Alexandre Vandermoten takes the lead at the Longwy Alps Open

Longwy, France, September 3rd, 2026 – In excellent conditions for the opening round of the Longwy Alps Open, Frenchman Alexandre Vandermoten made the most of his opportunity on Thursday. The third-ranked player on the Order of Merit carded a superb 65 (-7), including two eagles, to take the outright lead. A two-time winner on the Alps Tour this season, Vandermoten could secure direct promotion to the HotelPlanner Tour with a third victory in 2026.

The competition remains wide open, however, with five players just one shot behind. Italians Alessandro Nodari and Manfredi Manica, Frenchmen Lucas Abrial and Victor Veyret, and Spain’s Esteban Vazquez Martin share second place at -6.

Another notable performance came from handigolf player Issa Nlareb A Amang, who carded an impressive 68 (-4) despite making three bogeys. A total of 19 players broke 70 in the opening round.

Round 2 will begin at 8:10 a.m. local time from the 1st tee at UGolf Longwy International. At the conclusion of the second round, a cut will be made to the top 40 professionals and ties, including all amateurs within the cut, who will advance to the final round.

Round 1 Player Quotes

Alexandre Vandermoten :  “I was very solid all day. I didn’t make a single bogey. I had a few missed shots, but never any serious mistakes. I scored really well on the par 5s with two eagles. Whenever I had putts from inside two or three metres, I managed to hole them or come very close. I stayed very consistent mentally and remained focused throughout the day. At times, I was thinking a little too far ahead, but I quickly brought myself back to the present.”

Alessandro Nodari : “Yes, it was a good round. I started well and felt very confident off the tee with the driver. I always found the centre of the fairway. I also played the irons very well and gave myself quite a few birdie opportunities, especially on the first nine. On the back nine, I continued to play very well off the tee. Unfortunately, I lost a few shots on the greens and missed a few too many putts, but overall, I would say it was an excellent day. I have good feelings heading into tomorrow.”

Manfredi Manica : “I’m very happy with the round overall because, to be honest, I didn’t play that great. I didn’t hit only very good shots, but I found a way during the round to keep the ball in play. I think that’s one of the most important things on this course because afterwards you have a lot of birdie opportunities. I think the best club in the bag today was the putter. It was pretty solid throughout the round. I was pretty straight off the tee. Maybe it wasn’t a striking clinic, but I kept it in play, hit some good iron shots and played the par 5s solidly. There was a bit of luck as well, to be honest, but overall it was a good, simple round.”

Tournament Promoter and Sponsors

The 2026 Longwy Alps Open is promoted directly by UGolf Longwy International and is grateful for the support of the following sponsors and partners: Grand Longwy, Région Grand Est, Crédit Mutuel, Ville de Longwy, Caradvice, Kroely Mercedes, Garage Maurice, AKS, Espace Ciné, Metalica, Business Elements Reply, Black and White, Ligue Grand Est de Golf, Élevage de Septon, Avocat Santini, Muno Père et Fils, UGolf/Bluegreen and Groupe Duval.

Photo : Raffaele Canepa/Alps Tour

Alps Tour Media Contact- Nathan Cardet : [email protected]

For further information, please visit the official Alps Tour website at www.alpstourgolf.com or download the official Alps Tour Golf mobile application, available on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android). Stay updated by following the Alps Tour on social media via Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and X.

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