Marc-Olivier Plasse showed the full extent of his talent and strength of character during the East Coast Pro Tour (ECPT) opening tournament on Wednesday in Toronto. Five strokes behind at the start of the day, the Mercier golfer finally got his hands on his first professional title.
Posted yesterday at 8:15 p.m.
Several players from the PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica attended the Toronto Open presented by Courtyard Marriott at Lionhead Golf Club in Brampton, Ontario.
Marc-Olivier Plasse finished eighth overall on the circuit last season and the 26-year-old had every intention of starting strong.
However, it was local favorite Sebastian Szirmak who had the better start. During the first round on Tuesday, which offered players good conditions despite a fairly strong wind, the Torontonian gave a card of 67 (-5). He had a truly exceptional back nine, hitting three consecutive birdies and an eagle between holes 13 to 16.
The best Quebecer was Max Gilbert, at -2. The Saint-Georges golfer finished first overall last season.
At the end of the first round, Plasse was five strokes behind.
“I felt like I was playing well in the first round, but I was a bit lacking in letting go, I was a lot in my head. There was a bit of hesitation in my game,” Plasse explained after the tournament.
image courtesy of East Coast Pro Tour
A perfect day
It was during the final round that Plasse really got going. He had made a good game plan with his coach Benoit Lemieux and his mental trainer, Sarah Brisson-Legault, before starting the round. He thinks he started the round with a better approach than the day before.
The Mercier player is known to be one of the best prepared players on the circuit. He analyzes the game and the elements of the field as few know how to do and he believes he has made the necessary adjustments to better attack the last round.
The temperature was perfect and the conditions were optimal to allow golfers to fully express themselves, according to the founder of the circuit Massimo Roch.
Plasse took the opportunity to hand over a 32 (-4) card on the front nine. He played a shot under par on the back nine, thanks in particular to a huge putt on the 17thand hole, a par 3 of 170 yards. He stalled a 20-foot long putt for the birdie. His competitors were unable to keep up the pace thereafter.
Leader after the first day, Szirmak collapsed, with in particular a bogey at 15and hole and a double bogey at 16and. He missed a putt for the birdie on the next hole and it was over for the Torontonian.
Plasse was therefore able to savor his first professional victory in his career thanks to a cumulative score of -5. “I didn’t expect to win the tournament. It’s a pretty amazing feeling. »
With this win, he secures a spot in the Canada Cup and also takes first place in the league standings.
“One of my goals this year was to win one or more tournaments, so I’m really happy to have sorted that out in the first tournament. One of my biggest goals is to finish first at the GolfIn Cup [classement général]. It gives me a lot of confidence, I’m looking forward to the rest of the summer. »
The next ECPT tournament will take place at Château Bromont on May 29 and 30.