Franck Daux is excited to start his rookie season on the European Challenge Tour after he shot a lifetime-best round en route to winning on the Algarve Pro Golf Tour.
The Frenchman, who qualified for the 2017 Road to Oman through the satellite Alps Tour, sent records tumbling at the Alamos Classic this week by carding rounds of 60 and 63 to reach 19 under par overall.
The 24 year old smashed the course record at Alamos Golf with nine birdies and an eagle during a phenomenal first round, following that up with an equally impressive 63 to finish four clear of his nearest rival in the 36-hole contest.
Pendant ce temps au Portugal mon gars @Franck_Daux affûte les clubs en vue de sa première saison sur le @Challenge_Tour #golf #59watch #kiki pic.twitter.com/GWnXr5CqfV
— Martin Coulomb (@MartinCoulomb) February 8, 2017
After securing his third professional win in such style, Daux is full of confidence ahead of his first campaign on Europe’s top developmental tour.
“To play the best golf of my life and win was very special,” he said. “I had been hitting the ball really well during my practice rounds, the best I have ever hit it, so I felt very good going in to the tournament.
“I had a good start and made six birdies in my first seven holes and I just kept focusing on trying to keep that momentum going.
“I kept giving myself a lot of birdie opportunities as I was driving the ball really well to leave myself with wedges in to the greens.
“To execute those shots in the way that I did kept my confidence high, and when it came to the 18thI was well-placed with 110 yards in to the green. When you play well everything seems to work for you, and I holed out on the last to make an eagle.
“I haven’t had the chance to celebrate yet as I am playing again in Portugal tomorrow, but when I get back to France I will definitely be celebrating.”
#NouvellePhotoDeProfil pic.twitter.com/1eY7SGrcgM
— Daux Franck (@Franck_Daux) February 9, 2017
It has not all been plain sailing for Daux, who initially suffered heartbreak at the end of the 2016 Alps Tour season.
Having won the satellite tour’s first two events last year he stormed to the top of the rankings – where he would remain for the majority of the campaign.
After taking an invite to play in the 100thOpen de France, and after a succession of missed cuts, the Frenchman fell off the pace and would agonisingly fall just €25 short of a spot in the top five.
But after Italy’s Enrico Di Nitto, who finished second in the Alps Tour’s Order of Merit, earned a Challenge Tour card through making the cut at European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, Daux’s position in the top five was restored – much to his delight.
“When I found out it was such a relief,” he said. “I won the first two events and was in the top five until the final so I felt that I had done enough and deserved to go up to the Challenge Tour.
“I only missed three cuts all year so looking back it was probably my decision to play in the Open de France on the European Tour which cost me. But it was such a good opportunity so I really couldn’t turn it down.
“One of the first people to contact me when I lost out was Matthieu Pavon. That was a nice touch and meant a lot to me as he had gone through a similar experience the year before – and now he’s a European Tour player.
“To be honest a few years ago I didn’t think I would ever make it on to the Challenge Tour as my game was not in a good way, so now I am very excited for next season.”
After such a bright start to 2017, what are Daux’s aims for the upcoming campaign?
“Starting off I just want to keep my Challenge Tour status for 2018,” he said. “When you play well you start to think about winning and doing well, but it is important to take it slow and play one tournament at a time.
“If everything is going well and I put in a few good performances early on then I am definitely going to aim higher, but the first step is to make sure that I reach that level of around €25,000 that you need to keep your card.”
