Manfredi Manica leads by 1 after Round 1 at the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open.
The first round of the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open, played at the beautiful La Cigale Tabarka Golf in Tabarka, Tunisia, began this morning from holes 1 and 10. The round 1 tee times were scheduled to start at 7:00 am local time. However, they had a 30-minute delay due to course maintenance. Therefore, the 1st round of the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open officially began at 7:30 am local time from the 1st and 10th hole. Players had to face some heavy rain during yesterday’s pro-am. However, today, they were able to begin the 1st round of the tournament with some pleasant weather conditions, allowing them to take advantage of good scoring opportunities.This event marks the first time that La Cigale Tabarka Golf is hosting an Alps Tour tournament, and this is the first time since 2016, that the Tunisian Golf Open is being disputed.
Round 1 Player Quotes
Manfredi Manica, 28, from Italy, winner of the 2023 Aravell Golf Open by Creand, has a one-shot lead after the 1st round of the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open with a round of 7 under-par, 65. He made 2 eagles, 4 birdies, and 1 bogey during his opening round. The 2 eagles he made were in his last 4 holes of the day, where one was a hole out from the fairway on the 8th hole. Manica has been playing very solid since the beginning of the season and is looking to capture his 2ndwin on the Alps Tour. At the conclusion of his opening round, he explained on how, “Today was a nice day, especially towards the end of the round where I made 2 eagles in the last few holes, it was a good start to the tournament. I’m continuing my good stretch of golf because also, in the tournaments in Egypt, I began the season playing well and giving myself chances.” Looking ahead to the rest of the week, Manica plans on: “keep doing the same things as I’m doing, maybe even a bit better. It would be great to get a win early in the season, but we will see.” He was also very impressed by the host venue this week, “La Cigale Golf is a great course, it’s my first time but I’m surprised. The three holes by the coast are fantastic.”
France’s Benjamin Kedochim, 29, is in 2nd place after the first round of the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open with a 6 under-par, 66. He made 7 birdies and 1 single bogey throughout his day. Kedochim has earned several top 5 finishes in his career but is looking to capture his 1st title on the Alps Tour. He has been playing well since the beginning of the 2024 season, and after his round, he explained: “We are in a beautiful place, and I love being here in Tabarka. We are in an amazing spot, I like to surf too so today every time I wasn’t playing golf, I was looking at the sea and the waves and it kept my head off the golf course and that helped me to play well today. I hit almost every fairway and green. I only missed 2 greens today and the remaining holes I gave myself tons of opportunities.”
Daniel Hebenstreit, 26, from Austria, is in a 4-way way tie for 3rd place at the conclusion of the 1st round of the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open alongside Italy’s Adalberto Montini, Spain’s Alvaro Hernandez Cabezuela and Ireland’s Robert Moran. He shot a 5 under-par, 67 round today, making 1 eagle, 4 birdies, and 1 bogey. After his round, Hebenstreitcommented on how he found: “It’s a beautiful course, La Cigale Tabarka Golf, it’s down by the sea. I was fortunate enough to play in the morning, which made it a bit easier as there was hardly any wind.” He went on to add on how he plans to: “keep it low off the tee the next two days and make sure I keep it in play but most importantly get the putter hot.”
Italy’s Adalberto Montini, 24, is the second player in the 4-way tie for 3rd place after round 1 of the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open with a total score of 5 under-par, 67. During today’s round, he made 6 birdies and 1 single bogey. After he signed for his 67, Montini pointed out how: “It’s my first time in Tunisia, and this golf course is fantastic. It’s a really technical course, and today I’m very happy with my game as you need to hit your ball well from the tee, and I was able to do that with my 2-iron. I also putted really well today, so I think my key for the next few days will be to keep my ball in play off the tees by placing it in the right spots.” Montini also commented on how “the last few weeks I really prepared myself, I changed my coach, so I made a lot of technical changes, but I’m very pleased with what I’ve seen so far and I’m looking forward to competing again tomorrow.”
Alvaro Hernandez Cabezuela, 27, from Spain, is the 3rd player in the 4-way tie for 3rd place at 5 under-par, 67 after the 1st round of the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open. In today’s opening round, he began with a bogey on the 1st hole and then went on to make 8 birdies and 2 more bogeys to conclude the day. Hernandez Cabezuela has earned various good finishes over the years but is looking to break through and earn his 1st win on the Alps Tour. He explained how today: “I had a slow start making a bogey on the 1st, but I’ve been playing well recently, so I knew the birdies opportunities were close, so I just stayed patient. I was very solid off the tee, and with my putting, I must say. My irons haven’t been that great, unfortunately, and I made a few bogeys with my wedges from the fairway today, which I must say is a bit annoying, but overall, I’m very happy.” Hernandez Cabezuela added that today: “the wind picked up slightly during my round, and it’s making it a bit more interesting now. Hopefully I have more birdies to come over the next few days and remain on the top of the leaderboard.”
Alongside Hebenstreit, Montini, and Hernandez Cabezuela, with a first-round score of 5 under par, 67, is Ireland’s Robert Moran, 24. During his opening round, he made 1 eagle, 6 birdies, and 3 bogeys.
The highlight of the day belongs to Italy’s Riccardo Bregoli, who made an incredible Hole-In-One on the 130-meter, par-3 17th hole with his 46° wedge.
The competitors in this week’s event are battling it out for an overall prize fund of €45.000 and 45,000 Order of Merit points. The 2024 Tunisian Golf Open winner will walk away with €6,525.00 and 6,525 Order of Merit points.
Round 2
The second round of the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open will begin again at 7:00 am local time from the 1st and 10th hole. Once Round 2 is completed, a cut will be made to the top 40 players and ties.
Tournament Promoter
The 2024 Tunisian Golf Open is grateful for the support of the following sponsors and institutional sponsors: Inspiring Tunisia, Tunisian National Tourism Office (ONTT), La Cigale Tabarka Hôtel-Thalasso-Golf, Voyages 2000, Banque Zitouna, Zitouna Payment, Zitouna Takaful Assurances, Fédération Tunisienne de Golf as well as the national airline Tunisair.
For more information on the 2024 Tunisian Golf Open, visit the official Alps Tour website www.alpstourgolf.com, and follow the official Alps Tour social media handles on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
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