Alps Tour Golf | Matt Wallace

7th November 2022 | Alps Tour Golf

Welcome to the 2022 Alps Tour Qualifying School Final Stage!

Rome, November 7^th 2022– A long-awaited week for the players trying to capture a playing card for the 2023 season. A full field of 156 players representing 20 different nations, will be competing at this year’s 54 holes Final Stage. 92 players were exempt into the field, while the remaining 64 players qualified through the three Stage 1 events that were played last week.

Players exempt into the field of Final Stage are: Alps Tour members ranked in the 2022 Order of Merit but were not admitted into the 2022 Emilia Romagna Alps Tour Grand Final field, players who participated in the 2022 World Amateur Team Championship and players who competed at the 2022 European Boys and Men Team Championships.

The 2022 Alps Tour Qualifying School Final Stage will be played in Rome. For the first two rounds, the players will be alternating between Golf Nazionale and Olgiata Golf Club. For the final round, the players that make the cut will be competing at Golf Nazionale. The tournament will be played from November 9^th until November 11^th.

The format of the tournament is a 54 holes stroke play, 18 holes a day. After 36 holes a cut will be made to the top 65 players and ties.

At the conclusion of the 54 holes, the top 35 players and ties will be eligible to receive Category 6 membership for the 2023 Alps Tour Season. The rest of the players who made the cut, and finished between the 36^th and 65^th position will be eligible to receive Category 8 membership for next year’s season. The remaining players will be eligible for membership in Category 9 for the 2023 Alps Tour Season. All of the players in categories 8 and 9 will be subject to the 2023 Alps Tour committee re-rank policy.

A lot of players, like Matt Wallace and Guido Migliozzi, who began their careers participating in the Alps Tour Qualifying School, are now winners on the major tours.

Last year, the tournament was won by France’s Martin Couvra.

For the most up-to-date entry list click here.

The Golf Courses-

Golf Nazionale, one of the venues that is hosting this week’s 2022 Alps Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, is a 6462 meters par 72 course. It is considered one of the toughest and most challenging golf courses in Italy as well as being recognized one of the toughest courses in Europe. It was designed by George and Jim Fazio and David Mezzacane, and has hosted numerous prestigious events over the years including the 1991 World Cup. Golf Nazionale is set in the natural landscape of upper Lazio with dense forests full of ancient oaks. It is a very technical but fun golf course for all types of players.

Olgiata Golf Club is home to 27 holes of golf, the West Course and the East Course. This week the players will be competing on the west course. It was inaugurated in 1961 and designed by British Architect, C.Kenneth Cotton. The west course is the older of the two and is an 18 holes course. Prestigious events like the Italian Open have been played numerous times on this course. This is the first time that an Alps Tour event will be played on this course. In 2012, it was completely redesigned by American Architect Jim Fazio to adapt it to new requirements. The current course record for the “West Course” is held by Ian Poulter and Angel Cabrera with a score of 11 under-par (61). Both players achieved the course record during the 2002 Italian Open.

The Alps Tour wishes the best of luck to the 156 players competing this week and are eager to follow the next rising golf stars #risinggolfstars !

Follow along on www.alpstourgolf.com or the official “Alps Tour Golf” app to keep up on all the latest scores and news.

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10th May 2022 | Alps Tour Golf

The Tour heads to Austria for the 30th Gösser Open.

Graz, May 10^th 2022– The tour heads to Graz, Austria this week for the 30^th Gösser Open. This will be the eighth event of the 2022 season and will be played at Golf Club Erzherzog Johann in Maria Lankowitz from Thursday May 12^thuntil Saturday May 14^th. On Wednesday May 11^th, the traditional Pro-Am will take place with 32 teams on the course.

This year we celebrate the 30^th edition of the Gösser Open. The event began in 1993 at Steiermärkischer Golf Club Murhof and in 2000 moved to Erzherzog Johann GC, now its permanent host location. A year later, in 2001 when the Alps Tour was founded, the Gösser Open became part of the Alps Tour, and has been a regular event on the schedule since then. This event has become the most traditional professional golf tournament played in Austria.

The Field-

This week, there will be 150 players competing from 17 different nationalities for the title. The players in the field will be playing for a prize fund of €42,500 and 45,000 points.

To celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the event, the promoter has invited five players from the Legends Tour to take part in this special edition. Clark Dennis, Markus Brier, David Morland IV, David Shacklady and Peter Wilson who all played last week (May 6^th-8^th) at the nearby Legends Tour tournament at Golf Club Murhof will be competing this week.

Some notable players have won this tournament including England’s Matt Wallace in 2016 with a score of 20 under-par. Furthermore, since its inaugural year in 1993, a number of Austrian players have triumphed. The latest Austrian player to have won the tournament for the second time, was Lukas Nemecz in 2020 with a score of 17 under-par. Besides Nemecz, Austria’s Timon Baltl has also been a past Gösser Open winner. He was able to earn his Challenge Tour card in 2020 thanks to his 2019 Alps Tour results. Balt will be competing for title this week alongside numerous past champions like: Martin Wiegele, Markus Brier, Thomas Elissalde and Jurgen Maurer.

Niklas Regner who is just 23 years of age, and a current DP World Tour player will be competing this week. He has already played this tournament in the past and is looking forward to hopefully capture a win this time. Regner commented, “At the 2019 tournament, I led as an amateur after two days, but then I collapsed on the final round and finished 20th. The following year it went a lot better with sixth place and now I feel ready to play for the victory.”

Netherland’s Koen Kouwenaar, who won last week’s Alps Tour tournament in Italy is the new Alps Tour Order of Merit Leader. Kouwenaar will be in the field this week playing along side Order of Merit number 2 and 3, Stefano Mazzoli and Tomas Bessa Guimaraes.

The Course-

Golf Club Erzherzog Johann Maria Lankowitz is a 5967 meters par 72 course. It was designed by architect DI Herwig Zisser and inaugurated in 1992. The course is located about 40km from the city of Graz on the edge of a natural reserve in the Western Styria area and has some picturesque views including rolling hills, lakes, and forests which appease the eye. Nonetheless, the course creates numerous challenges for the players that require accuracy and precision due to the layout of the golf course.

The current tournament course record is held by Thomas Feyrsinger in his 2^nd round of the 2005 Gösser Open and Claude Grenier in his 1^st round of the 2011 Gösser Open, both with a score of 63.

Tournament Promoter-

The 8^th event of the 2022 season, is promoted by Murhof Gruppe. The sponsors and partners of Murhof Gruppe are Gösser Beer, Region Graz, Lipizzaner Heimat- Steiermark, Austrian Golf Federation, the city of Maria Lankowitz Wallfahrtsort Freizeitparadies and Steiermärkische Sparkasse. Their media partners are: Gepa Pictures, Antenne Steiermark, Kleine Zeitung.

The Murhof Gruppe owns various golf courses throughout Austria including this week’s venue.

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)

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11th April 2022 | Alps Tour Golf

The Alps Tour returns at Miglianico Golf for the 8th Abruzzo Open

Pescara, April 11^th 2022 – The tour returns to action this week in Italy after a two week break and head to the Abruzzo region in Central Italy. The 2022 Abruzzo Alps Open will be played at Miglianico Golf and Country Club in Pescara, Italy. The sixth event of the 2022 season, will be contended from Wednesday April 13^th until Friday April 15^th. On Tuesday, April 12^th, the day prior to the start of the tournament, a “best ball aggregate to par” shot gun pro-am will occur.

Miglianico Golf and Country Club is a 5875 meters par 72 course. It was designed by well-known American golf architect, Ronald Kirby. Miglianico G&CC has hosted numerous events in the past including the Abruzzo Alps Tour Open seven times, the 2021 1^st stage Alps Tour Qualifying School, and the 2009 Games of the Mediterranean. The course is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, bunkers, and artificial lakes making Miglianico Golf a pleasant but challenging course to play having some strategically placed bunkers and water hazards.

The most recent winner of the Abruzzo Alps Open in 2021 is Jacopo Vecchi Fossa with a score of -15. Jacopo won the Alps Tour Order of Merit in 2021 earning him access in this year’s Challenge Tour. This week Jacopo will be in the field defending his title for the Abruzzo Alps Open. Past champions of this event include Guido Migliozzi who won the event in 2017 with a score of -14 and in 2018 with a score of -18, and is now a player on the DP World Tour. In addition, Matt Wallace, who is a current PGA Tour and DP World Tour player is also a past champion at Miglianico G&CC having won the 2016 Grand Final with a score of -17.

With most leading Order of Merit players competing this week, it is sure to be a very compelling week to watch. You’ll find the current Order of Merit leader, Italy’s Stefano Mazzoli in addition to the other top 5 players in the current Order of Merit rank. France’s Oihan Guillamoundeguy, winner of the second event of the season and 7^th in the current Order of Merit is also playing this week. All of this season’s previous winners are scheduled to compete this week and hope to each capture their second season win.

This week’s event is organized by the Italian Pro Tour, which is a branch of the Italian Golf Federation who promotes all golf professional events played on Italian soil. The main sponsors who support the Italian Pro Tour include DS Automobiles, Fideuram, and Kappa e Eureco. Their media partners are three Italian newspapers: Corriere dello Sport, Tuttosport and Il Giornale. The Italian Pro Tour also has a social partner, Sport Senza Frontiere Onlus and an official advisor Infront.

Among the 138 players competing this week, the field is represented by 15 different nationalities. The players will be competing for a prize fund of €40.000 and 45,000 Order of Merit points. Instead, the tournament winner will earn €5,800 and 6,525 Order of Merit points.

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)

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8th April 2021 | Alps Tour Golf

Wallace & Friends: Those Ranking Winners Still On The Rise

Nino Bertasio, Darius Van Driel and of course Matt Wallace, the most successful former member of the Alps Tour (with over €6 millions career money won on the European Tour) are among the past winners of the Order of Merit, as well as Jason Palmer who progressed all the way to the bigger tour before a wrist injury ended his playing career, and has now been caddying on the European Tour for another former Alps Tour player, Chris Paisley.

Here they share their memories and wishes for the Tour where their careers started. Enjoy!

Class of 2013

Jason PALMER (England)

“Playing on the Alps Tour was undoubtedly the most fun I ever had in my golfing career. What I enjoyed the most was the camaraderie between the players. I made more friends playing on the Alps Tour than at any other level of golf, and I think if you play in a friendly environment then that can only help to bring the best out of you, both as a person and as a player.

Being from England it was a big decision to try to establish myself on the Alps Tour instead of the Europro Tour. I believed that the travelling involved on the Alps Tour was more similar to life as a touring professional, where you need to fly to different places each week and are subjected to different types of courses and different grasses. It was one of the best decisions I ever made and my game progressed further as a result.

I will forever be grateful to the Alps Tour for giving me the platform to grow as a player. I was fortunate to gain some success and the confidence that brings is enormous. I would lean on those successes in future years and ultimately I progressed all the way to the European Tour before a wrist injury ended my playing career. The venues are superb and the strength of competition continues to improve year after year. You only need to look at the European Tour and it is littered with former Alps Tour players, which tells you all you need to know.

So thank you Alps Tour for some of the best and happiest memories of my life! May you continue to provide opportunities for some of the most talented players on the continent for years to come”.

Class of 2014

Nino BERTASIO (Italy)

“The Alps Tour – and more precisely the season of 2014 – represented for me my golfing comeback after a couple of difficult and complicated years on the courses.

I remember that the first four results I had at the start of the season guaranteed my goal of the season, that is the top 5 in the Order of Merit. If I don’t go wrong, I started in Europe with a 5th place in Austria, a 2nd at Colli Berici in Italy and two wins in a row, in Guadeloupe and Asiago in Italy.

Winning the Order of Merit was a bonus which gave me the confidence needed to face the Challenge tour the following year, and then the European Tour in 2016.

I remember we had a lot of fun during the whole season. We were a nice group of Italian players and we always tried to spend some time together, sharing apartments where we used to cook, grill and bbq, we played cards or any kind of sports during the free time. These are things that we don’t do on the bigger tours anymore”.

Class of 2015

Darius VAN DRIEL (The Netherlands)

“The Alps Tour has a special meaning to me. This is where I started my pro career and it’s where you need to fight for every euros: you’re not going to get rich but in order to progress to the next level you really need to play well.

I’ve learned a lot on the Alps Tour and it provided the base to where I stand today.

In that year, 2015, after a shaky start of the season with two missed cuts and three results with an average ranking, I had four top-10s and finished 2nd five times – in May, the Gosser Open in Austria and the Colli Berici in Italy, in September the Citadelle Trophy and the Haut-Poitou in France, the Alps de Extremadura in Spain and then, finally, I won the Open International de Marcilly: that was a big load off my shoulders! To finally win after so many second places”.

Since then, Darius has been a regular on the Challenge Tour and European Tour: he secured his first Challenge Tour title at the inaugural Euram Bank Open in Austria in 2018 and added to his trophy tally 13 months later at the Rolex Trophy in Switzerland, where he charged up the leaderboard with a final round of 64. He finished the 2019 season as 13th in the OoM and has gained the European Tour card.

Class of 2016

Matt WALLACE (England)

“I want to wish everybody the best of luck on the Alps Tour starting up again and celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021. The Mini Tour is such an important part for professional golf – it certainly was for me!”, says Wallace in a video message he sent to the Alps Tour just before the start of the Spring Series in Acaya (Italy) last March.

Wallace, now 31, is undoubtedly the most successful “product” of the Alps Tour. He joined in 2013, when he was 22, having gained his playing category through the Qualifying School the previous year, and went on with two average years – ranked 41st in 2013 and 27th in 2014.

In 2015 he started improving (7th), before really exploding in 2016 with a record 6 wins: Dreamland Pyramids Open in Egypt, Tunisian Golf Open in Tunisia, Gosser Open in Austria, and Vigevano Open, Open Frassanelle and Grand Final by AXA in Italy.

“Congratulations to the Alps Tour for getting up and running in Europe. I know you’re starting in Italy so good luck to everyone playing. Matteo Manassero will be there, as well as Enrico Di Nitto, another good friend of mine. I wish everyone the best of luck and have a great season!”

The stories of the last four winners will follow in the next few weeks, stay tuned!

The Alps Tour in numbers since 2001:

€ 15.240.000 prize money distributed;

365 tournaments;

14 countries visited;

152 different venues;

217 different tournament winners

Please click:

here for the full list of Schedules and Winners 2001-2020

here for the alpha list of winners 2001-2020

here for the Top 5 OoM 2001-2020

5th February 2019 | Alps Tour Golf

New season, new challenges

A new season is starting and new challenges are awaiting the Alps Tour players, the « rising stars » of golf looking to climb all the steps that lead to Challenge Tour, European Tour and beyond.

And the premises for another brilliant year are all there: just think of the record number of entries received for the Qualifying School last December – 255 players – and the level of low scores recorded on challenging America & Asia courses at La Cala Resort, with Spaniard Angel Hidalgo totalling -14 to gain the final top spot. The trend is continuing with the first tournaments of 2019 and at two weeks before the start, the number of entries are exceeding the available spots, with a long waiting list.

There’s a lot of expectations to see who will be the next players following in the footsteps of some really talented players who have sharpened their skills on the Alps Tour : like Englishman Matt Wallace, 28, who only two seasons ago won six tournaments and the Order of Merit of the Alps Tour, gained access to the Challenge Tour the following year and soon progressed to the European Tour, where he won 3 tournaments in 2018 and ended the season on 10th position on the Race to Dubai, with nearly 2,9 millions euros of prize money.

The 2019 season will tee off in Egypt, as it has been the case since 2013, with the Ein Bay Open played from February 19-21 on beautiful Sokhna Golf Course (pictured, a view of the 13th hole, credit Tristan Jones Photography), followed by Red Sea Little Venice Open (February 25-27), on the same venue. The Egyptian « Winter Series » will go on with three tournaments played from March 25th to April 6th on three different courses near The Caire and the pyramids : Dreamland Pyramids Open on Dreamland GC, New Giza Open on New Giza Gc – a new spectacular venue inaugurated last October – and Katameya Dunes Open, on the Lakes Course of Katameya Dunes.

Italy will have the role of opening the season in Continental Europe, with traditional Abruzzo Open on Miglianico Golf moved from September to April 17-19, just before Easter. After that, Alps Tour will then get to the heart of the schedule with some exciting changes : we are pleased to welcome new venues in Italy like Acaya Resort near Lecce, and Golf Nazionale near Rome ; and we will return to Golf de Valdeluz in Spain, host of the Alps de Las Castillas again.

And, for the first time in Europe, we’re going to host a new format, a real mixed event co-sanctioned with the LET Access Series : the Saint-Malo Golf Open (4-7 July) will see ladies and men compete together for the same prize money.

One thing is not changing, and it is the enthusiasm and the commitment of an army of young golfers chasing their dream and looking for a promotion. A total of at least 18 tournaments during the year will bring the best 50 players in the Order of Merit to compete in the Grand Final, the last fight to gain one of the 5 spots at stake to be admitted in the Challenge Tour 2020.

Stay tuned ! www.wp-alpstour.ocs-sport.com and the app « Alps Tour Golf » (on the App Store for iOS devices and Play Store for Android) will keep you updated on every news about Alps Tour.

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15th May 2017 | Alps Tour Golf

The Gösser Open – 25th anniversary

The Alps Tour season in Europe is about to resume, let’s have a focus on a very special tournament, unique in the Alps Tour history.

The Gösser Open celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2017 and it’s the 17th edition on the official Alps Tour schedule, since 2001. In many ways, the Gösser Open deserves the words – special, unique, unrivaled.

The Austrian brewery is the most faithful sponsor of a tournament on the Alps Tour. Precious partner since the beginning of the tournament before entering the Alps Tour calendar, the company is synonymous for happiness, party and celebration for all players and spectators who had the chance to attend the Gösser Open.

For Alps Tour members, coming to the Gösser Open is always a true joy. Elders inform rookies that the place is unique in many terms. Hosted by the GC Erzherzog Johann in the cute little town of Maria Lankowitz in Austria, the atmosphere of the event is very special. The team has been there since the first edition on the Alps Tour and one can feel the friendly, family and professional welcome thanks to Klaus Geyrhofer, Gerald Stangl, Dunja Loitsch, Mark Rotermund, Robert Keusch and all volunteers around their President, Hansjörg Langer.

Last but not least, the promoter worked on the Gösser Open since 2001, the Murhof-group and its President Johannes Goess-Saurau. They took care of this symbolic event as a precious jewel and thanks to their commitment, many amazing stories happened on course and were part of the historical book written in Austria.

The longest play-off happened in 2008 when home favorite Martin Wiegele defeated Emmanuele Latanzzi and Andre Rota after extra 8 holes. All fans do remember very emotional Scott Henry of Scotland lifting his maiden trophy and his speech about his parents’ sacrifice for his career. Ireland’s Brendan McCarroll wrote two nice chapters of the event with the only back to back win in 2012 and 2013. The Irishman did also enjoy well fishing in the lake by the course with his fellows. And then, Matt Wallace, the multiple winner on the Alps Tour in 2016, engraved his name on the big Gösser glass trophy, one of his six victories last year. (picture)

The 2017 edition will take place from the 18th to the 20th of May, same place, same sponsor, same people, same passion!

6th November 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Marty holds firm on top in El Saler

France’s Fabien Marty is still leading Stage 2 at El Saler golf tie with two other players. There is one day to go to confirm who will play the final Stage of European Tour Q School.

Thanks to his Alps Tour ranking end of August, Marty avoided the Stage 1 of European Tour Q School. His golf is in very good shape and it’s been three days he is holding firm on top of the leaderboard.

Among Alps Tour players, Enrico Di Nitto and Tom Shadbolt, both playing in Panoramica Golf course, are respectively 10^th and 15^th, so on the right side of the line.

Good day for Raphaël Marguery in Lumine, He shot -4 for a 34^th place tie. He have to be in top 20 to have a chance.

Alps Tour winner, England’s Matt Wallace did not manage to improve his score today. He is 66^th.

5th November 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Perrier and Pavon to play on European Tour in 2017

Good news from Challenge Tour, Damien Perrier, 2015 Alps Tour graduate just finished 13th of the Road to Oman and will play on European Tour next season.

Fellow countryman Matt Pavon, 2015 Alps Tour member, finished 6th. Congratulations gentlemen! We are very happy for you!

Meanwhile, Fabien Marty is still leading Stage 2 of European Tour Q School in El Saler. Tom Shadbolt and Enrico Di Nitto had a good day in Panoramica golf course, they are respectively 11th and 17th.

Matt Wallace shot +5 after his opening -4 and is 60th in Lumine Golf.

4th November 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Marty to lead after day 1 in European Tour Q School

Fabien Marty leads Stage 2 of European Tour Qualifying School at Golf El Saler with opening -8.

Season is not over for many Alps Tour members. This week is the opportunity to change the profile of their 2017 season. Top 6 of Alps Tour ranking end of August got an exemption to play directly Stage 2, others succeeded in Stage 1 to be in the field.

Below some result of some of our members.

Matt Wallace, winner of the ranking, shot -4 to be at 8^th position in Lumine Golf. At the same venue Victor Perez is 64^th with +2 and Raphaël Marguery is 72^th with +3.

At El Saler, Federico Maccario is 69^th with +3.

At Las Colinas, Alps Tour winners Franck Daux shot -2 for 24^th place and Thomas Elissalde played +5.

On the last venue, Panoramica Golf, Tom Shadbolt signed for a -5 card and a 10^th place, Enrico Di Nitto shot -3, 26^th and Stefano Pitoni scored +1, 61^st.

22nd October 2016 | Alps Tour Golf

Wallace to enter Alps Tour Hall of Fame

Matt Wallace wrote the most amazing story in the 15 year Alps Tour history. The 26 year old Englishman won the Grand Final by AXA by one shot in front of Richard Jouven, thanks to closing 68, his sixth title this season and won the Order of Merit with almost twice as many points as the second Federico Maccario.

Some people could say, the circuit is too easy for him. What a lack of knowledge… Wallace is strong, very strong but he had played 3 full seasons on the Alps Tour before he became the genius on course in 2016. Whatever the circuit, 6 wins is an outrageous record.

He entered 9 events this season and his worst result was a 4^th place. He won 6 times and 5 titles in a raw. His family were there for the Grand Final, he really wanted to win in front of them, for sure he learned to play with some pressure.

“It has been hard because I knew everybody will attack from all guys looking for the Challenge Tour card. And my objective was to win the tournament indeed. This was the most difficult victory of the year.”

Many players explained, once they leave the Alps Tour that they will never forget its atmosphere. Wallace has the same feeling, the Alps Tour is special.

“The Alps Tour will remain in my memory forever. For the friends I met, for the countries I visited. I played on the European Tour, on the Challenge Tour but I never experienced such an atmosphere.”

He will play at least on Challenge Tour next year, as the 4 players who secured their card today, Italy’s Enrico Di Nitto and Federico Maccario, England’s Tom Shadbolt and France’s Victor Perez.

A sixth man, Franck Daux, is on the wrong side of the cut by less than 25 points/€ but reference to the level of game of the five men in front of him, he can really hope than one of them will make the cut at the Final Q School of European Tour to get his card. Matthieu Pavon was in the same position last year and is about to finish top 15 on Challenge Tour.

Time to let the curtain falls on a enthralling year, catch up with you for the Q School in December.