Jérôme Lando Casanova is relishing a return to his home country as the in-form Frenchman arrives at the Open Blue Green Cotes d`Armor Bretagne chasing a big result to launch him into top 15 of the European Challenge Tour Rankings.
The 29 year old is currently 20th in the Rankings after a second top ten in as many weeks at the Northern Ireland Open Challenge in association with Maui Jim Sunglasses last week, where he finished in a share of third place.
Lando Casanova’s form has come at just the right time, with six events remaining before the season-ending Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club, where the top 15 players in the Rankings will graduate to The European Tour.
The eighth edition of this week’s event at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André carries a prize fund of €200,000 for the first time, and Lando Casanova is hoping he can capitalise on his run of good form and contend for a maiden title on home soil.
“I really like the place,” said the former Alps Tour winner. “I like the golf course because it’s very tough, especially with the wind. It’s narrow, you have to be good from tee to green and usually the greens are good.
“I am a straight player from the tee, so it’s good for me and my putting is getting better.
“My game is not quite in the best shape yet, but I feel good about it. Really this season has been only about my putting. My game has been consistent all year, from the very start to now, but my putting has not been consistent. Any time I missed cuts it was only because of my putter. I have worked on it a lot in the last two months, and it’s getting better now.
“I felt comfortable here last year and it made me confident about the rest of that season and about this season. It’s a home tournament so I know a lot of people there, and the fans are good.
“At the start of the season my first goal was just to try and finish in the top 45. This is only my second year on the Challenge Tour, but I'm in a position to reach that goal.
“If I could reach the top 15 it would be just a bonus for me, so it’s not pressure I feel, just excitement.
“I have a good feeling about the end of the season. I don’t know when it’s going to happen but I have a good feeling something big will happen. Who knows, maybe it will be this week.”
Lando Casanova will be joined in the field by the two Frenchman who have won on the Challenge Tour so far this season, Thomas Linard and Benjamin Hebert, as well as Adrien Bernadet, who narrowly missed out on a first title last week in Northern Ireland, where he finished second.
Jake Roos, meanwhile, continues his chase for a third title and automatic graduation to The European Tour as the South African hopes to emulate the achievement of German Moritz Lampert.
