The golf course of Wimereux, one of the four courses on the program of the Pro Am of the Opal Coast. © DR

« When we heard President Macron's speech on TV in the evening, we took a cold shower and a big blow to the head. I called Christophe Muniesa (the director general of the French federation) who confirmed to me that the golf courses were also forced to close on Friday. " Organizer of the Pro Am de la Côte d'Opale for more than a quarter of a century, Christophe Cantegrel still evokes with a little twinge in his heart this 27^e edition like no other. “In terms of emotion, I had never experienced that. Already that it had been so difficult to organize… ”

Wednesday October 28, 20 p.m. and dust. After several minutes of a long intervention on TV, President Emmanuel Macron announces that he will once again close the country in a double turn… from Friday. "We all thought that if the confinement were to take place, it would be from the following Monday, just to end the school holidays and give people time to organize themselves", says Christophe. Consequence: the most important French Pro Am, which had just started the same morning, is in turn forced to close the ban on Thursday evening, two days earlier than expected. The 71 teams of enthusiasts from all over the country devour the four golfing treats that are Belle Dune, Le Touquet, Hardelot and Wimereux will remain hungry and will only play half of the courses.

Christophe Cantegrel, the founder and organizer of Pro Am.

“I was really disappointed for everyone, it's a real moment of conviviality that we live together every year with this Pro Am. I was also pleasantly surprised to have so many people. (284 attendees) despite the situation and having so few last minute withdrawals. Only two Belgian teams scratched at the last moment. These are real fans who were present ... " By postponing “his” Pro Am from the end of April to the end of October, Christophe Cantegrel had nevertheless done everything so that the party took place. "This is our 27^e edition and it was by far the most difficult to organize, if only nervously. We have constantly adapted to new constraints, health measures, masks, social distancing, curfew… A week before during the Pro-Am in Biarritz, we had been able to use the Palais des Congrès and its 800 m² by setting up tables of four. There, ten days before, we learned that we could not use the Palais de l'Europe to organize the daily prize-giving. So we have landscapingé a virtual prize-giving on facebook live, the winners then coming to collect their prizes at the Carré Golf store in Le Touquet. "

Despite everything, the prize awarded to the pros (690 euros) has been paid in full. "Out of solidarity and because the profession has suffered a lot this year, specifies Christophe Cantegrel. The pros need them and we all need them to play these Pro Ams. » For the record, it was the team of Rebetz's (very nice) golf pro, Benjamin Forges, who won the bet on two rounds in the Brut classification, along with amateurs Adrien Bureau (index 5,1), Dimitri Mayer (1,5) and Guillaume Vastel (4). The mixed team of Eric Zancanaro, Marie Foratier (28,2), Tania Cadudal (14,9) and Eric Baledent (5,6) dominated the ranking in Net and won the Under Armor windbreakers offered among the many lots this year. Among the pros, the local boy and resident of the Alps Tour Félix Mory is the only one to have braved the elements and played in the par on both tours. It must be said that the goddesses of luck Fortuna and Tyché had decided to stir the knife in the wound by scheduling a Wednesday and Thursday as windy as it is rainy, but only on the northern tip of France, before continuing with two days sunny. There are weeks or even years like this ...

Frank Crudo

https://www.proamcotedopale.com/resultats-2020.html