22nd February 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Van Meijel grabbed maiden win in Egypt
Dutch Lars Van Meijel grabbed maiden win in Egypt. He won the Red Sea Little Venice Open with -13 total thanks to last round 68. Italy’s Jacopo Vecchi Fossa was at same score with 2 holes to play but eventually dropped back to back shots on the 17th and the 18th hole.
Lars Van Meijel was already in contention last week but did not succeed in lifting the big silver cup. This experience was for sure a precious one as he showed nerves of steel as he was leading the way since tee 1.
The young player from Netherlands had up to a 5 shot advantage during the last round but Vecchi Fossa, in the second last group was chasing him birdie after birdie. Still, the suspense was only on the leaderboard but on course, Van Meijel was 4 shots better teeing off the last hole than the leader at club house. He dropped 2 shots on 18th but could celebrate a first title as pro.
“I started really well, I played really good on the front nine. I just made a silly on the par 5 8th and I made some good birdies again. I had a really poor tee shot on the last hole and I made double. I have to admit it was because of emotion going for a win.
Compare to big amateur competitions there are not that many difference. The level is very hgh the only thing is that you are playing for money and every shots counts.”
Vecchi Fossa finished at second place and Gerard Piris Mateu, first day leader, completed the podium.
Lars Van Meijel with this win and a 4th place last week, is currently leading the Alps Tour order of Merit with 6425 points. Julien Brun is only 215 points back, with a win and a 5th place. Jacopo Vecchi Fossa is third, Alexandre Daydou, 4th and the 5th place goes to Xavier Poncelet.
20th February 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Spain’s Piris Mateu and Vacarisas co-leaders in Egypt
Spain’s Gerard Piris and Lucas Vacarisas took a two shot advantage after opening round 66, -6 at Red Sea Little Venice Open. A French duet is on their toes, Robin Roussel and Thomas Perrot signed for 68.
Weeks hopefully are not the same in Egypt. The nice weather came back on the banks of the Red sea, finally and the field enjoyed great playing conditions in Sokhna Golf Club.
Last week was all about Frenchmen, this week started with a Spanish demonstration. Both Piris and Vacarisas shot flawless 66 in the afternoon after best score of the morning sessions was -3 for a pack of players.
Piris admitted that even if he played really nice, he got some lucky results.
« Of course, when you shoot 6 under, you are very happy. I played very well and in this kind of day, you got lucky as well. I did not have any momentum but I played well during all round. I put the ball in play, I hit it close to the pins and I holed some putts.
I think this composite A&B is a little more difficult than B&C played last week. The leader was -8 and the wind has changed. »
One of the youngest player on Alps Tour, Lucas Vacarisas, 18, is sharing the lead with his elder.
« At first, I did not play that well but my putting was ok. Then my game was more and more consistent and I manage to play my game with thinking about the results. Honestly, It makes no difference that we already played 9 holes last week. My game was good during back nine and front nine. »
The projected cut -1 after one round. Last week winner, Julien Brun, had a shy day with level par and Maxime Radureau holed the second albatross since the Alps Tour arrived in Egypt. After Leo Lespinasse last week, Radureau holed a 2 iron shot on the 8th to signed for 69.
17th July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
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.
15th July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Kim starts hot in Italy
Joon Kim of Italy Credit: Tristan Jones
Italy’s Joon Kim signed for flawless 64, -8, to lead the 2015 Servizitalia Open by one stroke. Spain’s Gerard Piris had one dropped shot for a 65 card, third tie France’s Julien Gressier and Matt Pavon who both signed for 66.
The sun was very generous on the course of Golf Club Lignano during opening round of the last event on Alps Tour before summer break. It was very hot and most of the players had to suffer from the heat. But the scores were really good and the projected cut is already -2 after only 18 holes.
The challenge this week is to stay or to enter the Top 6 of the Alps tour ranking to avoid playing the Stage 1 of European Tour Q School to go straight to the stage 2. In case of a win, Joon Kim could enter the ranking but it is not only on his shoulders as the others players will battle to earn precious points.
Piris as well, winner in Italy in May, could as well get his exemption in case of a win. But the path is still long to the final results and birdies are no numerous on this course that the odds are very tight among all the players.
2nd July 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Duel for Piris and Maccario
Gerard Piris of Spain Credit: Tristan Jones
Federico Maccario from Italy and Spain’s Gerard Piris share the lead of Alps Tour Mont Garni with -11 total. A group of 3 players is one shot behind but the top of the leaderboard is pretty congested and the final round should be a good drama.
Maccario did not make any mistake and holed five birdies during the round. The other leader, Gerard Piris, had a more colourful scorecard with 2 bogeys, 7 birdies and an eagle for great 66, -7. Piris has already won this season in Frassanelle Open last May in Italy and a second win could make him enter the top 5 of the Alps Tour ranking.
But someone shot even lower today to come back on the right side of the cut line, Spain’s Eduardo Larranaga. He recorded 2 eagles, 6 birdies and a bogey for a superb 64, -9.
On the leaders toes, Toni Ferrer, Tom Shadbolt and Josh Loughrey. The latter won in Tunisia and will do everything to recover his first place at the order of merit.
The cut felt at -3 including 50 players.
22nd May 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
2015 Frassanelle Open – Day 3
[sc:GTPlayer id=”2015_05_22_frassanelle_open_report_day3″ ]
Report Day3
| Alps Tour Golf
Wet win for Piris
Gerard Piris won his maiden title on Alps Tour as he completed his second round yesterday and the Frassanelle Open was reduced to 36 holes due to heavy rain. Netherland’s Jurrian Van Der Vaart is second 3 shots back and France’s Damien Perrier third by his own one shot further.
The 26 years old Spaniard signed for superb 65 during opening round. And he posted 67 yesterday’s morning. It was a good draw for him as the play was suspended a first time just before 14h00 and then a second time for the day after 17h00.
Players completed their second round this morning and the officials decided to reduce the tournament to 36 holes.
“My first day was perfect, I played solid and I holed many putts. It was a bit easier than during the second round as the pins positions were tricky on Thursday. My thoughts for the second day – keep the same strategy, erase the first 18 holes and play your game – .
The greens were softer thanks to the rain but it was still tough. The strongest part of my game was the shots below 100 meters. I hit them very close and I had many birdie opportunities.
I guess I was lucky with the draw and the weather. A win is a win and It is still nice to lift a trophy even if the tournament was reduced to 36 holes.”
Thanks to this win, Gerard Piris is 14th at the Alps Tour ranking lead by England’s Josh Loughrey.
20th May 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Piris and Wolf co-leaders in Italy
Gerard Piris from Spain (c) Tristan Jones
Gerard Piris from Spain and France’s Sidney Wolf both share the lead of the Frassanelle Open with 65, -6 scored during first rainy round.
Italy’s Andrea Maestroni and Cristiano Terragni and Scotland’s Scott Stewart-Cation are one shot back with -5. Then a group of 5 players signed for solid 67.
The weather has been quite unkind for the past ten days north-East of Italy. After rain and fog, in Colli Berici, the players had to deal with rain in Frassanelle golf Club. But the 6100 meters were not enough to make the field struggled and good scores were post during this first round.
The projected cut is level par.
