25th June 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Larranaga surged clear in France
Eduardo Larranaga (c) Tristan Jones
Spain’s Eduardo Larranaga really enjoyed to play on La grange aux Ormes golf course, he fired 64, -7. Slovenia’s Tim Gornik and Defending Champion France’s Jean-Pierre Verselin are one shot back.
Great weather and good playing conditions for the first round of Open International de la Mirabelle d’Or. Many players managed to beat the par and a huge amount of birdies were holed from 10th to 12th as pars 5 are reachable in two and 11th green can be driven in one.
Larranaga won his first title on the Alps Tour last October in France when he grabbed the Masters 13 trophy. Verselin won his maiden victory on home soil last year with -9 total on the same course as this week but with different conditions of play. And last but not least, Tim Gornik won the Alps Tour Q School Final and had so far a pretty decent season.
Top 5 players of the Alps Tour are very close from each other in the ranking and every single point counts. Alps Tour leader, England’s Josh Loughrey had a tough day and signed for 76. Second at the ranking, France’s Léo Lespinasse scored 68 and fellow countryman Patthieu Pavon, third at the ranking, less than 300 € from the pole position, shot 67.
The projected cut is -1 after 18 holes including two amateurs, Jules Coupade and Victor Veyret.
17th December 2014 | Alps Tour Golf
Gornik king of wind
Slovenia’s Tim Gornik (c) Agathe Séron
Slovenia’s Tim Gornik won the Q school final in La Cala thanks to great margin after 2 rounds. He battled hard in the wind to score 76 today for -4 total. His St Andrews trophy team mate, Holland’s Darius Van Driel tried to catch up with him but he eventually finished runner-up, 3 shots back.
The wind was incredibly strong today. Balls did not move by themselves on the greens but every single shot from tee to green was a fight against the element or better, a game of patience. Many high figures were recorded and only one player shot under par, England’s Harry Casey, with one under. He finished at third place tie with experimented Ivo Giner and former European Tour player Alexandre Kaleka.
“On the 11th par 3, during the first round I hit a 8 iron and today it was a 3 iron and I ended short of the green” said a rookie. Same opinion for the winner.
“It was so tough today, the weather forecast was not so bad. It was a 4 or 5 club wind. It became less crazy at the very end, from the 15th but still. My goal today was to shot under par but it was so difficult. I had a big advantage and it is difficult to know what to do. I saw on a leaderboard that Darius was doing well. It was funny because we played a lot together last year. He hit the ball very straight and this is exactly the kind of course which suit his game. But I am happy with the win.”
The cut for category 6 felt at +10, 37 players from 11 different countries obtained the precious “licence to play”. Players ranked from 38th place to 68th will have a partial category.
The first three events of the year will take place in Egypt from 15th of February to the 4th of March. Full schedule will be announced before Christmas.
From La Cala
Agathe Séron
16th December 2014 | Alps Tour Golf
Gornik shines in La Cala
Slovenia’s Tim Gornik
Slovenia’s Tim Gornik takes a easy lead going into the last round of the Q School Final. The 23 year old player shot 65 after first round 70 and his closest competitors are 5 shots back.
Gornik is a Duke University alumni and turned pro last September.
“I played golf 4 years for Duke University. I had played the Q School last year and I missed the cut by one so I decided to stay amateur one more year. I knew the Asia course, not the Europa one. I did not plan to shoot so low but I knew that if you could hit the fairways there are a lot of wedges to the holes.”
“Usually I hit a lot of fairways and greens but I am off and on with my putting but today it kind of clicked. I missed some but I made a lot obviously and I only missed one green today.”
“The goal when I turned pro last September is to play on the European Tour. I made the Stage 1 of European Tour but I failed to qualify for the final. I knew the Alps Tour because I am friend with Matjaz Gojcic and I played as few events on invitations. It is a good opportunity to avoid the Stage 1 of Q school and finishing in the top 5 offers a Challenge Tour category, that is definitely the goal.”
A pack of six players will challenge the leader and try to overpass him during last round. Among them, former European Tour player, France’s Alexandre Kaleka and Alps Tour 2009 winner, Italy’s Andrea Perrino.
The cut felt at +6 and 68 players will try to join or stay in top 35 for full 2015 Alps Tour category.
At La Cala
Agathe Séron
