Andrea Pavan returns to Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André hoping to draw on the memories of his last appearance at the Cordon Golf Open, when he walked away with the trophy.
The Italian went wire-to-wire in 2013 on his way to topping the European Challenge Tour Rankings, but that victory remains his most recent of four triumphs on Europe’s top developmental tour.
The 27 year old has four top-ten finishes this season and currently sits in 31stplace in the Road to Oman Rankings, so is hopeful of a strong week in France to boost his claims of a return to the European Tour for next season.
“It is nice to be back,” he said. “I can bring some good memories back here, which is great, and it’s just good to be back here again.
“I remember the course pretty well and I think it’s playing a little softer on the greens but they’ll probably firm up, and that’s what I remember from three years ago, as long as the weather stays dry.
“It’s a special place, and quite a unique golf course in the way that it’s hilly but at the same time you’ve got to really control the ball off the tee and into the greens, because it can get really windy out here and a little bouncy at times.
“It will be important to find a strong game because I remember when I played here three years ago my long game was pretty solid and that’s really key out here.
“My form is pretty good, but not yet where I’d like it to be. I need to find a little more of a go-to shot off the tee but I’m working on it and hopefully I get to have a few good weeks coming up.
“I’m scoring well, managing to put some good numbers up, and that’s good, especially when you don’t feel like you’re doing great, and I think that if I can be a little more consistent and control my misses off the tee a bit better I can be in contention.
“I remember I played really well for three rounds and I didn’t hit many drivers out here – there will be guys going aggressively and there will be guys holding back a bit more – but at the end of the day it’s all about control, being in the fairway and giving yourself good chances.
“It’s not a long course but if the wind blows it is tricky, especially if the greens firm up a bit, and you’ve got the elevation and not too many flat lies, so it’s a good course.”
