Alexandre Vandermoten signs fourth consecutive 65 to take the lead at the 2026 Hauts de France–Pas de Calais Open

Saint-Omer, France, September 10th, 2026 – Alexandre Vandermoten remains unstoppable. Fresh from his impressive victory last week, the Frenchman carded another 65 (-6) to take the lead at the 2026 Hauts de France–Pas de Calais Open, marking his fourth consecutive round of 65.

Vandermoten made the difference on the front nine, making five birdies, including four in a row from the 6th to the 9th. He added two more birdies on the back nine before a bogey on the 18th completed his round.

Spain’s Eduard Rousaud also enjoyed an excellent opening round, signing a 66 (-5) featuring one eagle, four birdies and one bogey.

The third-place tie is shared by Spain’s Agusti Quinquilla, who carded a bogey-free round, France’s Arthur Ameil-Planchin, and England’s Archie Smith, all of whom teed off in the morning.

Round 2 will begin at 8:10 a.m. local time from the 10th tee at Aa Saint-Omer Golf Club. At the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the top 30 professionals and ties, including all amateurs within the cut, who will advance to the final round.

Round 1 Player Quotes

Alexandre Vandermoten : “At one point I thought, ‘What’s going on?’ Everything was going really well. On 18, I had a tricky lie and, honestly, I started thinking a little too much about making it four consecutive rounds of -7. But I’m very happy because I’m playing really well. I just need to keep going and stick to my routine. Of course I’m thinking about winning, but I want to keep the same good mindset, stay myself and stay in the present.”

Eduard Rousaud : “It’s not an easy course and the greens are very demanding. I started solidly, making pars and giving myself two putts. I set myself the goal of not making a bogey today and managed to do that. I made a birdie on the 8th and then played the back nine perfectly, without missing a shot. I had a great birdie on 14 and a good chance on 15. I’m very happy with the round, especially to go bogey-free on such a tough course.”

Agusti Quinquilla : “I played very well and stayed very consistent and organised. I felt good mentally today and everything flowed nicely. I had a few bonuses along the way, including a chip-in, and I was a little lucky too! I really respect this course, and I think positioning off the tee is very important. You also need to understand the greens and be smart with your approach shots, especially with some muddy lies after the rain.”

Arthur Ameil-Planchin : “I wasn’t actually supposed to play this week, I got into the field quite late. It’s a year where I’ve been fighting a bit. I don’t have a sponsor, so I can’t play many tournaments, but I’m in a good place with my team. We’ve worked well with my coach Seb Gandron and gone back to more natural things. I’m feeling better and enjoying the game more. I’m trying to simplify things and focus on myself. If I’m here, it’s because I deserve to be.”

Archie Smith : “It was a steady round. I hit 16 greens and only missed two fairways, so I was never really in danger of making too many bogeys. It was the complete opposite of last week, which was more of a rollercoaster, so it was nice to have a steady start. The main challenge here is controlling spin on approach shots, especially with some pins on slopes. I’ve also been driving it well, which helps on the tee shots where you can’t see much.”

Tournament Promoter and Sponsors

The 2026 Hauts de France–Pas de Calais Golf Open is promoted directly by the golf club and is grateful for the support of the following sponsors and partners: Vittel, Welcomer – Le Pays de Saint-Omer, BFM Grand Littoral, Région Hauts-de-France, Pas-de-Calais – Mon Département, CAPSO – Communauté d’Agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer, Sysdeco, Sopé – Business Partner Platinum, Autosphere, Najeti – Hôtels & Golfs Collection, Talence Patrival – Maison de Gestion, Sdez, Golf+, and Brasserie Bedague.

Photo : Alps Tour / Raffaele Canepa

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.