Far (too!) Far from the buzz of the PGA Tour, the European circuit continues its smooth recovery with a second tournament in a row in Austria co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Challenge Tour. The members of the second division will mainly inflate the contingent of golfers participating in the Euram Bank Open, whose endowment (500,000 euros) remains too modest to attract the leaders of the old continent. Sixteen Tricolores will be at the start of this race disputed on the GC Adamstal of Ramsau, where the management of the altitude will be essential (1100m). Joël Stalter seems to have found the key to the Austrian ball trajectories since he finished 15th last week at the Austrian Open (disputed in the lowlands) and he remains on a top 10 on this same mountain track last season.
Julien Quesne, course record holder
Another Tricolor should be particularly comfortable on this very short course (less than 6000m to more than 1000m of altitude where the balls fly further!) Since Julien Quesne is the holder of the course record! Le Manceau had a huge Sunday 61 last season to snatch a top 20, after nine faultless birdies. Missing his second round last week, the double winner on the European Tour will try to start his season on the right track. Damien Perrier, author of a podium and a simulator victory during the European Tour truce, signed a good second round last week despite a missed cut. We will also be watching Felix Mory (18th at the Austrian Open), as well as Grégory Bourdy and Jérôme Lando-Casanova, who both had the cut last week.
An ideal opportunity to extend on the European Tour
Contested for the third year in a row, the Euram Bank Open will be amputated from its two former winners. Most of the players guaranteed to participate in the UK Swing which begins next week have preferred to ignore, apart from the Dutch Joost Luiten who is a favorite. The Habs must take the opportunity to sign a beautiful result and extend the adventure in the first division. Especially since the Challenge Tour will take a break until September after this diptych of Austrian appetizers.
Euram Bank Open (European Tour / Challenge Tour) - 500,000 euros in funding
Players to watch
Martin Wiegele (Aut), Matthew Baldwin (Ang), Adri Arnaus and Borja Virto (Esp), Sami Valimaki and Kim Koivu (Fin), Bernd Ritthamer, Alexander Knappe, Marcel Schneider and Sebastien Heisele (All), Lorenzo Gagli, Joost Luiten (PB) and Francesco Laporta (Ita)
The French engaged
Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Damien Perrier, Mathieu Fenasse, Ugo Coussaud, Gary Stal, Joël Stalter, Frédéric Lacroix, Félix Mory, Clément Berardo, Jérôme Lando-Casanova, Grégory Bourdy, Julien Quesne, Victor Riu. Julien Brun, Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon and Édouard Dubois