Antoine Rozner is hoping for more home-soil success as the European Challenge Tour returns to France a third time this season for the Cordon Golf Open.
The last time the Challenge Tour was in his native land, the Frenchman carded four consecutive rounds in the 60s on his way to a tied fourth place finish at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge — his second best result this year.
“It’s always different playing at home, having your home crowd there,” he said. “People like to see you and are cheering for you so it’s fun.
“A win in France, especially here, would be great. This is such a nice place. Some guys in the clubhouse were telling me this morning that we need a Frenchman to win. I told them I was planning on it, so we’ll see how that goes and I’ll give it my best.”
Playing in his first full season on Europe’s top developmental circuit after graduating from the satellite Alps Tour, the 25 year old is quickly learning what it takes to succeed in the upper echelons of professional golf.
“It’s different. The courses are very different than on the Alps Tour. They’re in better condition and the fields are better. Usually on the Alps Tour there are 20 to 30 guys that can win, but on the Challenge Tour it feels like almost everybody can, so that’s a big difference.
“Making the cut is not easy on the Challenge Tour either. You need to be playing well the first two days in order to make the cut.
“It’s really a battle because everybody plays well. Usually in the second round you can be in the top 20 and only a few shots off the cut line, but also only a few shots off the lead, which makes it hard to decide how to play while you’re on the course.
“Which strategy to go with? Do you play more aggressively or more conservatively?”
It has been a mixed bag for the Paris resident this season as he tries to strike the right balance in the approach he takes. Along with his recent success in France, there is a tied second place finish to his name at the56º Open de Portugal @ Morgado Golf Resortin May.
The two strong showings stand in contrast to several missed cuts and a handful of middling results that currently leave him in the 39thposition on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah. Rozner however, sees the bigger picture and knows that there is still plenty of opportunity to make a move up the Rankings, even with just eight events to go.
“I think on the Challenge Tour what you need to do is play well when you’re having a good week,” he said. “You’ll never have good weeks all the time, but whenever you have one you need to perform well. That’s what I’ve been doing so far.
“My mid-season goal was to be at the Rolex Trophy last week. I did that, and I was quite happy with it. The biggest events are still coming so I’m really excited to be part of the rest of the season and we’ll see how it goes.”
With an increased prize fund of €230,000, there is plenty to play for at the 6,468-yard Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André.
“Now it’s all about playing well in these last events. They are so big and the prize money is so much bigger than normal. Anything in the top three could move you all the way up, maybe into the top 15 on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah.
“I’ve just got to play well and take it one shot at a time. It’s only my first season on the Challenge Tour so I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself right now, but I’m really hoping to play well going into the end of the season.”
