21st October 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Spain’s Borda wins Grand Final; Tarrio ends 2018 season in first place overall
David Borda (ESP) won today the Alps Tour Grand Final with a total score of -19. It is Borda’s second victory on the Alps Tour this season.
Hugues Jr Joannes (BEL) finished in 2nd place (-17 total) while Ivan Cantero Gutierrez (ESP) and Leo Lespinasse (FRA) tied for 3rd place with a total score of -13. Lespinasse turned in the best card of the day (64, -7) making an eagle, 6 birdies and a bogey.
« I’m feeling really really good, I could not be happier, I think it was my best week ever. I’m so happy » Borda said. « For sure, I felt the pressure, everybody was feeling the pressure this week, but I managed it and I played very very good during the last 4 days. I’m looking forward to next year on the Challenge Tour ». Last year, David Borda failed obtaining a Challenge Tour card by a few points.
Santiago Tarrio (ESP), who played this week at the European Tour’s Valderamma Masters in Spain and thus did not take part in the Grand Final, finishes the 2018 season first in the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking, with 26,702.45 points. With today’s win, David Borda moves up to second place in the Oom. Alexandre Daydou (FRA), Louis Cohen Boyer (FRA) and Marcus Mohr (ENG) complete the top 5 of the Oom and will all be playing on the Challenge Tour next season. Marcus Mohr, who had a very disappointing Grand Final finishing tied for 33rd place (+3 total), makes the top 5 by less than 700 points. « I feel very lucky to finish 5th in the Order of Merit. I did not play very well at all this week » Mohr said.
« First, I would like to congratulate my friend David Borda for his second victory of the season » Tarrio said. « I was disappointed not to be able to play the Final because it is a course that I love and I feel welcome at the Golf Des Iles Borromées » he continued. « Finishing first in the Order of Merit is very important for me because there were many very good players this year on the Alps Tour and to beat them means that I can reach the European Tour as I think they will also do » he added. « Finally, it’s great to follow the footsteps of Adriá Arnaus who won last year’s Alps Tour season ranking. This shows that I am on the right track » Tarrio said.
As an amateur, Adria Arnaus won the 2017 Grand Final and finished first in the Order of Merit. Arnaus is currently ranked 9th on the Challenge Tour and will play on the European Tour next season.
« I would like to dedicate this season to my whole team. Without them, I would not be at the top. I’d like to thank my friends and my sponsors, my whole family, Joaquín Dosil for making me improve and for supporting me from the first day in many aspects and of course, my caddie and girlfriend, Noelia Garcia. Much of the successes are because of her » Tarrio concluded.
The Alps Tour would like to thank the Golf Club Des Iles Borromées for their wonderful hospitality and all the sponsors of the tournament for their strong support.
The next Alps Tour event will be the Qualifying School at La Cala Resort in Malaga, Spain, December 9th through December 15th, 2018.
20th October 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Borda retakes the lead before decisive final round
19th October 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Joannes takes control of Grand Final
Belgium’s Hugues Jr Joannes took the lead of the Alps Tour Grand Final today with a total of -11. Joannes made 8 birdies turning in the best card of the day (63, -8).
The overnight leader David Borda (ESP) is one stroke behind (-10) while another Spaniard, Ivan Cantero Gutierrez, completes the podium (-9).
« Today was just a day where everything fell into places I guess » Joannes said. « I did not start very well, I made 4 pars to start. Then, I made birdies on holes 5, 6 and 9 so I was 3 under through hole 9. And then I made birdies on holes 10, 11, 13, 14 and on 17 where I nearly made an eagle » Joannes explained. « It was actually a really good day, I’m very pleased with it. The course is very nice, it can be tricky at times but it’s a really fun course to play. You have to hit good tee shots and obviously you have to putt well which I did today so it was a lot of fun » he continued. « We’ll see what happens in the next few days, the tournament is still long, there are still 2 more rounds to play, I’ll try to keep doing what I’m doing and if I do what I did in the last 2 days, it should be good » 29-year-old Joannes concluded.
« I did not play very well the front 9 as I made 9 pars, I missed a lot of putts » Borda said. « It was a tough day, I struggled all day. I made a good birdie on hole 11 and then I got my good game back and made 2 birdies at the end. I’m pretty happy about the result today » he explained. « I think I had a good round to head into the weekend and stay in contention » the Spaniard concluded.
The top 50 players of the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking, are competing against each other through Sunday to determine the overall winner of the season. The winner of the Grand Final will get 11,000 points while the runner up will grab 7,000 points. Following this week’s Grand Final, the top 5 of the ranking will take a full category on the Challenge Tour next year.
Weather conditions were again sunny today at the Golf Club Des Iles Borromées with warm temperatures in the afternoon and practically no wind.
Tomorrow’s round 3 tee off is at 08h30 local time.
18th October 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Spain’s David Borda leads Grand Final
David Borda (ESP) turned in the best card of the day today at -7 to take leadership of the Alps Tour Grand Final at the Golf Club Des Iles Borromées in Italy.
Borda finished round 1 of the tournament with 1 eagle, 6 birdies and a bogey.
He is followed by Frenchman Victor Marchiset who finished his round one stroke behind (-6) and by a group of 3 players all at -5: Leo Lespinasse (FRA), Timon Baltl (AUT) and Tom Shadbolt (ENG).
« It was a really good round, I started really good with 2 birdies on the first 2 holes. I finished the front 9 with 5 under so I’m pretty happy » Borda said. « We know the course well because we’ve played it several times already. It’s a good course, you need to be all the time with the ball in play to be able to make birdies. If you putt well, I think you can have a good round » he explained. « This is the most important tournament of the year, it’s the Final, it’s a long tournament so I’ll try to keep myself in contention to be there at the end of the week. I’m in 6th position in the Order of Merit but there are more points to take in the Final and everybody can get in the top 5. I want to win, that’s the objective for this week, to try to get into the Challenge Tour » Borda, who missed the top 5 last year by a few points, concluded.
« I’m very satisfied with my day » Frenchman Victor Marchiset said. « I’m not used to play that low on the first day. I played well in all compartments of my game. I used the same game plan than when we played here in July. I like this course, there is no stress at the start of each hole » he explained. « It’s a bonus for me to be here as I was not sure I would make the top 50 at the end of the regular season. It was a pleasure to play here today » Marchiset concluded.
The Alps Tour Grand Final is the culmination of the 2018 season. The top 50 players of the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking, are competing against each other through Sunday to determine the overall winner of the season. Following the Grand Final, the top 5 of the ranking will take a full category on the Challenge Tour next year.
The €45,000 prize money tournament is played over 72 holes of traditional stroke. But because it is the Grand Final, 70 000 points will be distributed to give the opportunity to players not in the top positions of the Order of Merit to jump in the top 5 with this last tournament. The winner of the Grand Final will get 11,000 points while the runner up will grab 7,000 points.
Weather conditions on the shores of Lake Maggiore were sunny with warm temperatures in the afternoon and some wind gusts throughout the day.
Tomorrow’s first round 2 tee off is at 08h30 local time.
16th October 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Alps Tour Grand Final concludes 2018 season
Rising golf stars of the Alps Tour are heading this week to Lake Maggiore (Italy) for the culmination of the 2018 season, the Alps Tour Grand Final.
The top 50 players of the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking, will compete against each other starting this Thursday to determine the overall winner of the 2018 season.
On top of being in the top 50 following the last tournament of the regular season (the Abruzzo Open), players must also have played in at least 6 tournaments in 3 different countries this season to be able to take part in the Grand Final.
At the end of this week’s Grand Final, the top 5 of the ranking will take a full category on the Challenge Tour next year. As an amateur, Adria Arnaus won the 2017 Grand Final and finished first in the Order of Merit. Arnaus is currently ranked 9th overall on the Challenge Tour and will play on the European Tour next season.
Santiago Tarrio, the leader of the Order of Merit with 26,702.45 points, will not participate in this week’s Grand Final as he’s been invited to play in the European Tour’s Valderrama Masters in Spain. « I’m sad not to be able to play in the Grand Final. I like the course very much and I feel very welcomed there. But there are tournaments I can’t turn down » Tarrio said.
« I can’t wait to start playing on a course where I have played well there twice finishing tied for 6th (Des Iles Borromées Open 2018) and tied for 9th place (Grand Final 2017) » England’s Marcus Mohr, who is ranked in 4th place in the Order of Merit, said. « I said at the start of the year that I wanted to give myself a chance and I have » he continued. « I will be nervous and excited when the Grand Final starts on Thursday but I know that if I play my game, I will come out where I deserve to be at the end of the week » Mohr concluded.
« I just want to end the season with the same state of mind I’ve had all year long, that is determined and at the same time serene » Frenchman Xavier Poncelet said. Poncelet is ranked 5th in the Order of Merit but is closely followed by David Borda (ESP) who is 133,44 points behind him.
The €45,000 prize money tournament will be played over 72 holes of traditional stroke. But because it is the Grand Final, 70 000 points will be distributed to give the opportunity to players not in the top positions of the Order of Merit to jump in the top 5 with this last tournament. The winner of the Grand Final will get 11,000 points while the runner up will grab 7,000 points.
This is the second year in a row the Golf Des Iles Borromées is hosting the Grand Final. It is also the second time this season the Alps Tour makes a stop at the Golf Des Iles Borromées after a tournament played there at the end of July.
The Golf Des Iles Borromées, a 18-hole par 71 golf course located 500 meters above sea level, is surrounded by beautiful nature and an exceptional flora. The course has spectacular views of the Swiss Alps and of the Ticino Plain. From the 18th tee, one can see the skyline of Milan and four lakes: Lake Maggiore, Lake Varese, Lake Monate and Lake Comabbio. The Golf club is also the home of a very dynamic junior school managed by a former player of the Alps Tour, Federico Colombo.
28th July 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Italy’s Andrea Saracino wins Des Iles Borromées Open, his first pro victory
Italy’s Andrea Saracino won today Des Iles Borromées Open with a total score of -18.
It was Saracino’s first professional victory at the Golf Des Iles Borromées.
Tied for 2nd place are Julien Foret (FRA) and Santiago Tarrio (ESP) who finished 6 strokes behind Saracino at -12 total. Foret had entered today’s final round as leader of the tournament at -13 total.
France’s Victor Marchiset turned in the best card of the day at -7. He finished in 4th place at -11 total.
« I’m very happy » 24-year-old Andrea Saracino said. ” Today was easy even though I was a bit nervous. I made 7 birdies and 1 bogey. I started with a birdie on the first hole, then I birdied on holes 5 and 6 » he explained. « This week was rather difficult with the weather conditions. It was very hot and humid. But I’m just very happy » he concluded.
« I had a good week even though I’m disappointed at the outcome » Foret said. « I hit a very bad shot on hole 4 (double bogey) but I was able to remain focused until the end. I was looking at securing this second place because Andrea quickly made the difference on the front 9 as he shot 5 under. He had a great day » he continued. « I hit a birdie on hole 17 which put me back in 2nd place. I can only be satisfied with this day during which I had to fight to keep this second place » he said. « I’m satisfied with my week overall, I hit low scores, I putted very well and as a whole, it went very well » he concluded.
« I’m very satisfied with my tournament » Victor Marchiset said. « I followed my strategy from beginning to end today. I did not attack, I was not agressive and I putted very very well. I made 3 birdies in a row on holes 3,4 and 5. I’m just very satisfied. I would have signed up without any problem at the beginning of the day for a 4th place » he concluded.
Santiago Tarrio (ESP) still leads the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking. With his 5th place today, Alexandre Daydou (FRA) moves up to second place of the Order. Louis Cohen Boyer (FRA), Marcus Mohr (ENG) and David Borda (ESP) complete the top 5 of the ranking. At the end of the season, the top 5 of the Order of Merit qualifies directly to play on the Challenge Tour.
Rising golf stars and staff of the Alps Tour will now take a summer break. The next tournament is the Cervino Open starting on August 29th.
27th July 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Foret enters final round as sole leader
France’s Julien Foret enters the final round of the Des Iles Borromées Open presented by Cashback tomorrow as leader with a total score of -13. Foret shot 3 under today to retain sole leadership of the tournament.
Foret is followed by Andrea Saracino (ITA) at one stroke behind (-12 total) and by Davey Porsius (NED) at -7 total.
Marcus Mohr (ENG) turned in the best card of the day at the Golf Des Iles Borromées at -7 and move ups to 4th place at -6 total.
« I’m rather satisfied with my score. 3 under is not a bad score considering today’s conditions. There was more wind than yesterday, it was very hot and some of the pins were pretty difficult. We had to be careful » Foret said. « It could have been a lot better if I had made some putts on the way back » he continued. « Tomorrow is another day, there is a nice challenge waiting for me. These are situations we like to be in, this is what we’re playing for » he concluded.
« Today was a good day, I’m very happy » Andrea Saracino said. « I made 3 under with 5 birdies and a stupid double bogey on hole 17 » the 24-year-old player from Rome explained. « I hope to play good tomorrow and to win my first professional tournament » he concluded.
« It was a very pleasant day, it was nice to get out early because it was a little bit cooler on the front 9 » Marcus Mohr said. « I was playing with Andrea Saracino who shot an amazing round yesterday, he was playing very steady today so it was easy to off feed from him, we were all hitting well, the group was playing well » he explained. « My girlfriend Amy is here, she was caddying me for the first time ever and it went well. For tomorrow, I’ve got to stay patiently agressive, there are some many birdies out there so I’ll try to shoot as low as I can » Mohr concluded.
53 players including 8 amateurs made the cut set at +1 and will play tomorrow’s final round.
Final round will tee off at 8h local time.
26th July 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Julien Foret leads Des Iles Borromées Open
Frenchman Julien Foret turned in the best card of the day today at -10 at the Des Iles Borromées Open presented by Cashback.
Foret finished round 1 at the Golf Club Des Iles Borromées with an eagle, 9 birdies and a bogey.
He is followed by Andrea Saracino (ITA), who finished one stroke behind (-9). Four strokes behind Saracino is a group of three Frenchmen: Sam Testelin, amateur Clément Charmasson and Sébastien Gandon.
« I’m very satisfied after such a day during which I made lots of birdies and an eagle » 35-year-old Julien Foret said. « I started the day very well and I was able to stay focused throughout the round » he explained.
« I hit a lot of good shots, very good shots, I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdies, I was able to materialize these birdies when the opportunities came up » he continued. « There is not much else to say, there are not a lot of shots to throw away at 10 under, it could have gone the other way, but today it went my way. There is another nice day coming up tomorrow, I’ll keep doing the best possible » he concluded.
« I had an easy day today, I made 10 birdies and a bogey » Andrea Saracino said. « The course is very good, the greens are fast, I made every putt from everywhere today » he explained.
Special mention to Javier Parada (ESP) who made a hole-in-one this afternoon. The spaniard used an iron 7 to cover the 155 meters between the tee and the pin on hole 16, a par 3. Parada finished tied for 14th place at -2 total.
Weather conditions were sunny with hot temperatures and some wind gusts in the morning.
Tomorrow’s first round 2 tee off is at 07h30 local time.
24th July 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Des Iles Borromees Open presented by Cashback is next
Rising golf stars of the Alps Tour are heading this week to Lake Maggiore, Italy, for the Des Iles Borromees Open presented by Cashback July 26th through July 28th.
The Golf des Iles Borromees hosted last year the Alps Tour Grand Final won by amateur Adria Arnaus (ESP). On top of winning the Grand Final, Arnaus finished first in the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking.
The Golf Des Iles Borromees, a 18-hole par 71 golf course located 500 meters above sea level, is surrounded by beautiful nature and an exceptional flora. The course has spectacular views of the Swiss Alps and of the Ticino Plain. From the 18th tee, one can see the Skyline of Milan and four lakes: Lake Maggiore, Lake Varese, Lake Monate and Lake Comabbio.
The golf club is also the home of a very dynamic junior school managed by a former player of the European Tour, Federico Colombo.
130 players from 17 countries across five continents have entered the tournament including Santiago Tarrio (ESP), leader of there Alps Tour’s Order of Merit. Tarrio is looking for his third victory on the Alps Tour this season which would give him direct access to the Challenge Tour.
The €40,000 prize money tournament is played over 54 holes of traditional stroke. Following a cut after 36 holes, the top 40 and ties will qualify for the final round of the tournament.
After this week’s tournament, Alps Tour players and staff will take a month-long break before the next tournament, the Cervino Open starting August 29th.
22nd October 2017 | Alps Tour Golf
Arnaus Does the Double!
Credit: Tristan Jones.
Adria Arnaus ended the season in sparkling form coming from five shots behind to take the Grand Final title and create history as the first amateur to win Alps Tour Order of Merit at Golf Des Iles Borromees.
He shot his best round of the week, 65, to move to -14 for the tournament, then has a nervous wait while the last two groups finished their rounds. As it was, no one was able to match him over the final stretch and he was delighted to take his second win of the season.
“The Grand Final has been a really special event for me, coming here as number on in the Order of Merit, I just wanted to enjoy it and I definitely did that. The course condition was fantastic and I fell in love with the greens, I felt like the ball had a true roll of the time.”
Credit: Tristan Jones.
Arnaus, ranked 25th on the world amateur rankings, played 9 events on the Alps Tour this year, has managed four top ten finishes as well as his two victories and has now added a Challenge Tour card to his achievements this season.
“I started in the first event in Madrid, with no expectations came to have fun and compete, I ended up in a playoff and that gave me the chance to take part in the rest of the season and it has been amazing.”
Joint runner up, Christophe Koerbler of Austria, -12, recorded his highest ever finish on the Alps Tour, finishing his season with a faultless 65, which included four birdies and an eagle. His performance means he jumps nine places up the Order of Merit to be inside the top 30 giving him category 4 on the Alps Tour for next season. Leo Lespinasse also on -12 shot his second consecutive 69 to share second place with Koerbler and also record his highest finish of the year.
The top five players on the Order of Merit after the Grand Final all receive their Challenge Tour cards, and as it was today, the Order of Merit remained unchanged.
Congratulations to Adria Arnaus of Spain, Ugo Coussaud and Antoine Rozner of France, Lars Van Meijel of the Netherlands and Robin Roussel of France who will all be playing on the Challenge Tour next season.
Thanks a lot to the Golf des Iles Borromées for their wonderful hospitality. A special thank to the Federazione Italiana Golf and Italian Pro Tour for their strong support all year long and all the sponsors of the tournament.
