Hertfordshire professional Matt Wallace won his sixth tournament of the Alps Tour schedule to cap off a stunning season, which has seen him win promotion to the Challenge Tour in 2017.
The 26 year old from Moor Park Golf Club added to his impressive haul of wins on the Europe-based developmental tour with victory in the the final event of the season, the Abruzzo Open, held at Miglianico Golf & Country Club in Italy.
Wallace fired rounds of 63, 70, 66 and 68 for a 17-under-par winning total. He birdied the 17th hole, despite hitting his tee shot onto the 14th fairway, and then parred the par-five last to clinch a one-stroke win over France’s Richard Jouven.
Speaking after his triumph, which boosted his total earnings from the Alps Tour this season to just under €50,000, Wallace said: “It has been a really hard week. With so much at stake for so many players, I knew everyone would be looking to go all out from the first round. Although I already had my Challenge Tour card in the bag, I wanted to finish the season with another win, and I’m delighted to have done that. This was definitely the most difficult victory of the year.”
Wallace, who has recently signed a contract to be represented by Chubby Chandler’s ISM player management company next season, added: “I will never forget my time on the Alps Tour. To win six times has been beyond my wildest dreams. It’s also been a lot of fun. I’ve made lots of friends and played on some fantastic courses. I’ve played on the European Tour and the Challenge Tour, but I have never experienced the atmosphere that you find on the Alps Tour.”
With the top five players in the order of merit earning promotion to the Challenge Tour, Wallace will be joined by fellow Hertfordshire player Tom Shadbolt, who finished fourth, as well as Italians Enrico Di Nitto and Federico Maccario, and Frenchman Victor Perez.