12th November 2021 | Alps Tour Golf
Qualifying School 2021 – Final Stage – Martin Couvra Wins in Rome
November 11th, Rome, 2021 – The French amateur, Martin Couvra, maintained his lead from yesterday to claim victory at the Golf Nazionale in the 2021 Alps Tour Qualifying School with a -10 (206) and gain his full category card for the 2022 season.
He started with a birdie on the 1st, faltered on the 4th with a double bogey but came back with three birdies in a row. Two bogeys on the 8th and 9th saw him turning for home at par 36. Two birdies and pars up to the 17th and another bogey on the 18th gave him a 35 (-1) and an overall 71 (-1) for the day.
« Honestly, it’s amazing. I haven’t won any tournaments this year except with my club team which was huge but here it’s as an individual which is different. It’s my first victory this year and at this tournament and on these two courses; I’m just really pleased. I played well over the last three days. I’ve played two other pro events previously in France where I also played well but made a lot of mistakes. Then this week it was really a lot better in terms of my game and my strategy and I made very few errors. My drives were good, but the strongest point was my irons game which allowed me to get close to the pin and then I putted well with a new putter. I’d like to thank all my entourage who have helped me to get where I am to have this victory.”
And his long-term plans? “I plan to stay an amateur and play a full season of all the tournaments on the Alps Tour and try to finish in the top ten to then try to join the Challenge Tour. A bit like my friend Paul Margolis who was an amateur and managed to move up. I’ll just adapt my objectives depending on how the season goes.”
In joint second place on -8 (208) were two players. Couvra’s compatriot Julien Sale and Ben Schmidt from England. And another Frenchman came in fourth on -7 (209), Benjamin Kedochim.
In all, 37 players earned a full Category 6 for the Alps Tour 2022 season with 34 players on par (216) or under and three players tied at +1 (217).
The remaining 33 players of today’s final round all earned a Category 8 whilst the remaining 74 QSchool players gained a Category 9.
The QSchool draws the 2021 twentieth anniversary season to a close and the players now have the winter break to get geared up for next year. The 2022 Alps Tour season tees off with the Egyptian Series of tournaments in mid-February for more great golf from the rising stars of tomorrow.
Results Final Round: click here or check on the Alps Tour Golf app.
Stay tuned! www.alpstourgolf.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.
11th November 2021 | Alps Tour Golf
Qualifying School 2021 – Final Stage Round 2 – Martin Couvra Moves into the Lead
November 11th, Rome, 2021 – Heavy rain overnight left the courses a little water-logged this morning, so tee-off was pushed back an hour to 9:30 am. This did not rattle the French amateur player, Martin Couvra, who after finishing joint second yesterday, kept his cool to win the second round of the 2021 Alps Tour Qualifying School with a total of -9 (135) for the two rounds. Starting from the 10th he carded a 68 (-4) for the day with six birdies and two bogeys on the Terre dei Consoli Golf Club course.
“I played pretty well on the outward nine. I made some good pars and had three birdies. I had a bit of a difficult patch from the 1st to the 5th where I played well but my putting was off, and I made a mistake on the 5th which cost me a bogey. After that I started putting better and was a bit more opportunistic. I really enjoyed playing today but I love both courses, each very different styles but both great.”
As yesterday, the amateurs made a strong showing with two more, Andrea Romano from Italy and Clement Poletti from France, in a three-way tie for second position on -6 (138). Making up the trio was Lars Keunen from the Netherlands, an experienced Alps Tour player and winner of the 2020 Ein Bay Open.
All three players were out on the on the Golf Nazionale. Playing off tee number 1, first into the clubhouse was Andrea Romano who carded a 67 (-5) today with just one bogey and six birdies. « I’m really happy today because my long game was pretty solid as was my putting. I just want to stay focussed for tomorrow and win this qualification.”
Next in was Lars Keunen who signed a 68 (-4). Off the 10th, he had three birdies and a double bogey out, then two more birdies, a single bogey and an eagle to save his spot.
Clement Poletti had an error-free front nine off the 1st with three birdies to which he added two more and a bogey coming in.
Results were much more balanced on the two courses today as of the 25 players coming in under par, 14 were on the Golf Nazionale and 11 on Terre dei Consoli Golf Club
The cut came at +3 (147) meaning that 70 players move forward to the Final Round. A total of 49 pros and 21 amateurs successfully made the cut and will tee off at 8:00 am on the Golf Nazionale tees one and ten. All of them will be vying for one of the full category cards for the Alps Tour 2022 season but with only 35 available, the competition will be fierce.
Results Round 2: click here or check on the Alps Tour Golf app.
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10th November 2021 | Alps Tour Golf
Qualifying School 2021 – Final Stage Round 1- Oihan Guillamoundeguy Leader
November 10th, Rome, 2021 – At the end of play today, the amateurs took the honours. Leader on -6 (66) is the French amateur, Oihan Guillamoundeguy, 16, who had six birdies and zero bogeys at the Terre dei Consoli Golf Club.
“I’m very pleased. I played really well. I didn’t do any bogeys which helped a lot. My irons’ game was great, so I managed to do a few birdies. The course was good and not as wet as the Golf Nazionale.”
Two more amateurs are among the three players in second place on -5 (67). Alongside the Italian pro, Alessandro Notaro, is Jose Manuel Pardo Benitez from Spain and Martin Couvra from France.
Notaro, like the leader, played at Terre dei Consoli Golf Club and started in style with an eagle on the 10th. Straight pars to finish the outward nine and then three birdies coming in.
“I started from hole 10 at Terre and holed the second shot for an eagle so that was a good start, then I had 3 birdies and played regular. I played very well from tee to green”.
The two other amateurs in third place were out on the Golf Nazionale where conditions were complicated by the wind. Jose Manuel Pardo Benitez had six birdies and just one bogey in his round. He intends to turn pro in January and hopes to gain a full Alps Tour card here:
“My day was perfect. I did good drives, great putts. I had seventeen greens in regulation which I think is really important here. I had the wind on the last five holes but managed to keep my concentration”.
Martin Couvra, the 18-year-old amateur from Terre Blanche Golf Club, also had six birdies and a bogey in this, his third Alps Tour tournament:
“I played pretty well all day. I was quite far from the pin but tried to stay patient and holed some good putts for birdie. It’s not an easy course and you have to put your drives on the fairway as many of them are tight and then different sized greens, so you need complete game skills. I’m happy to have done well on it today. I’ve already played two Alps Tour events by invitation in France, the Mirabelle d’Or, where I made the cut one out of two times but here it’s different as we’re playing for a whole season slot, so the pressure is higher.”
Only five players broke par at the Golf Nazionale today, and the remaining three were all French amateurs: Guillaume Chevalier -3 (69), Maxence Giboudot and Nicolas Calvet -1 (71). Whereas, over on Terre dei Consoli Golf Club, twenty players came in at one under or less.
The playing field will be levelled tomorrow as the players switch courses for the second round and windy conditions expected again on the Golf Nazionale. Both courses can expect light showers in the morning. Tee off begins at 8:00 am from the 1st and 10th at each club.
Results Round 1: click here or check on the Alps Tour Golf app.
Stay tuned! www.alpstourgolf.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.
8th November 2021 | Alps Tour Golf
Qualifying School 2021 – Final Stage for the Rising Stars of Tomorrow
November 8th, Rome, 2021 – In just under 48 hours the Final Stage of the Alps Tour 2021 Qualifying School will get under way. The 54 holes of stroke play will take place at two courses: the Italian Golf Federation owned Golf Nazionale and the neighbouring Terre dei Consoli Golf Club.
144 players from 22 different home countries are lined up to tee off on Wednesday. The excitement was palpable among the 69 qualifiers from last week’s First Stage. They will join the 75 other eligible players who automatically qualified for the Final Stage and play alternate 18 holes on each course over the first two days. After 36 holes at the end of play on Thursday, the field will be cut to the leading 65 players and those players tied on the final qualifying place score. The final round will be held at the Golf Nazionale.
The top scoring 35 players at the end of the final round will obtain a full Category 6 for the Alps Tour 2022 season.
Players making the cut of the Final Stage and finishing between the 36th and the 65th position will be eligible for membership in Category 8 of the Alps Tour for the 2022 season.
Players between the 66th and the 144th position will be eligible for membership in Category 9 of the Alps Tour for the 2022 season.
The two courses offer quite different challenges for the players. Terre dei Consoli Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr who described his course philosophy thus: “All my courses are symphonies with dominant themes. They have crescendos and lulls. There are different rhythms, you can feel the changes.” Terre dei Consoli Golf Club open parkland layout gently follows the natural contours of the undulating terrain of the location. The perfectly integrated obstacles raise the technical level with signature hole 9, an island green par 3, an absolute delight.
The Golf Nazionale, a Jim and George Fazio design is recognized as one of the best courses in continental Europe. It follows the natural contours of the hilly terrain of the area, with some marvellous panoramas, featuring elevation changes, forced carries, deep rough, undulating greens, numerous strategically placed bunkers, and several water hazards.
Weatherwise, the first day could be a case of dejà-vu for many of the players from last week’s First Stage as strong wind gusts are forecast. Things should settle down on Thursday and Friday promises to be near perfect for golf.
Entries: click here or check on the Alps Tour Golf app.
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30th October 2020 | Alps Tour Golf
Jacopo Vecchi Fossa Seizes First Victory
October 30th, 2020 – Rome, Italy – What a finish to the Alps Tour 2020 season! After a round that had everyone on the edge of their seats until the final hole, the victor was Jacopo Vecchi Fossa from Italy with a final round of 68 (-4) and a grand total of -13 (203).
“It’s great to win the last tournament of the season. I’ve played six events this year and I’ve played well on some great courses. Plus, this win secures me my full card for the Alps Tour next season”.
Having undergone heart surgery in 2017, it is great to see him fully recovered and back on form. His pleasure at winning his first Alps Tour title was dimmed though by the fact that his playing partner, Jeong Weon Ko incurred a one stroke penalty on the 18th green.
On the 18th tee, Ko was one stroke ahead at -13. His ball came to rest just off the green and he marked it to check the line, but then moved the ball to adjust the line which is an infringement of rule 9.4b of the Rules of Golf. His error obviously unsettled him as he three-putted to finish with a double bogey whilst the Italian birdied to secure the win.
“It takes a little joy away from my win as I felt really sorry for Jeong”.
Nevertheless, Ko can take some comfort from his second place as it was enough to secure him third place on the Order of Merit and thus one of the three Challenge Tour places for next year.
The remaining two Challenge Tour places go to Jordi Garcia Del Moral from Spain, who was the winner of the 2020 OofM and his fellow countryman, Lucas Vacarisas who was second. Jordi Garcia Del Moral had arrived at the final secure in the knowledge that his performance this year with six top ten results, including a win at the Cervino Open meant that he would already have one of the three cards.
“I knew I had one of the top three places on the OofM but I had to aim for a top three win here, in case Lucas won the tournament”. He finally finished ninth which was more than enough as Lucas Vacarisas finished sixth.
Next week sees Jordi Garcia Del Moral heading home to Spain for a Challenge Tour event but he expressed his gratitude to the Alps Tour team.
“It’s been a long year, difficult with the Covid 19 but finally we finished the year. We did nine events, and all the players are very grateful to you guys for working so hard and doing a great job. So, thank you!”
The Alps Tour returns to Italy on the 11th November for the First Stage of the 2020 Qualifying School. The first two rounds will be played on three different courses near Rome over two days. The Golf Club Parco de’ Medici, the Terre dei Consoli Golf Club and the Golf Nazionale. These last two clubs will then host the Final Stage over three rounds the following week from the 17th-19th November.
Final Results: click here
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22nd December 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Bradley Bawden Wins 2019 Q School
Malaga (Spain), December 22, 2019 – The sun finally returned to the Costa del Sol allowing the players to finish the 36 holes of the Final Stage of the Alps Tour 2019 Qualifying School here at La Cala Resort. And the sun was obviously smiling on Bradley Bawden, the English player from Essex, who held onto his lead from the first round and finished top of the leader-board at -9 (134).
Bawden finished Round 1 at -8 (63) on the America course on Thursday and completed the tournament with a -1 (71) today on the Asia course. He described the fact that it took three days to finish the last round due to the meteorological conditions as “mentally challenging” but explained: “Being from England I’ve got lots of experience with bad weather so its nothing I haven’t seen before. You may get some bad breaks, but you just need to stay positive. Its all about staying strong mentally”.
And Bawden did just that with two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine for a par 36 over the first two days of the round when weather conditions were at their worst and three birdies and 2 bogeys on the back nine today for a -1 (35). His win earns him full membership (category 6) for the 2020 Alps Tour.
Just behind him at -8 (135) for the 2 rounds was the Portuguese player, Tomas Bessa Guimaraes. This was his second Q School having finished 80th last year and having played seven out of the sixteen 2019 Alps Tour tournaments. His final round on the America course started with a +2 (37) as a single and double bogey effectively cancelled out his one birdie of the outward nine. However, he bounded back on the inward nine with three birdies and not a single bogey in sight for a -3 (33).
Three players tied for third position at -6 (137). The former European Tour and Challenge Tour player, Edouard Espana from France, had said his aim was to finish in the top 35 at the Q School. Mission accomplished and we look forward to seeing him back on the Alps Tour in 2020. Alongside him was Ryan Lumsden from Scotland who obviously handled the familiar bad weather conditions with a -4 (67) on the America course for his second round after his -3 (69) on the Asia course. Joining him is the English amateur, Laurie Owen who mirrored his GB compatriot’s results for the two rounds.
Rounding out the top ten finishers were four players tied in sixth position at -6 (137) Daniel Berna Manzanares from Spain, Harrison Woan from England, Augustin Hole from France and Kevin Esteve from Andorra. Whilst at -5 (138) in tenth position were three players, Blaire McKeithen from the USA, Tiago Cruz from Portugal, and Victor Pastor Ruffian from Spain.
The final qualifying score was par (143) with 10 players tied at 32nd place for a total of 41 achieving their full membership for the coming Alps Tour season, of which 32 are professionals and 9 are amateurs.
The official 2020 Alps Tour season kicks off in Egypt with the Winter Series Ein Bay Open from 18th to 20th February followed by the Red Sea Little Venice Open from 23rd to 25th February both at Sokhna Golf Club in Egypt.
Looking forward to another year of great golf from the rising stars on the Alps Tour!
Results Final Stage 2019 Qualifying School: click here
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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21st December 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Q School Final Stage Reduced To 36 Holes
Malaga (Spain), December 21, 2019 – The exceptionally bad weather conditions continued today for Round 2 of the Final Stage of the Alps Tour 2019 Qualifying School here at La Cala Resort. Tee-off was delayed this morning due to the course being water-logged after another night of non-stop rain.
Play finally started at 12:00 but another severe weather front rolled in and play was suspended for the day at 13:18 as the cumulative rainfall made the Asia and America courses unplayable.
As a result, Round 3 of the Qualifying School has been cancelled. Instead, the tournament will be decided over 36 holes.
Tee-off times are planned as of 9:15 tomorrow morning, 22nd December and if the sunny forecast holds true, players will complete their second round.
Thus, at the conclusion of the 36 holes, the leading 35 players (and those players tied on the final qualifying place score) will be ranked according to score. Players holding these positions will be eligible for membership in Category 6 of the Alps Tour for the 2020 season.
Players finishing between the 36th and the 65th position will be eligible for membership in Category 8 of the Alps Tour for the 2020 season.
Players between the 66th and the 144th position will be eligible for membership in Category 9 of the Alps Tour for the 2020 season.
Results Round 1 and partial Round 2 Final Stage: click here
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20th December 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Q School Final Stage Round 2 – Weather Disrupts Play
Malaga (Spain), December 20, 2019 – After a night of non-stop rain, the downpour let up to allow play to tee off as planned at 9:15 for Round 2 of the Final Stage of the Alps Tour 2019 Qualifying School here at La Cala Resort. However, it was a short respite as the heavens opened again at 11:00 and play was suspended.
Players had to cool their heels until play resumed at 14:45 with a light but steady rain making for less than favourable conditions. The rain gradually increased in intensity until at 16:05 after just over an hour of play, the decision was made to suspend the game due to the water-logged conditions.
The old maxim of ‘the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain’ seemed a bit of a misnomer as over 30mm of rain have fallen in the past 18 hours in this coastal region of Malaga.
Play will resume tomorrow morning at 9:00 with the weather promising overcast skies and some light showers.
Should the weather hold, the players will terminate Round 2 with the different flights having between 8 and 16 holes to finish to complete the 36 holes when the cut of the leading 65 players and those players tied on the final qualifying place score will be made.
Results Round 1 Final Stage: click here
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19th December 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Q School Final Stage Round 1 Results for Asia and America Courses
Malaga (Spain), December 18, 2019 – The first round of the Final Stage of the Alps Tour 2019 Qualifying School teed off at 9:15 this morning under an overcast sky after some light rain during the night. Play started from tees 1 and 10 on both the Asia and America courses at La Cala Resort and the weather held with no rain until the final half hour of play.
At the end of the first 18 holes, four players share the lead at -8. First of the leading scores into the clubhouse was the English player, Bradley Baldwin who played the America course for a 63 (-8). This was his first round on the course having played the Asia course in the First Stage. He noted certain differences in elevations when comparing the two but with no wind and slightly softer greens he had an excellent round with 7 birdies, just one bogey and a final hole eagle.
Next in was Tiago Cruz from Portugal who played on the Asia course where he carded a 64 (-8). Starting with an eagle on the 10th, a total of 6 birdies and not a single bogey he enjoyed a near perfect round.
Coming in behind him was the Spanish player Victor Pastor Rufian with a 63 (-8) on the America course. The recently turned pro of just 2 months had a series of four birdies in a row on holes 18 through 3 and finished in style with an eagle on the 9th. He attributed his score in large part to his wedge play and putting.
The fourth of the leaders, Harrison Woan from England, also played the America course for his 63 (-8) score. With seven birdies, one bogey and an eagle, this experienced Alps Tour player is looking to secure his place for the 2020 season.
Just behind the leaders in fifth place at -7 (65) on the Asia course, the Portuguese player, Tomas Bessa Guimaraes had two birdies on the front nine and then started the back nine with an eagle followed by a bogey but followed this with four birdies in a row. Having played a partial season on the Alps Tour this season he is looking to return for a full season next year.
Three players are tied in 6th position at -6 with the Dutch player, Mike Toorop, coming in on the America course at 65 (-6). He had two top ten wins on the Alps Tour in 2019 out of the just 6 tournaments he participated in. He is joined by The Scottish player, Alistair Thurlow who is participating in his first Alps Tour Qualifying School and who came in at 66 (-6) on the Asia course. Alongside him on the Asia course is Edouard Espana, a former Alps Tour player whose achievements earned him a Challenge Tour card which he hasn’t maintained for the next season. He’s back to try and start a new, full season on the Alps Tour of which he has nothing but good memories.
The consensus among all the players was that both the courses were in excellent condition here at La Cala which made the play extremely pleasant, if challenging and that the resort itself is fantastic.
Round 2 of the Final Stage is scheduled to tee off at 9:15 tomorrow morning. However, a severe weather front is moving into the area with heavy rain and high winds forecast for Friday. Should weather conditions make play impossible, then Round 2 may be pushed back to Saturday and the final round to Sunday. Players will be informed first thing in the morning.
Results First Round Final: click here
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17th December 2019 | Alps Tour Golf
Q School First Stage Final Results for Asia Course
Malaga (Spain), December 17, 2019 – With played completed on the Asia course of La Cala Resort, the final 31 qualifiers for the Final Stage of the Alps Tour 2019 Qualifying School have been confirmed.
Top of the leader board was a clean sweep for France with three amateurs positioned first, second and third. Théo Brizard finished on top with a -7 (137) for his two rounds followed by Oscar Desclaux -5 (139) and Thibault Santigny -4 (140).
A total of 75 players have qualified for the Final Stage; 29 players from the America course and 15 from the Europa course who qualified yesterday and the 31 Asia course qualifiers of today. They join the 66 players with exemptions who automatically qualified directly for the Final Stage to give a field of 144 players.
It is a truly international field that will take to the fairways on Thursday 19th December with a total of 26 nationalities. The European continent has a strong showing with 31 Spanish, 27 French, 20 Italian and 12 Austrian players whilst the United Kingdom has 18 participants. The countries of origin span the world from New Zealand to North America.
The field of 144 players will all play two rounds; one each on both the Asia and America Courses on 19th and 20th December.
After these 36 holes, the field will then be cut to the leading 65 players, and those players tied on the final qualifying place score, who will then play one further round on the Asia course on 21st December.
At the end of the 54 holes the 35 top scoring players, plus those tied on the final qualifying place score, will be eligible for full membership of the Alps Tour for the 2020 season (Category 6).
Those players who made the cut of 65 and who finish in 36th to 65th position will be eligible for membership in Category 8 of the Alps Tour for the 2020 season. Whilst those finishing from 66th to 144th position will be eligible for Category 9 membership. These last two categories will be reranked mid-season according to their official Money Winnings on the Alps Tour Order of Merit 2020.
Weather conditions for the Final Stage look rather damp with rain forecast from Thursday through Saturday. But that shouldn’t dampen the spirits of the multi-national field of golfers all highly motivated to go out and get their place on the 2020 Alps Tour.
Final Result Asia Course: click here
Entries Final Stage: click here
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