Clément Berardo believes that the experience of challenging for a European Tour title at the recent Trophée Hassan II will spur him on to greater things as the Frenchman aims to emulate the strong early season form of compatriots Matthieu Pavon and Clément Sordet on the Challenge Tour.
The Auxerre player, who is attached to European Tour Destination Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort, announced himself on the top tier of European golf earlier this month in Morocco, where he was one shot off the lead heading into the final day before finishing in a tie for third place.
He makes his third Challenge Tour start this season, and his first since that career-best European Tour result, at this week’s D+D REAL Czech Challenge and the 29 year old understandably has an extra spring in his step.
“It’s been a good season so far even if I haven’t played many tournaments on the European Tour,” said Berardo, who claimed the 22nd card at last November’s Qualifying School Final Stage, having holed out for an eagle two on the opening hole of the final round (see video below).
“I have made a few cuts and played really well in Morocco which is really good because I know now that I can play well and I can do it on the European Tour – it’s hard to believe that completely until you do it.
“Now I know I have the game to win a tournament or challenge for the top spot. It shows that the hard work I have been doing with my mental coach and my swing coach is taking me in the right direction.
“It’s hard to describe all of the different feelings I had in Morocco, even in French it’s hard to describe, because it’s so big, so exciting – there was fear, disappointment, happiness – and it’s all about what’s going on inside of you, in your heard and your gut.
“It was my first time so it was probably bigger than it will ever be but I hope I will experience it many other times, and next time it will be a bit more relaxed.”
Berardo is the latest in a long line of French players emerging on to the Challenge Tour scene – Sordet has already notched up a second career victory this season while Pavon currently leads the Road to Oman after a an impressively consistent start to the year.
Clément Sordet after winning the 2016 Turkish Airlines Challenge
He believes there are myriad different factors contributing to the increasing success of French golf, not least the influence of Victor Dubuisson, the hosting of the Ryder Cup in France in 2018 and the strength of the amateur system thanks to the support of the Fédération Française de Golf (FFG).
“I think it is all of those things together,” he said. “I play golf with Clément a lot, as well as Alexander Levy and Victor. When you see them winning events on tour you can say, ‘well they did it so why can’t I do it too’.
“I think the French federation did a really good job helping us players when we were amateurs too so when we turn pro we are really well prepared.”
Of the course this week in Czech Republic, Berardo said: “I played some of the holes before the storms moved in to stop practice, and it’s really good.
“It’s not wide but it’s not too tight either. If you’re on the fairway it’s much easier to get it onto the green, like any course, but the rough is tough. The greens are really nice, lots of slopes so it’s going to be important to get the right puts – play for the right part of the greens.”
