LLOYD SALTMAN ACCENTUATING THE POSITIVES FOR THIS WEEK

 

 

CHALLENGE TOUR PREVIEW

By NEIL AHERN

Lloyd Saltman is keen to shake off any 

disappointment after two bogeys on the 

final two holes cost him a first European 

Challenge Tour win in Lyon last week and 

is taking the positives as he looks to go a 

step better at this week’s D+D Real Czech 

Challenge Open.

The Scot was leading heading into the final day, and indeed the final two holes, of the ALLIANZ Open de Lyon last week after showing real nerve for most of the final day in France, but two costly bogeys at the 17^th and 18^th holes left compatriot Chris Doak to take the title following a play-off.

Saltman admitted he was hugely disappointed in the immediate aftermath of the tournament but was pleased with how the week went having set his sights on victory early on.

“It was difficult in the end,” said the 27 year old. “But at the same time I went into that week just focussed on winning and I don’t really regret anything I did.

“I tried to win it on the golf course in regular play and I took on the pin at 17 from the rough and short-sighted myself in a trap short of the green. Then I didn’t get up and down and then I was thinking I had to birdie the last.

“I saw Chris in front of me in the lead and that was hard. Little did I know he would miss the putt to win outright. I drove it into the right and caught a bad lie so couldn’t go for the green and my putt for par lipped out so it just wasn’t meant to be.

“I played well all week and it was good to be in that position. I felt really comfortable in that leading position and in my own mind I did everything right. I was in control early on so that felt great. It was a positive week really and I've taken a lot of confidence from it.”

The two-time Walker Cup player is now focussed on putting himself in with a chance again this week and, having moved to 56^th position in the Rankings thanks to his tied third finish last week, a good finish at Kunetická Hora Golf Club in the Czech Republic would guarantee him a place in the lucrative season-ending Apulia San Domenico Grand Final in two weeks’ time.

“Obviously top 45 in the Rankings is the goal and I took a good step to that last week so just the same again this week because I’m playing well,” he said.

“Confidence is what we’re looking for every week out here and I have that so I will just prepare like I do every week and hopefully I’ll put myself into contention again. If so, I think it will be a different story as last week.

“My game is in good shape and mentally I'm in good shape so I'm looking forward to the challenge this week.”

There are 11 winners from the 2012 Challenge Tour season present at the Graham Marsh-designed Kunetická Hora Golf Club this week, including winner of last week’s ALLIANZ Open de Lyon, Chris Doak.

As well as being a huge week for those in and 

around the top 20 mark, this week also marks an 

important opportunity for any players outside the top 

45 in the Rankings to push into the reckoning for the 

lucrative Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.