French Senior Champion last year and -0.5 index, Alain Boghossian does not really believe in his chances of accessing the European circuit for the over 50s. Still an amateur, he still considers himself far from the level of the pros.
Alain Boghossian, statements
“We will be six or seven amateurs, against more than 60 pros, so it is unfeasible. The goal is to continue to have fun,” smiles Alain Boghossian. “Here, it’s very long (6,371 m exactly), with a lot of water and umbrella pines, so you have to avoid hitting it,” adds the ex-footballer, 20th on Tuesday evening after the first phase (+ 3) and therefore tied with a real pro, Frédéric Cupillard.
But at a good distance from the Provençal Lionel Alexandre (6th, -3). I love to play on very beautiful courses, where the greens go fast, it’s my love
Alain Boghossian Boghossian is also the vice-president of the Valcros golf course (Var) where he mainly deals with “beautification work”.
He came to Belek with his friend Albert Galloy (28th Tuesday evening), first to “have fun and calibrate against other players. » At 52, he is the only amateur to come from another high-level sport, now a member of the French Seniors Team, with Galloy.
Boghossian has already had a lot of fun: he played +1 on Monday but got into the water from hole number 2 on Tuesday, which put “a little pressure on him”. The cut, planned at +6, seemed badly started but he “played in par on the remaining 16 holes” and completed his course with a perfect tee shot that fell on the green of 18, a par 3 of 180 m.
It was in the company of a Japanese pro, boss of YouTube in his country, who had only played +2 on Monday, less well than Boghossian therefore, but who surveyed 7 birdies on Tuesday and finished the first phase at -5: “He really wants to play the Legends in Europe,” laughs the former teammate of Laurent Blanc, an excellent golfer too.
The world champion was in the front row to enjoy the show and this beautiful old-fashioned course. “The place is calming. It’s quiet. I love playing on very beautiful courses, where the greens go fast, that’s my love”.
