20th September 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Maiden win for Angles in France
Pep Angles with Open du Haut-Poitou trophy (c) Agathe Séron
Spain’s neo pro Pep Angles won his maiden title thanks to final round 69, -4 to go to -11 total. The Open International du Haut-Poitou was his event since he turned pro last week. He finished one stroke clear of Dutch Darius Van Driel.
The final round started with a little hour delay due to dense fog over Saint Cyr Golf Course. The overnight leaders – four- had very different final round and the spectators realised that the show was on the second last group. Damien Perrier in the last group admitted it was a bit frustrating.
“At the beginning of the round, they were about hundred to follow us. Then, I always had 2 putts on greens so it was a bit boring and Clément, who is not playing anymore as he is now a teacher, had a very tough day, so, people left us and it was weird to handle. But this is golf.”
The show was clearly in the second last group. Darius Van Driel and Pep Angles were neck and neck for a while and the Dutchman even had 2 strokes advantage before the end of first nine. The 22 year old Spaniard came back to one thanks to a birdie. But the key hole of the round was the 12th. Angles holed for birdie and Van Driel dropped one shot so names swung on top of the leader board and it never changed untill the end.
“I was playing well since the beginning of the week and I did not expect to win.” said Angles, ” I had a friend on th bag and it helped me to stay relax as we talked a lot between shots, not about golf. When I made this birdie to lead, I tried not to change anything. I had a number in mind, -10 and I stuck to my game plane. On the 17th, honestly, I did not plan to go that right over the trees, I wanted to hit my driver safely but I push it a little but I hit it long, so it crossed the water by 6 or 7 yards. I do not realise how this win could change things but I am happy with this just before heading to European Tour Q school Stage 1.”
Van Driel recorded a solid 70, -3 but it was not enough, again. The Dutchman, second at the Alps Tour ranking since last week, is once again, the fourth time this year, on the second step of the podium.
France’s Raphaël Marguery fired best score of the day, 68, -5 to finished third on his own.
19th September 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Four way ties in France
Pep Angles of Spain during second round (c) Agathe Séron
There are four players on top of the Open International du Haut-Poitou after 2 rounds, France’s Clément Gallois and Damien Perrier, Dutch Darius Van Driel and Spain’s Pep Angles (picture). The lead score is -7.
The weather conditions were perfect today and the best score even posted on St Cyr golf course was signed by France’s Clément Gallois. He recorded 65, -8 and did not dropped any shots.
“I am not playing anymore. I teach in Gold de Touraine and I had an invitation to play here. This is my best score ever as pro. I struggled a little on front nine then from the 11th I hit very close to the pins and I started to hole many putts. I had pressure because I wanted to do well but obviously I was way more relax than when I was playing for living.”
The overnight leader Damien Perrier, confirmed his good form and signed for 70 , -3.
“It was a bit different than yesterday but still, all in all, I am happy with my game. I did well on pars 5 and I keep on feeling confident about my level of game.”
Pep Angles, 22, third co-leader just turned pro. He got graduated from University of Central Arkansas in May and he is playing his first event as pro in Poitiers this week. As a kid, he was competing in motocross but after injuries he decided to start a new sport, with success.
Last but not least, Darius Van Driel will be once again in the last group on Sunday. He finished second last week in Preisch and he has been in contention many times this season. All the Alps Tour players confirm that his turn has come, same as Perrier by the way.
“Yes I really would like to finally keep my hands on a trophy. My wedging was very good and I made birdie on all the pars 5 but I only hit one in two. I think the experience of last week will help me tomorrow. I am excited and I am really looking forward to play the last round.”
The cut felt at +4 with 45 players including one amateur.
