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.
21st October 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Antoine Rozner Moves Ahead
A foggy start to the third round meant that play was delayed until 11:00 and then again until 12:15. Tournament Director, Alessandro Pia took the decision to start the round from both first and 10th tee to make sure that the round was completed in daylight.
Round of the day was a faultless seven under par, 64, from France’s Julien Foret who jumped from tied 19th to tied 6th position. Ugo Coussaud of France shot a flawless 65 to jump from 9th to second place.
It was however, another Frenchman, Antoine Rozner who produced his second 65 of the week to take a three shot lead heading into the final round. A strong start for the Parisian allowed him to focus on his game.
“I started really well, with 4 birdies in my first 4 so that helped me get in the birdy mood. I hit the ball really well and my putting was good so I am very happy with it. The course is great, you have to be pretty smart at times because if you put the ball in the wrong spot it is not good so you have to think a lot and be aggressive sometimes but smart other times.”
A rookie on the Alps Tour, Rozner has achieved five top five finishes this season but is still looking for his first win. “I’m just going to go all out to win the tournament tomorrow.”
A Challenge Tour card looks almost certain for Rozner at this stage of the tournament, this would allow him to join his older brother, Olivier, who has been playing there this season.
The top five players on the Alps Tour Order of Merit, not otherwise exempt, will receive a Challenge Tour card next season. So far the top four players, Adria Arnaus, Ugo Coussaud, Antoine Rozner and Lars Van Meijel look set to gain keep their top four spots. France’s Robin Roussel who currently occupies 5th place on the ranking could be in danger from either Spain’s David Borda or Austria’s Lukas Nemecz who could out Roussel with a strong finish tomorrow.
Overnight leader Maxime Radureau had a torrid time on the course and dropped to 21st place, shooting a 79, +8, 16 shots worse than yesterday’s score.
The final round begins at 9:20, teeing off from the first and 10th holes, with the final tee time being 10:50 local time.
2nd September 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
James Sharp sealed maiden win in Italy
England’s James Sharp sealed maiden win in Cervinio Open after final 65, -4 and total -11. Spain’s Santiago Tarrio finished one shot further for second place on his own and France’s Ugo Coussaud climbed on the podium with -9 total.
The Cervinio Open had a slox start as the bad weather force the officials to stop the game during first round and many players had a long day to complete their two round on day 2. But eventually, the event was played on 3 rounds and provided suspens as big events can do.
Julien Brun was the leader after 2 rounds and 3 holes from the end he could have reach the lead. England’s james Sharps was leader at the club house but the Frenchman, usually solid, was on shot behind with 3 holes to play. Luckily for Sharp, it was not a bed of roses for Brun and he dropped 3 shots in the last three holes. Sharp could enjoy a maiden win on Alps Tour.
Ugo Coussaud is the current leader of the Alps Tour ranking, Adria Arnaus is a little less than 2000 points further, Robin ROussel and Lars Van Mejel are neck and neck for 3rd and 4th place and Lukas Nemecz completes the top 5 with narrow margin over former European Tour player JB Gonnet.
14th August 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Coupe Canada this week at Victoriaville
Credit: Tristan Jones
No.1 of the current Order of Merit, the Frenchman Ugo Coussaud will be one of the six Alps Tour members who will cross the Atlantic to take part in the Coupe Canada Sani Marc – Desjardins, from August 17 to 20 at the Victoriaville Golf Club.
Coussaud will be in a country of knowledge in Quebec soil since he completed a few years ago his university studies in administration at Laval University where he was in the Red and Gold Team with Sonny Michaud and Clément Herviou, both from La Tempête.
The five other players are Ben Wheeler, Liam Harper and Jake Ayres from England, Dutchman Rowin Caron and Italian Carlo Casalegno.
The presence of European golfers in Victoriaville is not the result of chance. It is the beginning of a cooperation between the Alps Tour and the Circuit Canada Pro Tour. This first step should lead in the short term to the presentation of a competition between both Tours.
This event, sponsored by Plombaction Group in conjunction with Baton Rouge, Investors Group, Fibrobec and the City of Victoriaville, is offering an overall prize money of $ 175,000 and the winner will go with a cheque of $ 30,000.
In addition to the European delegation, the Canada Sani Marc – Desjardins Cup will bring together a squad of 156 golfers from across Canada and the United States.
Ontario title holder Eric Hawerchuk confirmed his participation as well as former Canada Cup champions Sani Marc – Desjardins Dave Levesque (2010), Bryn Parry (2011, 2012), Oliver Tubb (2014) and Lee Curry (2015).
The tenors of the Quebec scene will naturally be on the list with Marc-Étienne Bussières (Longchamp), second in the Coors Light Ranking and champion of the Quebec Canam Open presented by Desjardins, and Pierre-Alexandre Bédard Cap-Rouge), Desjardins Securities Tournament winner René Gagnon, Sonny Michaud (La Tempête), Tim Alarie (Saint-Jérôme), Jérôme Blais (Venice), Vincent Blanchette (Pinegrove), and Jean-Philip Cornellier (Knowlton), the recent winner of the PGA Championship of Canada.
14th June 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
James Played Sharp in Italy
England’s James Sharp showed his talent today on La Pinetina golf course. He fired 62, 8 under par, his best score ever in a competition. He has a two shot lead over a group of 5 players including European Tour winner Italy’s Marco Crespi.
Sharp confessed at the beginning of the tournament that money will shortly because an issue if he wants to keep on playing on Alps tour. This emergency seemed to give him wings and skills to shot his best score ever in a tournament.
« This my score ever in competition, by 3 shots. This event is my last event if I don’t get enough money this. I fell like I have been playing well all year. To be honest, I have been making silly mistakes and made triples and so on but today, I avoid these mistakes.
On the last one, I holed about 10 meters. I saw that the leaders were -6 and I was -7. I had a good line and a good pace, I had the pace all day so.
Tomorrow will be very hot in the afternoon when I play so I have to be prepared, lots of water, wet towel around the neck but you know we played in Guadeloupe, Tunisia and it was hotter than this and it is the same for everyone. I will try to stay calm and not spend to much energy on silly things. »
On his toes a pack of 5 players, Italy’s Federico Felli and Marco Crespi, the latter is a multiple winner on the Alps Tour. Austria’s HP Bacher, who is playing his first season on Alps Tour and Frenchmen Marc Rodriguez Calassou and Ugo Coussaud who won in France a couple weeks ago.
9th June 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Arnaus once again in contention for maiden win
Spain’s Adria Arnaus is on his way for third attempt to grab maiden win on Alps Tour. The young player, still amateur ranked 50th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, is playing his third tournament on the rising stars golf circuit and finished twice second.
After brilliant second round of 64, -6 he led the Villaverde Open by one single shot, with -10 total, over Alps Tour leader France’s Ugo Coussaud. The latter signed for same score.
Should Arnaus have learn from his previous runner-up places, the third time would be the right one to lift a trophy. He is currently second at the ranking with only 2 events played.
Other men in form should be watched as a group of 4 players are only 2 shots back of the lead, Frenchmen Grégoire Schoeb and Xavier Poncelet, Italy’s Jacopo Vecchi Fossa and Kiwi Shaun Jones.
27th May 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Coussaud wins battle of nerves in Paris
France’s Ugo Coussaud defeated Spain’s amateur Adri Arnaus after 5th extra hole and grabbed his maiden win as a pro. He started the day 9 shots back of the lead, produced the best score of the day 66 and eventually after more than an hour of play-off, lifted the trophy of inaugural Golf Open Clément Ader.
It was a tough day for the overnight leader. Young amateur from Spain could not do better today than 74 and holed for a birdie to gt into a play-off. On the other hand, Ugo Coussaud kept on surfing on his good form – he finished second last week- and signed for stunning 66.
« I did not expect this win this morning. I was 9 shots back. But I started well but I knew I had to go low if I wanted to get closer to the podium. During the play-off it was really difficult as the 8th is a short par 4 but not so easy to make a birdie and on the 18th Adria made a mistake ending in the water so I took advantage of it. My golf now is to win the Alps Tour Ranking. »
The third player on the podium is last week winner, Austria’s Lukas Nemecz. Thanks to back to back good results, he enters Alps Tour ranking top 3. Coussaud is the new leader is second. Former leader Lars Van Meijel slept the fourth place and Julien Brun is 5th.
25th May 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Spanish Amateur Adria Arnaus storms clear in Paris
Spain’s amateur Adria Arnaus, 60th at World Amateur Golf Ranking, signed for opening 66, 6 under par card during first round of inaugural Open Golf Clément Ader Paris. France’s Ugo Coussaud, is one shot back and David Morago of Spain is two shots further.
The 22 year old just won last week the Spanish Amateur Championship and his good form followed him in France. He was -8 until the last too holes, the 8th and 9th but unfortunately he dropped back to back shots heading to the club house. The young man, recently graduated in finance by Mays Business School TEXAS A&M University, won his first big title as amateur in France in 2009, the Evian Masters Junior Cup.
On his toes, Frenchman Ugo Coussaud who finished second last week in Austria.
« The course is pretty tough. There is no hole to relax. A missed shot is almost a big price to pay so I am really happy with my day. »
20th May 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Lukas Nemecz seals maiden win in Gösser Open
Austria’s Lukas Nemecz won the 25th Gösser Open on home soil. With final round 68 for -15 total, completed the 54 hole tournament with a 2 shot lead over France’s rookie Ugo Coussaud.
« Emotionally it is just really awesome. Winning a home tournament, it was great fun. It was a great week because I started shooting 64 on the first day and from that day I never left the lead. It makes a lot of fun, it was really thrilling at the end, I knew that some guys were coming close. I had a very good season on the Alps Tour in 2013 when I managed to go out for the Challenge Tour, I had a lot of top 5 and two or three runner up but I never won. The following year my brother won twice including the Gösser Open, and he is my younger brother so it is nice to at least win once, I am only one short of him now!
I manage though to stay very calm, for the last shot, it was windy and I could have been easily too long with the adrenaline as well. I had 127 meters which is normally perfect for a wedge but I hit a full sand wedge. I am very glad I made a very good shot. A bogey was a win too but it is nice finish this way.
I will now have a few Gösser ! »
Should Nemecz decides to take his Alps Tour membership he would jump the the third place of the ranking still hold by Lars Van Meijel.
