Saint-Omer, September 14^th, 2024- Spain’s Mario Galiano Aguilar captures his 1^st Alps Tour title at the 2024 Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open with a two-round score of 4 under-par. Tied for 2^nd place at 2 under-par: Spain’s Alvaro Hernandez Cabezuela, France’s Benjamin Kedochim, Nicolas Aparicio, and Aaron Van Hauwe (am), as well as Brandon Kewalramani from the United States of America.

Due to the delays and unfavorable weather forecast during yesterday’s round, the Tournament Committee of the 2024 Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open co-sanctioned event decided to reduce the tournament to 36 holes with no cut. Nevertheless, full points and prize money will be allocated as established.

Play was first suspended yesterday, September 13^th, at 12:05 p.m. during the morning wave of the 2^nd round of the tournament due to unplayable course conditions. The play was then called for the day at 4:00 p.m. as the course remained in unplayable conditions.

The round resumed this morning at 8:15 a.m. for the players already on the course, and the second wave of Round 2 began at 9:20 a.m. with beautiful sunny skies and a brisk temperature.

The 2024 Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open is a co-sanctioned event between the Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS) and the Alps Tour. The event is being played on the same course with alternating tee times between the Alps Tour players and LETAS players. There are 66 players competing from each tour for two different dedicated prize funds and thus trophies.

Final Round Player Quotes

Spain’s Mario Galiano Aguilar, 29, captures his 1^st Alps Tour title at the 2024 Hauts de France- Pas de Calais Golf Open. He shot a first-round score of 1 under-par, 70, and today, he shot a 3 under-par, 68, making 5 birdies, which one on the 18th hole to secure his victory and 2 bogeys. Galiano Aguilar has earned various top-20 finishes this season but hadn’t been able to come out on top. After his victory, Galiano Aguilar was very emotional, “I talked a lot with my team, and I knew coming into here I had to have a good finish. You never know what can happen in golf, but my objective was a top 5 this week and a good opportunity in Italy. This week was amazing. I played so well. It’s been about 1 month that I’ve been playing so well, and it’s incredible. I worked hard, and I can see the work I did. My goals heading into the last two events will slightly change.” Galiano Aguilar added: “I was on the lucky side of the draw this week, and I’m thankful for that. However, you know that’s golf; in one tournament, you have the bad draw, and in the next tournament, you are lucky with the draw, and this week was my lucky week.”  He also said, “To be honest, I was talking to myself during today’s round because I was in this position a while ago, and I’m telling you I was so nervous that I couldn’t handle the pressure. I practiced a lot and couldn’t put myself in position. However, I feel like my game is good enough to win tournaments out here, but one thing is saying and believing, and the other is being able to do it. Today was different, I was very nervous during the entire round but at the same time I felt very in control of myself I felt very good throughout the entire day and now I know I’m able to win out here.” Galiano Aguilar dedicated this win to: “My entire family, my girlfriends, all my friends, but for sure also for me. I put a lot of pressure on myself when I was still an amateur, and it was tough for me when I turned pro. To be honest, it’s really hard for me to tell you what I feel, but I feel so happy, very happy. I can’t wait to celebrate.”

After the 2024 Hauts de France- Pas de Calais Golf Open, France’s Benjamin Kedochim still leads the current Order of Merit standings. Brandon Kewalramani from the United States of America remains in 2^nd place, and Netherlands’s Vince Van Veen rounds out the top 3 spots.

Final Round 

Spain’s Mario Galiano Aguilar, winner of the 2024 Hauts de France- Pas de Calais Golf Open co-sanctioned tournament, earned the winning check of €6,400 and 6,525 Order of Merit points. The players competed for a prize fund of € 40.000 and 45,000 Order of Merit points.

The next event is scheduled for October 10^th– 12^th at Croara Country Club near Piacenza, Italy, for the 2024 Croara Alps Open.

LETAS

In the LET Access Series event, Australia’s Kelsey Bennett secured her first tour win at the 2024 Hauts de France Pas de Calais Golf Open after winning a one-hole play-off.

The 24-year-old sunk a 35 foot birdie to take victory over Switzerland’s Anais Maggetti and England’s Billie-Jo Smith.  After her win she commented: “This win means a lot; I missed the cut at the Rose Ladies Open last week and I was wanting the week off but I spoke to my team and they pushed me to come and play this week because a win can give you so many points on the leaderboard.”

Tournament Promoter

This week’s tournament is promoted and organized directly by the host golf club, AA Saint-Omer Golf Club.

The 2024 Hauts de France-Pas de Calais Golf Open can count on the support of the following official partners: Région Hauts-de-France, Pas-de-Calais Mon Département, CAPSO Communauté D’Agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer, Autosphere, BFM Grand Littoral, Najeti Hôtels & Golfs Collection, Brasserie Bedague, Sdez, Aramys, Golf+and Vittel. ­­­­

Alps Tour Media Contact: [email protected]

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