9th May 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Perfect day to score low at Valdeluz, four share the lead at -10
Contenders of the Alps de Las Castillas in Spain took advantage of the perfect weather conditions to go low in the first round at Golf de Valdeluz (Guadalajara). Chill and strong winds experienced yesterday during the Pro-Am (won by the team of Italian Luca Cianchetti) gave way today to sunshine and milder temperatures, more appropriate in this season and in this part of the world, and 117 players scored under par (out of 144).
The course, situated some 60 km North-East of Madrid, showed some kindness to most of the players, leaving them plenty of birdie chances – statistics report a total of 843 birdies and 53 eagles on 18 holes – with only few bogeys (299) to stain their cards. On top of the leaderboard seat four players: a duo of young French rookies, Pierre Pineau, 19 years old from Paris La Boulie and Edgar Catherine, 20, from Aix-en-Provence, who returned two very similar bogey-free scores, both with eagle on hole 11 (a par 5) and eight birdies; Order of Merit leader, Spaniard Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez, 30, with one eagle (hole 14), one bogey (hole 17) and 9 birdies; and experienced Frenchman Xavier Poncelet, 33, from Bordeaux, who finished his front nine with an eagle-2 at hole 18 and totalled eight birdies, five of them in a row towards the end of his round, from hole 4 to 8.
« It was pretty good round – sayd Pineau, who has played 4 out of 6 tournaments in-money with 2 top-tens – my long game was not great today but chipping and putting was very solid. I made a good eagle on 11 holing a 5 metres putt, and a 20 mt putt on 17 for birdie brought me to minus 9, giving me the sprint to finish with another birdie on 18. Tomorrow’s strategy will be the same as today, hit as many drivers as I can trying to repeat the same solid short game ».
« I didn’t have to make really long putts today – said Edgar, number 35 in the Order of Merit after six tournaments – the longest were from 5 metres at hole 6 and 10 metres for par at 16, otherwise I was generally pretty close to the hole. My eagle came after a super drive, 136 mt to the flag, I hit my wedge at 1.5 metres and made the putt. All my game was pretty regular and tuned today, during my practice rounds I realized that the course could give good chances to score low – which is always good fun in tournaments! – and I thought that I should try and be among those who would go a lot under par… which I did, so I’m happy I’ve reached this first goal ».
« I’ve played very well and solid the whole day – said Garcia Rodriguez, who won three weeks ago in Italy and was second in a Challenge Tour event in Spain, last week – the course is in good conditions and I could hit the ball the way I wanted. It’s obviously a favourable moment for me, I’m trying to accumulate as many points as I can in order to keep the top positions in the Order of Merit and have an easier second part of the season for grabbing one of the card for the Challenge Tour ».
« Today? It was obviously very good!! – loughed Poncelet, who debuted in the Alps Tour in 2009 – my driving above all, but everything worked really well, I’ve hit 18 greens in regulation or better. Tomorrow I think it will depend much on the wind, today in the afternoon it picked up quite a lot – I haven’t played this course with no wind yet, so we will see. This year I didn’t start the season at my best, I think I was still suffering from the final place of last season – one outside those admitted to the Challenge Tour – so I’ve changed a couple of things during the winter, and now all the pieces are finally coming together ».
Alps de las Castillas, promoted by JGolf 18.0, is possible thanks to the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, Castilla La Mancha Federation, Castilla y León Federation, La Liga 4Sports, the Consejo Superior de Deportes, and the collaboration of Kyocera, Bodegas Barbadillo (official wine), Agropecuaria Fraile, Asendia, Volvo Auto Elia, Wilson Staff, IT Regalos.
1st round results: click here
2nd round draw : click here
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10th September 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
French amateur Edgar Catherine claimed maiden win
Amateur Edgar Catherine, 19, claimed maiden title in a pro event. He kept nerves of steel during last round while the overnight leader, Antoine Rozner, dropped 4 shots on the last 2 holes. Catherine signed for 66 final round and eventually recorded a 5 shot win in Citadelle Trophy Preisch. Spain(s David Borda completed the podium with -11.
Rozner was confident but he said yesterday that nothing was done and that 18 holes to play is still a long way to go for a win. He learned the lesson the hard this Sunday.
« I am really and now I will enjoy this moment because I have had tough months. I can not say I am surprised to win a pro event, I have been working for this a lot. »
Despite his second position, Antoine Rozner could enjoy to enter the Alps Tour top 5. France’s Ugo Coussaud confirmed his leadership, he fired 63, -9 today, the best ever played on this golf course. At second place, Spanish amateur Adria Arnaus, then Lars Van Meijel of Netherlands and French duo Antoine Rozner and Robin Roussel.
9th September 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Rozner took advantage of moving day in France
Antoine Rozner (pict TV Sport Events)took the lead very early during this moving day. The player from Paris signed for 68, -4 for -12 total in Citadelle Trophy Preisch.
« Unfortunately, as I just finished my round I still have in mind back to back bogey on 17th and 18th but still, it was a really good day. I made very few mistakes, until the 16th hole I did not drop any shot. It was a nice day with six birdies and the course defends itself pretty well.
I am in the race for a title and tomorrow I will give everything.
I had no choice but to see the leaderboards, they are big adn you have to deal with but with my playing partner, Edgar, we were focused on our round. What is important is to play well, not to look at what others can do because you can not control them. If someone shot 10 under tomorrow, big applause to him but I am in a good position. »
On his toes, a group of three players, France’s JB Gonnet, former European Tour player, David Borda of Spain and French amateur Edgar Catherine. They are only one shot further. Autria’s Lukas Nemecz is -10 and is a real threat to Rozner as he won this season.
7th September 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Gonnet shot low during day 1 in Preisch
Former European Tour Player, France’s Jean-Baptiste Gonnet fired 65 during first round of Citadelle Trophy International-Golf de Preisch. To complete the 100% French podium, amateur Edgar Catherine and Louis Cohen-Boyer with 66.
Gonnet lost his privilege on European Tour a few years ago after 7 full seasons to play. He described his joy to shot so low after time of doubt.
« I am really fine thank you. I had a 4 week break without hitting a ball. I needed to make this pause as we had many back to back events in spring and early summer. To come back on Alps Tour and shot 65 is not kind of a surprise as I have been playing for a while but I am really pleased. I am very confident in my game system and I do not need to practice as much as I used to. It is very efficient.
My game is great, I feel alive again. You know I almost quit the game two years ago and I would never thought to play this good again. I am pleased to have meet my coach Antoine Maisonhaute. It would not have been possible without him. »
At 4the place tie, another former European Tour player Anthony Snobeck. The latter shot 67 alongside Spain’s David Borda and Austria’s Clemens Gaster.
