15th August 2020 | Alps Tour Golf
Lukas Nemecz Reclaims His Crown
Maria Lankowitz (Austria), August 15, 2020 – What a great way to celebrate the return of the Alps Tour 2020 season with a nail-biting finish here at the Gösser Open which saw Lukas Nemecz from Austria, winner of the tournament in 2017, grab the title on the last hole with a -17 (199) for the 54 holes.
The final round teed off at 11:15am. Possible inclement weather later in the afternoon imposed a shotgun start at the Erzherzog Johann Golf Club to ensure that the round could be completed.
Round 2 had finished at 10:45am with Jordi Garcia Del Moral from Spain topping the leader board at 130 (-14) and in joint second place at 132 (-12) the Frenchman Thomas Elissalde and two Austrian players, Alexander Kopp and the amateur Maximilian Lechner. Yesterday’s number two, Angel Hidalgo Portillo from Spain, started in fifth position at 133 (-11) alongside the Italian Jacopo Vecchi Fossa and Lukas Nemecz from Austria.
Everything looked to be plain sailing as Jordi Garcia Del Moral started the back nine at -17 overall. However, Sebastien Gandon from France suddenly burst into contention. He had started from the 8th tee at -8 and opened with 5 straight pars. He then went into a birdie frenzy of 8 in a row which saw him steam up the leader board to second position on hole thirteen.
This left him just three strokes behind the leader. Jordi then bogeyed the 15th to leave just two strokes between them and three holes to go. Sebastien finished with pars to come into the clubhouse with an amazing -8 (64) for the day and 200 (-16) for the tournament.
Jordi was still out on the course with two holes to play and…he bogeyed the last two placing him and Sebastien in line for a play-off with both sitting at 200 (-16).
But Thomas Elissalde, winner of the Gösser Open in 2014, who started at -12 from the first tee alongside Jordi, had three birdies on the front nine interrupted by a double bogey to see him on the 10th for -14. He kept his cool on the last nine holes and another two birdies saw a three-way play-off lined up.
And still more surprises, as the Austrian player Alexander Kopp at -15 on the 17th birdied the last hole to also finish with 200 (-16). A four-way play-off?
All eyes were now riveted on Lukas Nemecz, who had teed off from the third at -11. Following three birdies he was at -15 with two holes to play. Two magnificent birdies saw him winning his second Gösser Open trophy and third Alps Tour win after the 2019 Dreamland Pyramids Open.
Lukas had not realised that he was putting for his second Gösser victory on the 18th green:
“I thought Jordi was still at -18 and didn’t know that he had bogeyed the last two holes. I knew the last putt was important, but I didn’t know it was for the win. I couldn’t believe it when people said that it was the winner.”
He also talked about at being back playing professional golf and the Covid restrictions:
“It’s great that we can play golf and that the Alps Tour and the promotor did everything possible so that we could play. It’s important to play every opportunity that we have. It’s a little different with the Covid situation and we’ve had to make little adaptations but that make sense and are very important. At the end of the day it’s a 54-hole tournament and every hole counts. It was great playing but I’m happy it’s over!”.
One of the adaptations for the tournament is the innovation by the Alps Tour of the introduction of a mobile phone live scoring application, replacing paper score cards and thus reducing contact points. Developed by OCS Sport, led by MD Lee Probert, the players reacted very positively to it. As the winner, Lukas Nemecz said:
“I think it’s great. It’s modern, easy to use, a real live scoring. We’re living in a digital world, so I think it’s really good”.
The new application will become standard for future tournaments and the next Alps Tour 2020 tournament is the Cervino Alps Open at the Cervino Golf Club in Italy from 2nd to 4th September 2020. A presto!
Final results: click here
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6th March 2020 | Alps Tour Golf
Postponement of the Alps Tour Winter Series
Paris – 6 March 2020. Given the current situation regarding the Covid-19 virus, the Alps Tour Board has taken the decision to postpone the three upcoming events in Egypt.
The Allegria Open, the Dreamland Pyramids Open and the New Giza Open will be rescheduled for September 2020. Exact details will be released in the near future.
At the moment, no other postponement of events is envisaged, although we are closely monitoring the situation and we shall abide by the orders of the relevant authorities.
We will keep you posted soon.
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27th March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Sweet winning feeling for Nemecz
Austrian Lukas Nemecz, 29, is the third winner of the 2019 Alps Tour season after catching the biggest prize in the Dreamland Pyramids Open, the first of the three tournaments of the “Second Swing” of the Egypt Winter Series hosted by three different venues in Cairo.
Nemecz was already leading yesterday on Dreamland GC with a three strokes margin, and he kept the same advantage today finishing on 204 (-12) with a final round in 70 (-2), three strokes clear of Italian Edoardo Lipparelli, 22, author of a great comeback from 10th position with a bogeyfree 66 (-6). In third position, on -8, his fellow compatriot Lorenzo Scalise, 23 (a 66 on last round for him, too) tied with brilliant French amateur Thomas Le Berre, 23, and Englishman James Sharp, 27, who dropped one position compared to the previous day with a 71 (-1).
«I’ve not been playing as good as the previous two days» said Nemecz, from Graz, winner of Gosser Open in 2017, «I did not hit as many fairways, but I’ve putted well – the greens are very difficult here! – and that kept me in the game. I remained very patient although in the end it was pretty close – on the 15th tee I was only one stroke clear of Lipparelli – but then I had two birdies on 15 and 16, so the gap was more comfortable».
«I think the key was actually the big move I made yesterday, a three strokes margin of course made it easier. Last year I was struggling with my putting, I’ve done a lot of work in the winter with my coach and it is really great that it has paid off already. Obviously I’m very very happy, also because now I’ve reached my younger brother Tobias (who had 2 wins on Alps Tour in 2014, ed.)!».
Nemecz is now leading the 2019 Order of Merit with 9.541 points after three tournaments, followed by rookie Frenchman Frederic Lacroix (winner of the first tournament of the season, Ein Bay Open, and 25th at Dreamland) with 7.092 points.
The Alps Tour will resume in just three days with the New Giza Open on a different venue, spectacular New Giza Golf Club.
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26th March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Nemecz back to old form, leads by three
A familiar name is sitting on top of the leaderboard, after the second round of the Dreamland Pyramids Open hosted by Dreamland Golf Club, in Cairo. Austrian Lukas Nemecz, 29, is doing very well in Egypt and on the tour where his career started, in 2013: he has added a spotless 66 (-6, with four birdies and one eagle) to the 68 he scored yesterday and, with a total of -10, has a comfortable three-strokes advantage over Englishman James Sharp, 27, winner of Cervino Open in 2017, and Argentinian Leandro Marelli, 27, member of the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica and looking for some experience in our Continent.
Nemecz has spent the last few years on the European and Challenge Tours with some mixed results, and is motivated to climb the Alps Tour ranking again to go back to the « First Division » having accumulated more experience: in the First Swing of the Winter Series last February, in Sokhna, he already recorded a 7th and a 6th place, so the premises are all there.
“It was a perfect day, really”, said Nemecz, who lives in Graz and is attached to Murhof Golf Club, “no bogeys and a nice eagle on hole n. 2 (his 11th), a par 5. I was probably helped by playing in the morning, with less wind. I already knew this course – and I like it! – because I had played this tournament back in 2015, when I had a top-ten finish”.
The cut fell on level par, leaving 43 players in contention (three amateurs among them) and fighting for the 40,000 euros prize money at stake.
The venue
DREAMLAND PYRAMIDS OPEN, 25-27 March
The Dreamland Golf Course is a world class facility located just a few minutes away from the Great Pyramids. The layout of the course was designed by the world renowned architect, Karl Litten and in 2010 the course was redesigned by popular Irish architect David Jones. At present it consists of 36 beautifully manicured challenging holes. The Championship Course in total measures an impressive 7,205 yards that can be played from five sets of tees, as well as a floodlit driving range. http://dreamlandgolf.com/
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25th March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Grimal starts off on the right foot
An overcast sky, cool temperatures and strong winds, with gusts of 30 km/h welcomed the opening round of Dreamland Pyramids Open, which started today at Dreamland Golf Club in Cairo, Egypt. It is not suprising then, that only 32 players scored under par: the best of them all was Frenchman Benjamin Grimal, 27, a rookie for Alps Tour but on his second season as a touring pro, who signed a 66 (minus 6) with 7 birdies and a single bogey towards the end of his round, on hole 8, a par-three (his 17th).
The weather conditions progressively improved during the day and Grimal might have taken advantage of them, having started his round in the last team, at 13:25, but his performance was nonetheless impressive as he ended the 18 holes with 2 strokes margin over six players – Austrians Ralph Leitner, 20; Timon Baltl, 23; and Lukas Nemecz, 29; Italian Alessandro Grammatica, 29 (who, in the last 5 holes, had one double bogey, 2 bogeys and 2 birdies!); Swiss Arthur Ameil-Planchin, 24 and Dutch Lars Van Meijel, 24 – which all scored 68.
« I’ve putted really well today – said Grimal – « all day I was not really attacking the flags but just trying to hit the greens since my iron game has not been very good lately; I’ve sinked a couple from 11 metres and a few from 3-4 metres, so that was really the key. The greens were not very fast, and you had to be careful on your approach shots and hitting the greens from the good angle. I’m very proud of the way I have played, I’m back after a very difficult year when I had serious injuries and I thought I might not be able to play again, so it is a great feeling ».
Tomorrow the weather forecasts are a bit more favourable, with less wind and milder temperatures in the 20s degrees; at the end of the day, only the best 40 players and ties will be admitted to the final round and to share the 40,000 euros prize money.
The venue
The Dreamland Golf Course is a world class facility located just a few minutes away from the Great Pyramids. The layout of the course was designed by the world renowned architect, Karl Litten and in 2010 the course was redesigned by popular Irish architect David Jones. At present it consists of 36 beautifully manicured challenging holes. The Championship Course in total measures an impressive 7,205 yards that can be played from five sets of tees, as well as a floodlit driving range. http://dreamlandgolf.com/
Stay tuned! www.wp-alpstour.ocs-sport.com and the app « Alps Tour Golf » (on App Store for iOS devices and Play Store for Android) will keep you updated on every news about Alps Tour.
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23rd March 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Egypt & Pyramids on stage for the Second Swing of the Winter Series
In a couple of days, the Alps Tour schedule will rhyme with great golf and spectacular views on Egyptian pyramids. After a three-weeks break, our Rising Stars are gathering again for the Second Swing of the Winter Series: three tournaments in a row, played from March 25th to April 6th, with a field of 132 players for each venue; three different courses around Caire, with breath-taking sights of the pyramids: Dreamland Pyramids Open from 25 to 27 March on Dreamland GC, New Giza Open from 30 March to 1 April on New Giza GC – a new spectacular venue inaugurated last October – both on the West side of Cairo; and Katameya Dunes Open from 4 to 6 April, on the Lakes Course of Katameya Dunes (a Sir Nick Faldo’s design), on the East side of the Egyptian capital.
Our players are coming from all over the world, literally, with 19 nationalities represented, to test two courses for the first time, New Giza and Katameya, which are new additions to the Alps Tour schedule, while Dreamland is an « old friend » of Alps Tour, having hosted one of our tournaments the last time back in 2016, when our most brilliant rising star – Matt Wallace – won the first of his six titles of that year and started his stellar career towards Challenge and European Tour, where he is now 10th in the Race to Dubai.
All of the hottest players of the moment are already at Dreamland Golf Course, looking to accumulate points and high rankings from the start of the season; all eyes are on the first two winners of 2019, Frenchman rookie Frederic Lacroix, 24, and more experienced Englishman Ben Wheeler, 26, but also Italian Edoardo Lipparelli, 22, looks in great shape having just won the French Qualifying School with a large margin – 6 strokes – over Spaniard Xavi Puig Giner, and 8 strokes over fellow compatriot Michele Cea: they will all be admitted to play the four Challenge Tour events hosted in France this year, and of course they’re all in Egypt competing in the three Alps Tour tournaments, which boast a 40,000 euros prize money each.
The venues
DREAMLAND PYRAMIDS OPEN, 25-27 March
The Dreamland Golf Course is a world class facility located just a few minutes away from the Great Pyramids. The layout of the course was designed by the world renowned architect, Karl Litten and in 2010 the course was redesigned by popular Irish architect David Jones. At present it consists of 36 beautifully manicured challenging holes. The Championship Course in total measures an impressive 7,205 yards that can be played from five sets of tees, as well as a floodlit driving range. http://dreamlandgolf.com/
NEW GIZA OPEN, 30 March-1 April
The highly anticipated New Giza signature golf course is well worth the wait. The 200-acre, 18-hole designer golf course is designed by award-winning Thomson, Perrett and Lobb and seamlessly melds the natural terrains creating an inspiring environment for all players, professionals and amateurs alike. Teeing off with views of the Great Pyramids of Giza is no longer a fantasy. As a particularly exquisite touch, the course is surrounded by a 4km walkway encouraging people to walk for health and leisure.
http://www.newgiza.com/life#golf-clubs-6-october-newgiza
KATAMEYA DUNES OPEN, 4-6 April
Created by nature – designed by golfing legend Sir Nick Faldo. Katameya Dunes is a masterpiece of golf course design, from the spectacular to the subtle. Katameya Dunes comprises the Lakes Course (7,435 yards) and the Palms Course (6,767 yards), with five tee positions to provide a challenge suited to any standard of golfer, from the beginner to the mid-handicappers and tour players. The rolling fairways, spectacular views from elevated tees and the challenge of raised greens are just part of the golfing experience at Katameya Dunes. As the unbroken sunshine sparkles off lakes and fountains, take your golfing enjoyment to a new level. http://www.katameyadunes.com/
Click here for the field of the Dreamland Pyramids Open
Click here for the field of the New Giza Open
Click here for the field of the Katameya Dunes Open
Stay tuned! www.wp-alpstour.ocs-sport.com and the app « Alps Tour Golf » (on App Store for iOS devices and Play Store for Android) will keep you updated on every news about Alps Tour.
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4th February 2015 | Alps Tour Golf
Winter Series in Egypt
Sokhna Golf Course
Alps Tour will open its season in Egypt as in 2013 and 2014. But relationships with this friendly country and representatives have grown and there will be 3 events from February the 17th to March the 4th.
Alps Tour players are now used to fly to Cairo to avoid European low temperatures and to warm up in Egypt after winter break. Sokhna Golf Club is pleased, once again, to host the Red Sea El Ein Bay Open from the 17th to the 19th of February and the Red Sea Little Venice Open from the 23rd to the 25th of February. The resort on the courses offers great facilities to practice and to relax after golfing day. All former players of the event know that Egyptian hospitality is high ranked on this part of the Red Sea.
A third event will be played near Cairo and Dreamland Golf Club will host the inaugural Dreamland Pyramids Open from the 2nd to the 4th of March. The 7200 yard back tee course will be a real test for the players.
