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**truebluefan** · 03-09-2008, 09:27 PM

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**truebluefan** · 04-24-2008, 07:38 PM

Argentine Estanislao Goya heads the field at the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne this week as The European Challenge Tour stages its first tournament in Europe on the 2008 Schedule.

Goya, who has won €34,231 after the first six events of the season, will be hoping to extend his lead at the top of the Rankings at the Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André, France, from April 23-26.

He is currently €2,786 ahead of Finland’s Antti Ahokas in the Challenge Tour Rankings after Ahokas finished runner up at the ll Club Colombia Masters at the Country Club de Bogotá in the Challenge Tour’s last event.

The South American teenager gained his maiden Challenge Tour win at the 77° Abierto VISA del Centro 2008 presentado por Personal at the Córdoba Golf Club in his home country at the end of March and enters the tournament on the back of a tie for fifth place in the ll Club Colombia Masters.

So far the Challenge Tour has visited South America and Kenya but it reaches Europe for the seventh tournament of the year.
The AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne also represents Goya’s debut in the continent on The Challenge Tour.

With three top five finishes to his name already this year, the 19 year old will be looking to extend his lead at the top of the Challenge Tour Rankings by following in the footsteps of last year’s winner, former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker of England.

Baker, who was Vice Captain to Ian Woosnam at The 2006 Ryder Cup, celebrated his 40th birthday in
the 2007 event by beating fellow Englishman Ross McGowan at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off to secure a return to The European Tour.

Baker’s 1993 Ryder Cup teammate Joakim Haeggman is also included in the field as he continues his attempt to revive his career which has been affected by injury in recent years.

Denmark’s Anders Schmidt Hansen, England’s Ben Mason and Ireland’s Colm Moriarty all head to the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne looking to add to their only victories on the Challenge Tour, which were gained last year.

They will be joined by Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey and Belgium’s Nicolas VanHootegem, both Challenge Tour winners last year, in the field which will compete for a €140,000 prize fund.

**truebluefan** · 04-24-2008, 07:39 PM

A sensational finish saw Scotland’s David Drysdale leap into a share of the lead with England’s Gary Clark on the opening day of the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne on the European Challenge Tour.

With six holes of his round left to play at the Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André in France, Drysdale – who started on the tenth – trailed Clark by six shots.

But the Edinburgh-born 33 year old made birdies at the fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth holes, and added a superb eagle at the seventh to take a share of the lead on five under par.

Two-time Challenge Tour winner Drysdale, who recently finished 15th at the Estoril Open de Portugal on The European Tour, said: “I’m not quite sure where that finish came from, but I’ll certainly take it.

“I’ve been really struggling on the greens recently, but today a few putts dropped for a change. If the weather holds out, I’d expect to see some low scoring over the next few days. Minus 12 won the tournament last time, but I don’t think it’ll be the case again this year.”

Drysdale shares the lead with Clark, who carded six birdies and a bogey en route to a five under par round of 65.

Clarke came into the tournament high on confidence, having recorded top five finishes last month at the MAPFRE Open de Andalucia by Valle Romano on The European Tour and the Tusker Kenya Open on the Challenge Tour.

But the 27 year old feels he is merely getting back into the groove following a three week lay-off.

He said: “I felt a bit rusty today and didn’t play particularly well, but I sunk a few putts which always helps keep the score down. It’s a fantastic course and the weather was very kind to us – so it was a case of making hay while the sun shines, because it’ll be very tough if we get any wind or rain.”

Clark currently leads by one shot from Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman, Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey and France’s Charles-Edouard Russo.

Haeggman rediscovered some of the form which saw him become the first Swede to play in The Ryder Cup in 1993 when he carded a four under par round of 66.

Haeggman, whose recent career has been blighted by a loss of form and fitness, matched the round of his playing partner Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland to take a share of second place.

The Swede is only competing on the Challenge Tour after deciding to give golf “one last try”, having considered quitting after losing his appetite for the game.

But after being reunited with Simon Holmes, who coached him to victory at the 2004 Qatar Masters, Haegmann has fallen back in love with the game.

He said: “In my darkest days, of course I considered quitting the game and doing something else. But I thought I’d give it one more year, and I’m glad I did. That’s the best I’ve played for at least two years. Hopefully I can earn my card on The European Tour and get back to where I was.”

The highlight of his playing partner’s round was an ace on the 15th hole. Hoey, seeking his third Challenge Tour title, recovered from a dropped shot on the opening hole to collect four birdies and that sublime eagle for a four under par round of 66.

The Belfast resident, a former British Amateur Champion, received a pat on the back from Haeggman after he aced the par three 15th.

Hoey, who was a member of the triumphant 2001 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, said: “I thought to myself when I got on to the tee it would be a nice opportunity for a hole-in-one, and so it proved.

“The hole was only 120 yards long, so I hit a sand wedge. It pitched just beyond the flag and spun back into the cup. That capped a really pleasing round, especially since I’d got off to a fairly shaky start.”

**truebluefan** · 04-24-2008, 07:40 PM

Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts has a battle on his hands to fend off a trio of challengers at the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne.

Colsaerts carded a five under par round of 65 on the second day at Golf BlueGreen de Pléneuf Val André to lead by two shots from England’s Andrew Butterfield, Sweden’s Andreas Högberg, and rising star Estanisloa Goya of Argentina.

Londoner Butterfield, who moved into contention with his second consecutive round of 68, said: “This game’s all about consistency, and I guess you can’t get much more consistent than that.”

Butterfield credits a change of coach in his upturn in fortunes, and leader Colsaerts has also recently been making wholesale changes to his set-up.

The Belgian, seeking his maiden Challenge Tour title, said: “I should’ve changed my grip years ago, because it wasn’t really working for me. I’ve done a lot of work and practice on it over the winter, but I still didn’t expect to do so well here, because I haven’t played competitively for a few months. Maybe I should take a rest more often!”

One player who is match sharp is Goya, currently the leader in the Rankings after one win and two top five finishes in his last three tournaments.

The young Argentine, playing his first event in Europe as a professional, said: “I hope to follow Andres Romero and Angel Cabrera onto The European Tour – that is my dream.”

Earlier in the day, joint overnight leader David Drysdale of Scotland carded a battling round of 72. With morning conditions more in keeping with his native Berwickshire than Brittany, Drysdale was unable to repeat the fireworks he produced yesterday.

Instead, the 33 year old – seeking his third European Challenge Tour title – had to settle for a two over par round which keeps him one clear of his nearest challenger and fellow morning starter Charles-Edouard Russo, who carries the home nation’s hopes.

Drysdale said: “It was tough going out there, what with the wind, the showers and the difficult pin positions. With conditions improving, I would imagine there will be a few low scores in the afternoon. But at least I’ve given myself a chance going into the final two rounds.”

**truebluefan** · 04-26-2008, 07:10 PM

No fewer than seven players are tied for second behind Sweden’s Andreas Högberg, who sits at the top of a packed leaderboard after day three of the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne on the European Challenge Tour.

Högberg, the latest youngster off the production line of Swedish golfing talent, was on course to establish a comfortable lead going into the final day at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André, until his charge was derailed when a hooked drive led to a lost ball and a quadruple bogey eight at the 14th hole.

That saw him drop from eight under par to four under, and he suffered further misfortune with a bogey on the 15th.

Högberg, playing his first full season on the Challenge Tour, said: “My hands were shaking and my head was swimming after that, so I was just happy to play the last three holes well and even finish with a birdie. That made me feel much better, and now hopefully I can forget about the 14th and sleep well tonight.”

That birdie on the final hole meant Högberg signed for a round of 70 to finish day three on four under par.

The young Swede, whose close friend Alexander Noren is now a European Tour member, said: “I’ve never led going into the final round before, so it’s a new experience for me – but I’m looking forward to it.”

Högberg will play in the final group with Joakim Haeggman, whose career has been seemingly rejuvenated by his decision to revert back to his former coach Simon Holmes.

The former Ryder Cup player shot a 67 – the lowest round of the day – to finish on three under par, along with Australia’s Andrew Tampion.

The pair were joined on three under by a quintet of Brits: David Drysdale of Scotland, and Englishmen Andrew Butterfield, Stuart Davis, David Horsey and Robert Rock.

Having opened the tournament on Wednesday with a triple bogey seven, Rock – the club professional at The Belfry – did not expect to be in contention with 18 holes left to play.

But with just Högberg ahead of him on the leaderboard, he has his sights set on claiming his first Challenge Tour title.

Rock said: “All sorts of things were going through my head after that seven on the first hole – like would I even make the cut? But I played very well for the remainder of the round, and even though I haven’t played particularly well over the past two days, I’ve hung in there. To be in with a shout of winning is a surprise – but it’s a nice surprise.”

Butterfield was also mildly disappointed with his round of 71, but feels his game is in good enough shape to record a maiden Challenge Tour victory.

He said: “I’d love to win, though I’ll probably have to play a bit better than I did today. But I know I can, because I struck the ball nicely on the first two days. If I can play like that again on the final day, I’ll have half a chance.”

Argentina’s Estanisloa Goya, Number One in the Rankings, saw his chances of gaining his second Challenge Tour title disappear with a nine on the final hole.

**truebluefan** · 04-26-2008, 07:11 PM

Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman took his first step on the road to regaining his place amongst the golfing elite with victory at the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne on the European Challenge Tour.

Haeggman, who made a miraculous up and down on the final hole at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André to save par, carded a final round 68 to finish on five under par and take the title by one shot from England’s Marcus Higley.

Higley shot a 67 – the lowest round of the day – to finish on four under par, with Sweden’s Andreas Högberg, Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin and Italy’s Allesandro Tadini in a tie for third two shots further back.

But the day belonged to Haeggman, whose last victory came at the Qatar Masters in 2004, since when a loss of form and fitness has seen him slide down the Rankings and lose his card on The European Tour.

The Swede, who now heads to Seville to compete at the Open de Espana on The European Tour, attributes his reversal in fortunes to his decision to reunite with Simon Holmes, who coached him for 16 years before the pair split in 2006.

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