22nd October 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Arnaus Does the Double!
Credit: Tristan Jones.
Adria Arnaus ended the season in sparkling form coming from five shots behind to take the Grand Final title and create history as the first amateur to win Alps Tour Order of Merit at Golf Des Iles Borromees.
He shot his best round of the week, 65, to move to -14 for the tournament, then has a nervous wait while the last two groups finished their rounds. As it was, no one was able to match him over the final stretch and he was delighted to take his second win of the season.
“The Grand Final has been a really special event for me, coming here as number on in the Order of Merit, I just wanted to enjoy it and I definitely did that. The course condition was fantastic and I fell in love with the greens, I felt like the ball had a true roll of the time.”
Credit: Tristan Jones.
Arnaus, ranked 25th on the world amateur rankings, played 9 events on the Alps Tour this year, has managed four top ten finishes as well as his two victories and has now added a Challenge Tour card to his achievements this season.
“I started in the first event in Madrid, with no expectations came to have fun and compete, I ended up in a playoff and that gave me the chance to take part in the rest of the season and it has been amazing.”
Joint runner up, Christophe Koerbler of Austria, -12, recorded his highest ever finish on the Alps Tour, finishing his season with a faultless 65, which included four birdies and an eagle. His performance means he jumps nine places up the Order of Merit to be inside the top 30 giving him category 4 on the Alps Tour for next season. Leo Lespinasse also on -12 shot his second consecutive 69 to share second place with Koerbler and also record his highest finish of the year.
The top five players on the Order of Merit after the Grand Final all receive their Challenge Tour cards, and as it was today, the Order of Merit remained unchanged.
Congratulations to Adria Arnaus of Spain, Ugo Coussaud and Antoine Rozner of France, Lars Van Meijel of the Netherlands and Robin Roussel of France who will all be playing on the Challenge Tour next season.
Thanks a lot to the Golf des Iles Borromées for their wonderful hospitality. A special thank to the Federazione Italiana Golf and Italian Pro Tour for their strong support all year long and all the sponsors of the tournament.
12th October 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Borda shot flawless 63 on home soil
Spain’s David Borda shot flawless round 63, 7 under par in Alps de Andalucia on Santa Clara golf Granada course. His compatriot amateur Victor Pastor Rufian joined him after holing nine birdies versus two bogeys for same score.
This is the last chance for Alps Tour players to enter the Grand Final. Alps de Andalucia is the last regular event of the international Alps Tour schedule. Borda, 8th at the ranking can hope for more and enter top 5.
David Borda has been plying really well for the last month. He finished 4th in Abruzzo Open, two weeks back and third in France, beginning of September in Citadelle Trophy Preisch.
A group of 3 players are one shot back, Spanish amateur Angel Hidalgo, fellow countryman Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez and France’s Robin Roussel. The later has a pretty nice season, was in contention a couple of time but still in the hunt for maiden win.
After one round, 47 players shot -1 or better to secure their provisionnal place after the cut.
22nd September 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Gregori Molteni took half way lead
Italy’s gregori Molteni took half way lead on home soil in Abruzzo Open. The experimented player shot score of the day 64 to lead by one shot over France’s Robin Roussel. Niccolo Quintarelli is third on his own thanks to 66 card and -10 total.
Molteni, former Challenge Tour player, made his move before moving day. His control of the course offered him a great card to sign. He only dropped one shot on the 14th hole par 5 and holed seven birdies.
Roussel, who is still in race for maiden after 2 attempts this season, shot 65 ; he misjudged the par 3 2nd hole where he gave two strokes to the course but despite this, he handle the day pretty well. He fired 65.
France’s Leonard Bem jumped in the ranking thanks to same figure. He is 4th on his own. The cut felt at +1, 54 players earned their right to play this week-end, 41 pros and 13 amateurs ; overnight leader, Pietro Bovari, had a tough day after his great opening round 64. He shot one over par during second round.
21st September 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Pietro Bovari took lead ahead of Robin Roussel
Italian amateur Pietro Bovari took the lead thanks to first round 64, one shot better than fellow country man Gregori Molteni and France’s Robin Roussel in Abruzzo Open.
“The pros were really kinf to me. They were nice. Coming here is a good excuse no to go to school! The main key today was my putting”
Big names are on top of the leaderboard as JB Gonnet is -5 alongside with Alps Tour leader Ugo Coussaud. Their compatriot Alex Daydou signed for same score neck and neck with an Italian trio : Joon Kim, Guido Migliozzi and Niccolo Quintarelli.
The battle for top 5 of the ranking is in its last part as only three events left to go including the Grand Final. Gonnet and Roussel are respectively 7th and 5th so a good result in Italy could confirm theur position or make them climb in the ranking.
10th July 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Amateur Boulanger bakes Roussel during play-off
French amateur Thomas Boulanger defeated his fellow countryman Robin Roussel after first extra hole at Saint Malo Golf Open.
The 17 year old player from Cannes holed a 5 meter putt to grab maiden win and engrave his name on the trophy. He signed for 68 final round, -18 and Roussel recorded a card of -2. The latter admitted his putting was less efficient today and the he missed a couple 2 meter putts to hope better results.
Boulanger was the leader after round one and explained it was a dream as he only hoped to make the cut. Way more than the cut, the talented young gun kept the pace and with no fear challenged the pros on their soil.
It has been the second amateur who won this season on the Alps Tour after Spain’s Adria Arnaus.
With this second place, Robin Roussel enters Alps Tour top 5 at 4th place. Ugo Coussaud remains leader ahead of Adria Arnaus and Lars Van Meijel. Jean Baptiste Gonnet, former European Tour is currently at 5th place.
8th July 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Robin Roussel surged one clear in Brittany
Robin Roussel took a flying start during moving day in this afternoon in Saint Malo Golf Open. The 26 year old player signed for 64, and -17 total to surge one shot clear ahead of David Borda and one further of a group of 3 players.
Roussel could not have a better start. The player from Paris recorded back to back eagle and back to back birdies to be -6 after 4 holes.
« Obviously I never had this kind of record before. I had a nap on the terrace before I teed off, it might be the reason! »
He turned first nine -8. On way home, he had two bogeys and two birdies for final score 64.
« When you starts so well and shot really low the first nine, obviously you started to thing about a really good score but I never thought about a 59 but I had to admit I would have loved a -10, I already had a few -9, this is my personal record but not -10. »
Roussel is only playing for the second season as pro and is still looking for maiden win.
David Borda from Spain will be his main competitor as he fired 68 for -15 total. Italy’s Michele Ortolani and Frenchmen Fabien Marty and amateur Victor Boulanger are one shot further. Boulanger, 17, is playing his second pro event and his goal at the beginning of the week was to make the cut. The teenager will play on Sunday in second last group and potentially is in contention for a title.
3rd June 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Grammatica in the race for maiden win
Italy’s Alessandro Grammatica, -7 total, took pole position on his own heading to Open Saint François Guadeloupe last round. Overnight leader Robin Roussel is one shot back neck and neck with fellow countryman Thomas Elissalde.
Grammatica signed for best score of the day, 67.
« I played very well from the tee and on the greens as well. I started a little bit nervous this morning but after a birdie on the 13th, my 4th hole, I felt much more confidence and I played very round during the all round. But I know it is still a long way to go. »
The Italian player will play on Saturday to try to seal maiden win on Alps Tour.
France’s Raphaël Marguery is two shots back of the lead thanks to second round 68. The cut felt at +3 including 2 amateurs Jonathan Haykel and Martin Farfal.
Alps Tour leader Ugo Coussaud took a week of after his win in Paris and none of the top 5 will play final round. JB Gonnet, currently 6th and Robin Roussel 7th are the ones who could take advantage of it and improve their position.
2nd June 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
French duo Roussel and Foret to lead in Guadaloupe
French duo with Julien Foret, 34 and Robin Roussel, 23, took a two shot lead over a group of 4 players, Netherlands Rowin Caron, Italy’s Alessandro Grammatica, and Franc’es Thomas Elissalde and Erwan Vieilledent. The leading Frenchmen signed for 66 card, -5 on the course of Saint François Guadeloupe.
Roussel, who played his rookie season in 2016 on the Challenge Tour, said his goals are yet to be achieved.
« I am happy about this round. The season 2016 was not that bad on Challenge Tour, it was my first year and the average level was a little better there. I have been working quite well with Renaud Gris this winter and I started well in 2017. I refocused on mu assets, wedging, chipping and putting and it works so far. »
Julien Foret, former European Tour, explained how he enjoyed playing early in the morning as the wind was quite.
« A really great day as you can see the score is nice. I teed up early this morning so I took advantage of great conditions, during the first holes we did not have any wind so it helped. Then the wind started to blow quite strongly but I managed to roll important putts to stay in the pace. »
The projected cut is +2 after round 1.
3rd May 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Alps de Las Castillas – Who to watch?
Alps Tour just made its first stop in Europe this week. Players traveled to Spain to attend the Alps de Las Castillas hosted by Cabanillas Golf in Guadalajara. The two 2017 winners, France’s Julien Brun and Lars Van Meijel will try to improve their ranking in the order of merit, respectively second and first.
The field is set to resume the season and some big names are to watch. France’s JB Gonnet, 7 full seasons on the European Tour, Spain’s Javier Colomo (picture), Asian Tour player since 2012. Javi made history at the 2015 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open when he shot the first ever hole in one at a par four hole on the Asian Tour, European Tour and Sunshine Tour during the second round. Swiss André Bossert, winner on the Senior in 2017, could be a serious challenger as well.
These experimented players will have to battle the young guns such as Lukas Vacarisas, 18, in contention in Egypt, France’s Antoine Rozner and Robin Roussel. The latter won the Open d’Arcachon in France 3 weeks ago.
The first tee is at 9h00 local time and the weather should be fair with temperature up to 25°C in the afternoon.
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.
