13th June 2014 | Alps Tour Golf
McCarroll shines in sunny Madrid
Brendan McCarroll (c) Agathe Séron
Brendan McCarroll has lifted up his fourth Alps Tour trophy after tough battle against home player Spaniard Alvaro Salto. The Irishman shot final 68 to finish -11 total, one single shot ahead of Salto. On thrid place, England’s Tom Shadbolt who recorded his best result on Alps Tour.
McCarroll teed off in the last group with overnight leader Salto. The latter had a two shot advantage at the beginning of the day but soon holed 4th and 6th for birdie while his playing partner was still level par. Then he holed 8 meters downhill on the hole 7th for another birdie. Salto holed as well. Then the match eventually turn in Mc Carroll advantage after he holed for birdie on 9th and the Spanish player did not.
The win seemed to be easy as Brendan McCarroll had a 4 shot lead with two holes to play but he admitted he was very tired and than he wanted the day to end. The temperature was over 40° on fairways and bodies have endured the heat for days now.
Salto despite finishing at second place confessed he was very happy.
“I did not drive well from 11th to 15th but I am thrilled with the way I finished. I was four shots behind Brendan and I finished just one. It was an exalting conclusion.”
Mc Carroll found a new approach to score on course and he gave the credit of this to new coach John Hession.
“The key this week is that I am working with a life coach. He is different because he helped me on course and outside the course. The key is I tried to stay in the present, not thinking about the future or what would be the next shot. I keep the same routine and for example I managed to do that very well with putting this week. I used to hit some silly shots that I don’t any more.
But on the last hole I had a couple of tired swing, I struggled with the heat. On the 18th, I knew he was going to make it (8 meters)! I was shaking for my one meter putt…”
“I would like to thank very my friends who came and support me. I thank also Simon (Ward) and Brian (Casey) for travelling with me this week and thank you Alps Tour and Alessandro, your team is fantastique!”
With this win, Brendan McCarroll enters the Top 5 of the Alps Tour ranking at third position behind Thomas Elissalde, second and Italy’s Nino Bertasio, still leading. Andrea Romano is fourth and Alex Christie fifth.
From Madrid
Agathe Séron
12th June 2014 | Alps Tour Golf
Salto in his garden
Alvaro Salto (c) Agathe Séron
Alvaro Salto took full advantage of his days off from coaching the Ladies Team of RFEG. He scored 65 this morning and 67 during second round in Open Peugeot 2014 to lead by two shots over a British duo, England’s Tom Shadbolt and Ireland’s Brendan Mc Carroll.
The 40 year old player from Madrid did not compete any more but he could not help being part of the field this week as the Open Peugeot took place in his home club. Salto has won the title twice, in 2003 and in 2010, and obviously his knowledge of every single blade of grass is a valuable asset. He could not finish his first round yesterday when the play was suspended due to violent thunderstorms. He completed his round this morning with great score and managed to keep this moment for the following 18 holes.
“We had 6 holes to play this morning, the course was in great shape, much better than yesterday when we had to stop playing. There was no wind at all this morning and I managed to take my chances and make 4 birdies on those 6 holes.”
“Then during second round, although you play the first round in a aggressive way, I was then aware of the result and this is complicated to play the same way. All the aspects of my game were correct.
I am comfortable with my putting. I came here with no competition practice, but very excited to go out and play well”.
Brendan McCarroll is one of the only player who have been graduated at least two time to play Challenge Tour. Multiple winner on Alps Tour, he was unlucky to be the first player not to earn the precious category. He was on the 12th green when he had to stop the game yesterday with a one meter putt for birdie. Unfortunately he missed it this morning at 7h30 when the game resumed. But his bogey free card is the witness of a new approach of the game.
“I did not drop any shot which is kind of miracle for me. As I am struggling with my long game, I played safe. That is quite unusual for me but it seemed to be efficient.”
On Salto’s toes, Tom Shadbolt from England will do his best to disturb Spanish plan. The 26 year man is playing for the second season on Alps Tour and already had two top 10.
“I play really different from last year. Last year my putter saved me but in 2014, I am really strong from tee to green but not that good with my putter. For example, last week when I finished 10th tie, I have done the best golf ever in the past two year but I had 30 putts.
I know I have to stay patient and hopefully my time will come this year. Tomorrow will be very hot on course as well but I handled it quite well today playing 27 holes in the heat, it can not be worse.”
Overnight leader France’s Rapahël Marguery shot level par to holf 5th position by his own and fellow Romain Schneider is 4th alone after brilliant 65, best score tie of the day with compatriot Thomas Elissalde.
The cut felt at +1 after a very long and hot day in Madrid oven.
From Madrid
Agathe Séron
11th June 2014 | Alps Tour Golf
Marguery leader at club house
Raphaël Marguery (c) Agathe Séron.
Raphaël Marguery leads the way on a storm hit opening day of the 2014 Peugeot Open at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
The Frenchman from Versailles carded a six under par 65, good enough for a two shot club house lead over Spanish pair Alfredo Heredia and and Javier Colomo.
“The key today was that I focused on hitting the greens and my putting was very good. I have been playing really well these past weeks,” said Marguery and Alps Tour member since 2010, who is still waiting to claim his first win on tour.
“Compared to last year, I am taking a more strategic approach on course rather than working on the technical aspects of my swing. Playing golf is a bit like chess. I visualize the spot I want the ball to land to give me the best angle for the next shot.”
Marguery went to the turn in two under 34 with birdies at four, six and eight offset by a dropped shot at the par three ninth. His back nine included birdies at the 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th as he came home in four under 31.
The 27-year-old is battling fatigue after playing in Guadeloupe before travelling to Italy and onto this week’s tournament in Madrid. He intends taking a break at the end of June to recharge the batteries.
Heredia, the 2014 Spanish Champion, is a cousin of Jorge Parada, coach of European Ryder cup hopeful Jonas Blixt. Parada is currently at the US Open but still made some time to help his cousin.
“I sent him a video of my swing yesterday and he told me everything was o.k,” said Heredia.
“My goal is to play in the USA and I plan to go to spend August there to train.”
Colomo was delighted to finally find some form after a difficult period.
“I have finally played well after a few horrible weeks on the European and Asian Tour. I finally managed to produce a real golf round. I am in the process of getting a bit of confidence back.”
In other news, Santiago Luna, who won the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship on Sunday, carded a level par round of 71.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Nino Bertasio, current leader of the Alps Tour Order of Merit, narrowly made his tee-time after struggling to get transport to the venue. With taxis in the area on strike, Bertasio had to rely on tour official Alessandro Pia, to get him to the course, making it with just 10 minutes to spare.
The play was suspended at 17:02 with half of the field still on course. Unfortunately play could not resume and players will be back on course tomorrow morning at 7:30.
From Madrid
Agathe Séron & Paul Kelly
14th June 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Espana takes off in Spain
France’s Edouard Espana (c) C.L.
Edouard Espana made a joke to his playing partners from Spain. Family name sounds like local but the rookie is French and he wins his maiden title after holing putt during first extra hole. Juan Parron and Alfredo Garcia-Heredia failed to stop the Bordeaux native.
All week, Spain’s players were leading the 2013 Peugeot Open in Madrid, Borda first then Parron and Blazquez but at the end it sounds like spanish but the national flag is red-white-blue.
France’s Edouard Espana made a huge jump signing for a 66 five-under-par card to lead at the club house with -4 total. The two ovenight leaders struggled to holed birdies and the wind started to blow stronger in the afternoon. Espana just had to wait and his score was finally enough to challenge his opponent on extra time.
« Honestly, I did not think my 66 was enough to go into a play off so to me it was a bonus and I was very relaxed, more than Alfredo and Juan tough. I just though about what I had to do. I hit my driver in the middle of the fairway then my sand wegde 3 meters left next to the flag and I holed. I am so happy with this win. »
He had a poor start with a 75 on first round but improve his game to confirm his actual good form. He had finished 7th ties on Challenge Tour beginning of May in Italy.
« I was not very focused during the first round. I made some mistakes and I dropped shots on the very first part of the round. Then I managed to come back in the game and I finished better. Then I made two good rounds. »
« I don’t have any regrets not to be on Challenge Tour so far even if I made a Top 10 last month. Alps Tour is a great circuit with valuable players and I am a young player learning his job. Once again, I am very happy. »
With this win, Espana enters the Alps Tour ranking Top 5.
Agathe Séron
Golfmanager Press Agency
13th June 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Spain's duet to lead in Madrid
Juan Parron of Spain (c) Agathe Séron
Juan Parron of Spain shares lead with fellow Vincente Blazquez at -5. Two strokes back, another compatriot, Alfonso Gutierrez. The good form of spanish golf keep on shining in Madrid.
Parron admitted his fear to miss a third cut in a row. He was playing great, he said, but the lack of confidence was important as he teed off this week.
« Club de Campo is a golf course that I like very much. The truth is that I arrived here a bit afraid. I have been playing great for the last 3 months and working well on swing changes with my father. I missed the cut at Alps de las Castillas. Then I missed by 1 shot at Challlenge de España struggling a lot and I was afraid to miss the third cut in a row. »
« I played incredible today, the only big change came from my long putter. What am I going to do with the long putter? well, the reality is that I was not holing anything with the short one so I decided to play long putter. As long as I can, I will use it then I will try to switch, but for the moment I am not going to fail because of the putter. Thanks to London Growers and Almerimar resort I can compete again, all I have to do is recover my confidence and I will be at high level again ».
Alongside Parron, another spanish player, Vincente Blazquez, showing less confidence in his long game and kind of surprised to lead the field.
« I am not hitting the ball well, I am not comfortable with my swing, I don’t reach fairways, but the good thing is that my short game is great. That is saving me but I have to start playing better and not trust so much in luck. I will concentrate hole by hole, day by day and I hope to keep shooting low scores ».
Ireland’s Stephen Grant take advantage of kind of a moving event. Currently sixth at Alp Tour raking, this week in Spain could be worthful. As Ricki Neil-Jones missed the cut and Enouch and Gros took a week off, the Irishman could jump in the so much coveted Alps Tour Top 5.
Agathe Séron
Golfmanager Press Agency
12th June 2013 | Alps Tour Golf
Borda emerges one clear in Madrid
David Borda from Spain (c) Agathe Séron
David Borda made the cut last week in Guadeloupe, the first one after four missed in a row. He was the best today after the opening round 66 in Club de Campo de Madrid. Scotland’s Michael Stewart, who finished runner-up at the very begining of the season, is one shot back of the lead. At third place by his own, another Spaniard, Vincente Blazquez.
Borda did not seem to suffer a lot from jet lag. His past week in French Carabbean made him to come back in the game and he was happy with his game especially his coach is here.
“It was a great day, I played very solid from tee to green and specially on the last holes. I holed a 7 meter putt for eagle on 14th, I made a great par safe on 16th and hit really good shots on 17th and 18th but also holed good putts. You’ve got to putt well to shoot a round like this.”
“I played really comfortable, I had my coach, Fernando Navarro with me and it helps me a lot. It’s been a great round from the very first hole, this is a difficult course and I managed to finish my font nine one under. And I played the back nine really well.”
“I played well the first couple of events at the Alps Tour this year but since March, I did not play at my highest level, was not hitting the ball badly but it was mostly a mental issue. I hope I shot a few more rounds like this and get my confidence back.”
“This is a golf course that I like a lot, the first year I played here I missed the cut by 1 shot, last year I did ok and this is definately my best score here. I am really happy, let’s see if we can continue playing the same way.
There are a lot of events to play, I set up my goals week by week, trying to keep the good feelings and playing well”.
The battle for the Alps Tour ranking is getting more and more intense. No less than four players for the fifth spot within 500 points. The leader, England’s Jason Palmer shot 72, one over today as well as Andrew Cooley and Brendan McCarroll .
The projected cut is +1.
Agathe Séron
Golfmanager Press Agency
