Round 1 plays (1pt):
Alexander Noren to beat Rafa Echenique -111 @ Bet365
Echenique has finished 2nd in the BMW International Open in June and 13th the week later in the Open in France, but in the rest of his last seven events, he has missed the cut every time. Both of those good finishes were on flat courses and that is certainly not the case this week at the Prosper Golf Resort. On this mountainous terrain the advantage should further be with Noren who has played well on similar courses at the Estoril Open de Portugal and the Madeira Island Open.
Alexander Noren to beat Ricardo Gonzalez +110 @ Stan James [tie loses]
Opposing Gonzalez this week after he recorded his first Tour win for five years last week. He had failed to record a single top-10 finish all season and was in danger of losing his Tour privileges for 2010 after falling to 153rd in the Race to Dubai standings. Gonzalez certainly had reason to celebrate and that should make victory easier for Noren whose Tour Card is already secure for next season.
Tano Goya to beat Jeppe Huldahl +110 @ Stan James [tie loses]
Huldahl's last eight finishes read: mc, mc, mc, 1st, mc, mc, mc, 3rd! There may be good value in backing him in the outright markets, but he is clearly one to oppose in matches. The last time that Huldahl shot a lower 1st round score was 13 weeks ago, so I'm confident that he won't do so again this week.
James Kingston to beat Seve Benson -120 @ Bet365
On the 'hilly courses' angle, Benson is 2-for-2 in missed cuts this season (in Wales and Portugal) and while he has shown some improved form recently, he has not shown it in the 1st round. In 17 starts this year, he has broken 70 just once ... and that was 69! Easy to see why he has shot a lower 1st round score than Kingston just twice this year.
Jose Manuel Lara to beat David Horsey -111 @ Bet365
Lara's form on 'hilly' courses (events in Wales, Portugal, Madeira, Switzerland) stand up to any player in this field ... 13 cuts made in 15 starts over last 5 seasons, including three top-10 finishes. So with the Spaniard also showing better recent form - he has finished ahead of Horsey in four of their last five common events - he should win this matchup.
Alexander Noren to beat Rafa Echenique -111 @ Bet365
Echenique has finished 2nd in the BMW International Open in June and 13th the week later in the Open in France, but in the rest of his last seven events, he has missed the cut every time. Both of those good finishes were on flat courses and that is certainly not the case this week at the Prosper Golf Resort. On this mountainous terrain the advantage should further be with Noren who has played well on similar courses at the Estoril Open de Portugal and the Madeira Island Open.
Alexander Noren to beat Ricardo Gonzalez +110 @ Stan James [tie loses]
Opposing Gonzalez this week after he recorded his first Tour win for five years last week. He had failed to record a single top-10 finish all season and was in danger of losing his Tour privileges for 2010 after falling to 153rd in the Race to Dubai standings. Gonzalez certainly had reason to celebrate and that should make victory easier for Noren whose Tour Card is already secure for next season.
Tano Goya to beat Jeppe Huldahl +110 @ Stan James [tie loses]
Huldahl's last eight finishes read: mc, mc, mc, 1st, mc, mc, mc, 3rd! There may be good value in backing him in the outright markets, but he is clearly one to oppose in matches. The last time that Huldahl shot a lower 1st round score was 13 weeks ago, so I'm confident that he won't do so again this week.
James Kingston to beat Seve Benson -120 @ Bet365
On the 'hilly courses' angle, Benson is 2-for-2 in missed cuts this season (in Wales and Portugal) and while he has shown some improved form recently, he has not shown it in the 1st round. In 17 starts this year, he has broken 70 just once ... and that was 69! Easy to see why he has shot a lower 1st round score than Kingston just twice this year.
Jose Manuel Lara to beat David Horsey -111 @ Bet365
Lara's form on 'hilly' courses (events in Wales, Portugal, Madeira, Switzerland) stand up to any player in this field ... 13 cuts made in 15 starts over last 5 seasons, including three top-10 finishes. So with the Spaniard also showing better recent form - he has finished ahead of Horsey in four of their last five common events - he should win this matchup.
