughrey scored 74, +1 and projected cut is +2.
