Alessandro Nodari leads the Hulencourt Alps Tour Grand Final after opening round

Genappe, Belgium, October 15^th, 2026 – The stakes are high at Hulencourt, Belgium, as the 2026 Alps Tour season reaches its climax. Alessandro Nodari made an excellent start to the Hulencourt Alps Tour Grand Final, carding a 66 (-6) to take the first-round lead and put himself in contention for a place in the Top 5 of the Order of Merit and promotion to the HotelPlanner Tour for 2027.

Currently ninth in the Order of Merit, the Italian made nine birdies despite a bogey on the third and a double bogey on the ninth. His six-under-par round gives him a strong start to the week, with two rounds remaining to make his move up the standings.

Ireland’s Sam Murphy, currently 15th in the Order of Merit, sits one shot back after an error-free 67 (-5). Murphy needs a victory to have a chance of breaking into the qualifying positions and kept himself in contention with a solid opening round played in dry conditions with a light breeze.

England’s Archie Smith and Spain’s Eduard Rousaud share third place at four under par. Five more players are tied at three under, leaving the leaderboard tightly packed after the opening day.

Based on the current standings, Andrea Romano would retain the Order of Merit lead, just ahead of Alexandre Vandermoten. Nodari would move into third place, ahead of Maxime Legros, while Pablo Alperi Lopez would take the fifth and final qualifying spot for the HotelPlanner Tour.

Round 2 will begin at 9:00 a.m. local time from the 10th tee at Hulencourt.

Round 1 Player Quotes

Alessandro Nodari : “I started with two birdies and felt quite relaxed because I know I have nothing to lose and everything to gain over these three rounds. I had a three-putt bogey on the third and an unfortunate double bogey on the ninth, but I didn’t get discouraged and kept taking it shot by shot, making a few more birdies. The course is beautiful, probably the best we’ve played all year. The conditions are perfect, and it’s a challenging, long and narrow course that doesn’t forgive mistakes off the tee. I know I need a win, so the pressure will increase if I keep playing well, but I’ll focus on one shot at a time.”

Sam Murphy : “It’s a nice way to start the final event of the season. The course is very demanding, with some tough tee shots where you can’t afford to miss in the wrong places. I made some important up-and-downs on the 11th and 12th to keep the round going, then birdied the 14th. Overall, I played solidly and kept the ball in play off the tee. I’m delighted with the start, but there are still two rounds to go. I’m still on the bubble and will probably need to play really well, perhaps even win, while the players ahead of me would need to drop shots. I’ll focus on continuing to play good golf and see where that takes me.”

Archie Smith : “The course is exceptional, both in terms of its condition and layout. I chipped in for par on the second to keep my momentum going, then played pretty solidly, hitting plenty of fairways and greens. I also holed some good putts, which was nice because improving my putting has been a major focus recently. I was bogey-free until the 17th, so overall I’m satisfied with the round and looking forward to tomorrow.”

Eduard Rousaud : “I didn’t feel completely comfortable, but I putted extremely well and made a lot of putts. I made a few big mistakes, but I stayed patient and mentally strong, and they were offset by a couple of birdies. The key today was my short game. My long game was solid rather than spectacular, and I also drove the ball well. The course is in great condition, so you have to play intelligently. It’s always better to start well than badly, but I don’t think too much about whether I’m doing well or need to push harder. I just give everything I can. Some days it comes together early, other days you recover later in the round. That’s golf.”

Tournament Promoter and Sponsors

The Hulencourt Alps Tour Grand Final is promoted and sponsored by Hulencourt, with logistic support from the Royal Belgian Golf Federation.

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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