It’s been a baptism of fire for Alfie Plant since joining the paid ranks but after securing his first top-ten finish at last week’s Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, the Englishman is beginning to show the fruits of his labours.
The 26 year old finished tied eighth in France after a final round 68 moved him to ten under par for the week and in doing so recorded his best-ever finish on the European Challenge Tour.
Plant has secured entries into tournaments through way of invites this year and relies on finishing in the top ten in order to gain an exemption for the next event, which he has successfully achieved for this week’s Euram Bank Open in Austria.
Although he’s had his fair share of ups and downs since winning the Silver Medal at last year’s Open Championship, Plant is determined to continue working hard to improve as results slowly start to turn his way.
“My goal at the minute is to finish in the top ten every week,” he said. “I’m playing off invites this year so as many top tens I can get the better for me. I’m really pleased with last week. I was a little bit gutted with the last hole but I achieved my goal last week.
“I’m starting to play nicely now. I’ve been playing nicely for a good month but I haven’t really had the scores or the breaks. It’s not really a surprise that I’m shooting some scores as I feel like it’s been close for a while now but it’s nice to finally do it. It’s my second cut made out here so I’m trying to get as much momentum as possible.
“It’s been a rocky start, it’s been tough and I’m learning at every event out here. It’s a lot to take on board when you first get out here but I’m slowly adapting and hopefully I can just carry on now.”
The biggest thing Plant has learned in his short time as a professional golfer is the importance of self-belief, something which he has noticed in his competitors.
He said: “You’ve got to believe in yourself out here. A lot of these guys know what they’re capable of doing and every time they go out they think they’re going to do it every shot.
“There’s no time out here to second guess yourself or not take on shots when you think you need to because everyone else around you is doing that.
“You just need to make as many birdies as you can and make a sure week a sure week because if not you go home.
“I’ve got a good little stretch now. A top ten in France means I get an invite back, which is handy. It’s a good time of the year for me.
“It’s been good to me in previous years, this time, so hopefully I can keep grafting, keep trying to get better and nick a few more results.
“The last year has gone so quick. I’m gutted I wasn’t at The Open this year but I’m on my own journey now as a professional and it’s been crazy. It’s been mental; it’s had its ups, it’s had its downs but I’ve experienced everything in that year so fingers crossed things keep improving.”
This week, the European Challenge Tour heads to Austria for the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal from July 26-30.
