Born in the Ivory Coast, he came to France at a young age to pursue his passion for sport, initially tennis which he played at a high level. At the age of 15 he was introduced to golf by his mother and five years later became French Amateur Champion in 1993.. He represented France in the 1994 Eisenhower Trophy and was part of the French Amateur team for five years. In 1996, he took up a position as Golf Director of a development on Reunion Island, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Subsequently returned to tournament golf, competing on the Canadian Tour and Tour de las Americas prior to the European Challenge Tour.