15th February 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
First pro victory for Italy’s Michele Cea in Sokhna
Italy’s Michele Cea won the Ein Bay Open at Sokhna Golf Club (Egypt) today with a total of -12, two shot ahead his compatriot Michele Ortolani.
It was Cea’s first professional win. Entering the final round as the leader at -10, Ireland’s David Carey shot a double bogey on hole 16th dampening his hopes of winning the tournament. Carey dropped down to 3rd place at -9. Italy’s Michele Ortolani finished in 2nd place at -10.
« I still can’t believe it » Cea said after his victory. « I feel amazing, it was a very tight match with a friend of mine (Ortolani) until the last hole. I could not get a better victory than this, I could not ask for a better finish » he continued. « The last putt was tough, I had a lot of pressure, I just kept my head down and it went in » Cea explained. « The day was quite long because I had lots of thoughts going through my mind. 18 holes are long, you don’t know what’s going to happen so I just focused on what I had to do hole by hole and it paid off. My hands were shaking when I knew I had won the tournament. I just let go all the stress of the day, it was an amazing feeling » he concluded.
« It’s a very disappointing being 12 under through the 8th hole and then dropping all the way back. But overall, there is a lot of positives from the week and I will take those positives and continue to play well again next week » Carey said.
David Carey shot the most birdies on this tournament at 17 birdies. Cea had 16 birdies.
Best card of the day was Spain’s Ivan Cantero Gutierrez who shot -6 under par, finishing in 4th position at -8.
Michele Cea is the leader of the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking.
Weather was overcast for most of the day over Ain Sokhna. Temperatures were in the 20s degrees Celsius.
Alps Tour Players will now take a little break before tackling the second tournament of the Winter Series, the Red Sea Little Venice Open at Sokhna Golf Club starting on Monday.
Many thanks to the Sokhna Golf Club , Hassan Allam Properties, Ein Bay and Jaz Little Venice for their support in these Winter Series.
14th February 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Ireland’s David Carey Sole Leader
Ireland’s David CAREY took the lead of the Ein Bay Open at the Sokhna Golf Club (Egypt) to enter the final round of the tournament on Thursday at -10.
Carey is closely followed by Alavaro Arizabaleta (Col, -9) and Michele Cea (Ita, -8) in the Alps Tour’s first tournament of the 2018 season.
« I did not start as well as I wished to, I made a sloppy bogey on my first hole, I made 4 birdies in 5 holes, around the turn and that kind of got me back on track and then I played very nicely the whole way in » Carey said. « Tomorrow, I just need to go out and play the way I’ve been playing. I actually haven’t really held any putts, hopefully a few more putts go in, I will keep playing the way I’ve been playing and it should be a good day » he added.
Best performer of the day was Ireland’s Conor O’Rourke who shot 7 under par. He enters the final day of the tournament in 6th place at -6.
« I played nicely, I just had to stay really patient. Because the last few days I felt I played quite well but it did not really come through » O’Rourke said. « I expect David (Carey) to play quite well tomorrow so anybody behind is going to have to make a lot of birdies and not many mistakes » he added.
The 26-year-old native of Naas turned in today his best card since turning pro last year.
« It’s a great privilege to access the Alps Tour here in Egypt where I’m from, it gives me maybe some kind of advantage over so many good golfers of the Alps Tour so it’s an enjoyable experience for myself. It’s definitely a very unique experience, mixing up all the rising golf star » said Abdelmonem El Shafei, one of the two Egyptian players invited along with Maged Abdel Tawab.
Weather conditions were particularly good for most of the day despite winds picking up in the afternoon. Temperatures were in the 20s degrees celcius.
The Top 40 players and ties who made the cut today (+1) will tee off tomorrow morning for the final day of the Ein Bay Open.
