25th April 2024 | Alps Tour Golf
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.
#discovertunisia
#2024AlpsTourSeason
#raisinggolfstars
#risinggolfstars
15th November 2023 | Alps Tour Golf
Amateur Mason Essam leads after Round 1 at the 2023 Alps Tour Qualifying School Final Stage.
Rome, November 15th 2023 – English amateur Mason Essam leads with an 8 under-par, 65 at the end of the 1st round at the 2023 Alps Tour Qualifying School Final Stage. Another amateur, Italy’s Luca Memeo, is in 2nd place at 5 under par. There is an Italian trio in a 3-way tie for 3rd place with a Round 1 score of 4 under-par that includes: Filippo Bergamaschi, Adalberto Montini, and amateur Luca Cavalli.
An overcast morning with a comfortable temperature in Northern Rome, welcomed the 156 players who began their quest to earn one of the 2024 Alps Tour playing cards that is up for grabs. For the first two rounds, the players are split between Golf Nazionale (Par 71) and Olgiata Golf Club (Par 73) and will play one round on each course.
Round 1 Player Quotes
Twenty-four-year-old, English amateur Mason Essam, who currently represents Dartford Golf Club, leads after Round 1 at the 2023 Alps Tour Q-School Final Stage. He shot an opening round at Olgiata Golf Club of 8 under-par, 65 today with 1 eagle, 7 birdies, and 1 bogey. He qualified for this week’s Final Stage of Q-School after concluding tied for 6th place last week at the Stage 1 event held at Terre dei Consoli Golf Club. After he signed for his 8 under-par, he proudly commented, “I played lovely today, I was able to manage my misses well, and had a good game plan I committed to. My game has been improving recently, and my goal for the day was to stick to my plan and play with freedom and confidence. My expectations for the week are to finish with a full card on the Alps Tour for next season, and this has been a great start for sure, I’m grateful for the opportunity.” He will turn professional “if I am able to accomplish my goals this week to earn a card.”
Luca Memeo (am), from Italy, 18 years old, who currently represents Royal Park I Roveri, finds himself in 2nd place after the 1st round of the 2023 Alps Tour Qualifying School Final Stage. He shot a bogey-free first round making 1 eagle and 3 birdies at Olgiata Golf Club. After the round, Memeo explained how he “hit nearly every green in regulation and put together a bogey-free round. I was able to hit the majority of the fairways, too, which allowed me the opportunity to go for the pins. I don’t have any real expectations this week, I’m trying to do the best I can in every shot and every round and gain some experience. Today was definitely an ideal start.” As he is playing as an amateur, he added that he “plans to turn pro at the end of next year.”
Italy’s Filippo Bergamaschi, who represents Villa Paradiso Golf Club, is the 1st player in the three-way tie for 3rd place after his opening round of 4 under-par, 67 at Golf Nazionale. He began his round with a bogey on his opening hole, the 10th of the golf course, and then from there on, he made 5 birdies. When he finished his round, he commented: “My putting today was exceptional today. I struggled slightly off the tee today, a little more than I expected, but overall, I’m pleased, it puts me in a good position with two rounds left to be played.” When asked about his preference between the two host golf clubs this week, he added: “I personally prefer Golf Nazionale compared to Olgiata Golf Club, I like it more. I think it suits my game a bit better, I enjoy it more as I’m able to hit a variety of shots, and I’ve played it more, so have more experience on it.”
Alongside Bergamaschi in the three-way tie for 3rd place at 4 under-par, there is: Adalberto Montini and amateur Luca Cavalli. Both players competed during today’s 1st round at Olgiata Golf Club.
At the conclusion of the 54 holes, the top 35 players and ties ranked according to score, will be eligible to receive Category 6 membership for the 2024 Alps Tour Season. The rest of the players who will make the cut, and finish between the 36th and 65th position will be eligible to receive Category 8 membership. The remaining players who compete in this Final Stage and conclude the tournament between the 66th and 156th position will be eligible to receive membership in Category 9.
Round 2
For tomorrow’s Round 2, players will be alternating golf courses between Golf Nazionale and Olgiata Golf Club. Play will begin again at 8:00 am from the 1st and 10th hole at each golf course.
After tomorrow’s round, a cut will be made to the top 65 players and ties who will compete in the final round of the tournament that will played at Golf Nazionale.
Follow along on www.alpstourgolf.com or the official “Alps Tour Golf” app to keep up on all the latest news (available on App Store for iOS devices and Play Store for Android).
#risinggolfstars
#raisinggolfstars
