20th October 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Morago takes half way lead in Miglianico
Spain’s David Morago took half way lead of the Grand Final presented by Axa. The 23 year old player added a 67 to his opening 65 to have one shot advantage at -10 over a pack of five players including overnight leader, Matt Wallace.
The latter had a shy day compare to his first round, he only signed for 70 although many players shot under 70.
Morago’s best results this season is a second place in Open de Saint François Guadeloupe and a podium in Frassanelle Open, both in June.
France’s rookies Richard Jouven and Alex Daydou, 66 and 65, admitted they could count on their putting.
« I tried to be aggressive when I could but what makes a difference between and solid day and a very good day is the putting », said Daydou.
« I had a slow start as I turn first nine level par but from the 10th to the 13th, I made three birdies and a good par on 11th so it kind of launched me. » Jouven explained.
England’s big hitter Andrew Cooley and Spain’s David Borda are among the group tie for second place. Cooley fired score of the day 63 and came back to the club house in 29.
10th September 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Maccario and Quintarelli on top at Preisch
Another duo to lead heading to final round of Citadelle Trophy International-Golf de Preisch. Italy’s Federico Maccario and fellow countryman Niccolo Quintarelli share pole position with -10 total.
England’s Andrew Cooley is one shot back.
Another beautiful day near Luxembourg border. Overnight leaders, Poncelet and Elissalde both failed to keep their status. The course beat them and none shot under par. Italian duo took this opportunity to lead thanks to great golf and scores. Maccario shot 66 thanks to 7 birdies and only one dropped shot on the 11th. His compatriot Quintarelli had more of a roller coster round with one double bogey and a bogey but still signed for 68 to join the leading score.
Big hitter Andrew Cooley shot the best score of the day 65 to be in contention for a 4th win on Alps Tour after three Egyptian titles. Matt Wallace shot one under today for 9th place tie. He is 5 shots back of the lead. A sixth win in a row might be difficult to achieve.
9th July 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Pitoni defeated Marguery in Brittany
Italy’s Stefano Pitoni defeated France’s Raphaël Marguery after first extra hole to seal his second victory this season. He won the inaugural Saint Malo Golf Open with -13 total. England’s Andrew Cooley is third on his own two shots back.
That was not an easy win. Pitoni started very well though with two birdies back to back but that was almost the only momentum of the day. He turned first nine two under par but did not manage to secure a leading score as France’s Marguery put pressure. He signed for 71, one under par.
It took 12 holes for the player from Versailles to catch up with the Italian. Marguery eventually took the leadership on his own thank to an eagle on the 15th. But he dropped back to back shot on the following holes. He holed for birdie on the last to record 68 and had to wait for Pitoni to finish to know if extra time on course was needed.
They both drove in the middle of the fairway playing the 18th as first extra hole. Then both went short of the green then hit the green in 3. Pitoni holed for birdie as Margeury missed it.
Thanks to this win Pitoni entered the Top 5 of Alps Tour ranking.
8th July 2016 | Alps Tour Golf
Pitoni soars 3 shots clear in Saint Malo
Stefano Pitoni increased his advantage heading to last round of Saint Malo Golf Open. He shot a five under par card 67, -12 total to stand 3 shots clear of England’s Andrew Cooley and France’s Raphaël Marguery.
It seems to be the year of multiple victories. Franck Daux had back to back wins in Egypt, Matt Wallace recorded five titles in seven tournament and this week, Pinoti is racing for second win after his triumph on home soil last month.
The 26 year old player from Rieti recorded the best score during opening round and he almost did as well today with six birdies and only one dropped shot.
Bit hitter Andrew Cooley, whose last victory was in Egypt in 2015, had the perfect round. A flawless 65 to share second place at -9 with France’s Raphaël Marguery. The latter is the only one on the provisional podium not to have lift a trophy during his pro career. He fired 67.
The cut felt at level
9th May 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Zemmer aims maiden title in Austria
Italy’s Aaron Zemmer (c) Tristan Jones
Italy’s Aaron Zemmer lighted the greens today to sign for flawless 68 for -9 total and lead by one stroke over big hitter England’s Andrew Cooley.
The 24 years old Italian player really tamed the greens of Maria Lankovitz Golf Course. He only had 28 putts during the second. It could have been lower but he holed six times his first putt meaning he struggled a bit to hit the greens in regulation.
Zemmer started the day the best way possible chipping in on the first hole a short par 5. He holed for birdie eight greens later after and had to wait another 9 holes to earn a stroke to the course. Zemmer best result on Alps Tour is a 4th place, twice. He finished at the position last month in Madrid.
He will play for his maiden win tomorrow against triple Alps Tour Winner, Andrew Cooley. Cooley is one of the longest player on Alps Tour and he managed today to really improve his driving accuracy to shoot 69 and to be -8 total.
Nikolaus Winner from Austria and the Italian player Niccolo Gaggero are one more shot further and a pack of 8 players are at -6.
Alps Tour leader Josh Loughrey just made the cut fixed at -2.
4th March 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Cooley Pharaoh in Cairo
Andrew Cooley (c) Agathe Séron
England’s Andrew Cooley is really the Alps Tour Pharaoh. He won his fourth title in Egypt, the Dreamland Pyramids Open thanks to final 67. He already won twice in 2013 and once last year.
He teed off one shot behind the overnight leaders Marguery and De Stefani. His start was the best he could have imagined as he birdied the first three holes.
“Well, I did not play very well last week but I had some good tips of Tom Sherreard and he really helped me out to get some good feelings on the range this morning and it kind of pay off.
Starting the round with three birdies did not mean it was my day but I knew I had to keep going, 3 wasn’t to be enough but that was the start I needed.”
He dug his advantage with brilliant and kind of lucky shot. On the 9th, after amazing drive, the few spectators cheered loudly an eagle two. He went -10 when closest competitor Raphaël Marguery was -6.
“I hit a good drive but it did not finish in a easy spot, I thought it was short of the bunker but I hit it hard enough to get over. It is your day when that kind of thing happens and I holed about 40 yards for eagle two, pretty fortunate.”
Despite his victories, Cooley did not manage to get his card to play on Challenge Tour. He confessed his game has to be more regular.
“Last year I had a wrist injury when we had sort of 5 or 6 tournaments close together, that wasn’t ideal. I need to be more consistent really. I don’t really have a consistent game, it is all or nothing but if I could just try get that consistency through the year hopefully pick up another win if I do play well.”
France’s Matthieu Pavon fired the best score of the day 66 to finish at second place.
“I am happy because it has been 3 weeks that I was playing well but my putting was very poor. But on the 10th hole, I holed about 8 meters and it was like a discloser and a relief. Thereafter, I holed some other putts and I had a nice round.”
Pavon leads the Alps Order of Merit after this winter series in Egypt. His compatriot Alexandre Widemann is second, England’s Andrew Cooley and Tom Shadbolt are respectively third and fourth and Frenchman Léo Lespinasse is a fifth place.
From Cairo
Agathe Séron
3rd March 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Marguery and De Stefani with narrow advantage
Corrado De Stefani (c) Agathe Séron
France’s Raphaël Marguery and Italy’s Corrado De Stefani share Dreamland Pyramids Open going into the final round. With a total of -6, they have a narrow advantage over Julien Foret and big hitter England’s Andrew Cooley.
Marguery played in the morning session in perfect conditions compare to the first round when he had to deal with the wind.
“ At the beginning of the round, my long game was not accurate but I putted really well. I hit my driver a little bit on the left or the right then my second shots were about the same but right away, good result on the greens. I holed 9 meters to start, then I did well on the following par 5. I mad a silly bogey on the 18th, my tenth of the day. I three putted it. But I holed about 10 meters on the first to come back.”
“Two weeks ago, I tried to understand what was wrong, but it did not bring some results so today, I decided not to analyse and to play with what I have. Today, the course was a bit simpler without the wind and I had good feelings on the four last holes so it is nice.”
De Stefani, who turned 22 last Sunday, had a very face when he was asked about his feelings. The young man is playing his second year on the Alps Tour and his best result so far is a 17th place.
“It has been obviously a nice day. This course suit me very well as I am playing very well from the tee and if you can hit some fairways here, lot of the work is done. And in addition my irons were ok and my putting very good so that is how it worked out.
I am looking forward for tomorrow. It is the first time for me to be in this side of the leaderboard and hopefully it will be a good experience.”
From Cairo
Agathe Séron
