15th December 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Angel Hidalgo wins Q School’s final stage
Spain’s Angel Hidalgo won today the final stage of the Alps Tour’s Q School with a total score of -14 at La Cala Resort , Spain.
Hidalgo and Andorra’s Kevin Esteve turned in the best cards of the day (-7).
Maximiliano Godoy (ARG) came in 2nd place (-9 total) while Enrico Di Nitto completed the podium (-8 total).
« I’m very happy with this win. I played very well all week » Hidalgo said.
20-year-old Angel Hidalgo made good use of his knowledge of the beautiful and hilly La Cala courses: he is from Marbella, just a few kilometers from the Q School venue, and turned pro just one month ago.
The young Spaniard started to play golf at the age of 2. At the age of 5, he started group lessons for kids in Guadalmina located half-hour by from La Cala. Hidalgo represented Spain in the Spanish Amateur team at the European and World Championships in 2018, won two Spanish Men’s Championships both Match play and Stroke play.
« In 5 days, I will be traveling to Asia to play the Asian Tour final » Hidalgo continued. « Depending on the outcome, I will play both in Asia and on the Alps Tour next season » he concluded.
Following today’s final qualifying stage, 38 players have obtained a category 6 on the Alps Tour which means they are guaranteed a spot in all the tournaments of the Alps Tour next season. 32 players are eligible for membership in category 8 of the Alps Tour and 75 others for category 9.
The 2019 season of the Alps Tour is scheduled to start in February with a series of tournaments in Egypt. The full 2019 tournament schedule is due to be released at the beginning of the year.
14th December 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Familiar face Enrico Di Nitto sole leader of Q School
Enrico Di Nitto (ITA) is the sole leader of the Q School’s Final Stage with a total of -9 after round 2 at La Cala Resort, Spain.
Di Nitto made an eagle, 6 birdies and 2 bogeys on Asia course to finish the day at -6, two strokes clear of Spaniard Angel Hidalgo – who shot a 67 (-5) on the same course today – and Argentinian Maxi Godoy, who posted a 66 (-5) on America course with 6 birdies and one single bogey.
Mathias Eggenberger (SUI) turned in the best card of the day, a 65 (-7) on Asia course, after making an eagle, 7 birdies and a bogey.
Enrico Di Nitto is a familiar face on the Alps Tour as he played on the circuit during the 2016 season. At the end of that season, the 25-year-old Italian finished in 2nd place on the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking. He played two seasons on the Challenge Tour with some mixed results. Having obtained a category 17 for next season on the Challenge Tour, Di Nitto will play on both Tours, to try to give a new boost to his career.
70 players made the cut today set at +6 and will progress to the third and final round which will be played tomorrow on Asia course. Today’s weather conditions were good.
After tomorrow’s final round set to tee off at 09h15 local time, 35 players will obtain a category 6 which means for them a guaranteed spot in all the tournaments of the Alps Tour during the 2019 season.
13th December 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
Hauchard leads Q School Final Stage after round 1
With 5 birdies and a bogey on America course, Frenchman Clément Hauchard turned in the best card of the day (67, -4) today to take the lead of the Final Stage of the Alps Tour Q School at La Cala Resort, Spain. Juan Carlos Osorio (ESP), Enrico Di Nitto (ITA) and Jack Clarkson (ENG), all on America course, are one stroke behind Hauchard.
On Asia course, where the other half of the field has played the first round, three players are sharing the top spot at 70 (-2): Javier Ballesteros, 28, son of legendary Severiano; Argentinian Maxi Godoy, 30, who plans to try his career in Europe after some good experience in the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica, where he has collected 10 top ten places in 2018; and Canadian Callum Davison, who has recently decided to turn pro after a good amateur career.
At the end of the Q School’s final stage, 35 players will obtain a category 6 which means for them a guaranteed spot in all the tournaments of the Alps Tour during the 2019 season.
Weather conditions deteriorated today compared to the last few days. Rain, gusty winds and clouds prevailed in the morning before the sun came out in the afternoon with some wind still present. Temperatures reached about 15 degrees.
Round 2 will tee off tomorrow at 09h30 local time, with players swapping courses: those who played America today will play Asia tomorrow. At the end of the day, the cut will have the best 65 players and ties finish the tournament on Saturday, on Asia course, trying to get a “category 6” or “8”, while all the others will have a “category 9” for 2019.
12th December 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
10th December 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
75 players progress to Final Stage
Another gorgeous sunny day was the perfect set for a thrilling final round of the Alps Tour Qualifying School First Stage, played over the three courses of La Cala Resort in the South of Spain.
On the America course, French amateur Pierre Pineau (pictured) with a total of -12 (130) could sit on top of the leaderboard with a 5 stroke advantage over his nearest competitor, thanks to a wonderful 63 today, comprising nine birdies and one bogey. 33 players gained access to the Final Stage and the last two spots were decided by a playoff amongst 5 players who were sitting on +4.
On the Asia course, the best score was posted by Italian Luca Cianchetti, with a total of 133 (-11) which included a great second round in 64, with 1 eagle, 7 birdies and a single bogey; also on Asia, a playoff was needed with 9 players at +3 (147) fighting for 7 spots, and 33 players were promoted to the Final Stage.
On Europa course, Frenchman Timothée Guin was the best scorer with 140 (-2), and 8 more players were admitted to the Final Stage that will take place from Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th December on America and Asia courses.
9th December 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
First Stage is underway
The sun was shining today on beautiful La Cala Resort, in the South of Spain, where the First Stage of the 2019 Alps Tour Qualifying School is underway. 175 players teed off this morning on three courses – Asia, America and Europa – and it was announced how many players will qualify from each course: 33 players from Asia course (out of a total of 78), 32 from America course (out of 76) and 9 from Europa (out of 21) will be admitted to the Final Stage, which will take place from December 13th to 15th; they will join the 70 players already exempt who entered in order to compete for gaining one of the 35 spots available for category 6 next year.
The lowest score was posted by Austrian Clemens Prader (pictured), who carded a flawless round on Asia course with 7 birdies and no bogeys for a total of 65 strokes (-7). On America course, the best players are Englishman Jack Clarkson and John Hickey from Ireland, both at 66 (-5), while on Europa course, Frenchmen Timothee Guin and Florent Ales are co-leaders with a 69 (-2).
Tomorrow, December 10th, the second round will decide who can proceed to the Final Stage, which will be played by a total of 144 players on Asia and America courses.
7th December 2018 | Alps Tour Golf
La Cala ready to welcome the golf rising stars
For the seventh year in a row, magnificent La Cala Resort, in the South of Spain, will be the stage for the 2019 Alps Tour Qualifying School. Not less than a total of 250 players representing 27 countries will compete aiming to gain one of the 35 places available for the best category at stake – Category 6 – for next year and, in other words, for having a spot guaranteed in all the tournaments of the 2019 season.
The First Stage takes place on December 9th and 10th on all three courses of the beautiful Costa del Sol venue – America, Asia and Europa – with about 180 players trying to get their place in the Final Stage after 36 holes. The best among them – the exact number will be announced only after all participants have teed off in the first round – will join those players who have already gained an exemption in the Final Stage due to a number of circumstances – like their results in the past season, or the participation in the European Amateur Team Championship, for example.
On December 13th and 14th, Asia and America courses will then welcome a total of 144 players who will play two rounds of 18 holes; after that, the field will be cut to the leading 65 players and ties, and they will have to give their best on the last day of the tournament, December 15th, on Asia course.
Alps Tour is a third level organisation for both professional and amateur players, a fantastic field of training for those aiming to the highest levels of tournament golf – Challenge Tour, European Tour and beyond.
Some really talented players 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.
In 2018, notwithstanding an uncertain economic environment, Alps Tour organized 16 tournaments encompassing six nations, for a total prize money of over 665,000 €; and, like every year, the final ranking rewarded its best players: five of them were promoted to the Challenge Tour – Spaniard Santiago Tarrio, Frenchmen Alex Daydou and Louis Cohen-Boyer, Marcus Mohr from England and Andrea Saracino from Italy, while David Borda (Spain), winner of the Alps Tour Grand Final, was admitted straight to the Second Stage of European Tour Qualifying School thanks to his position in the ranking and went on conquering one of the coveted spots on the main Tour.
La Cala Golf, Hotel & Spa (www.lacala.com), with its breathtaking views of the stunning Andalusian countryside, offers an idyllic rural retreat, worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the coast, yet just 20 minutes from Marbella and only 30 minutes from Malaga airport. Three superb championship courses, each presenting its own unique challenges, slot seamlessly into a natural undulating backdrop of trees and flowers, rich with birds and wildlife. Designed by the renowned Cabell Robinson, each 18-hole course has been created to ensure a testing, yet truly exhilarating experience. Nestled between the arresting beauty of the Sierra de Mijas Natural Park and the shimmering Mediterranean Sea, La Cala is a genuine haven of tranquility. It’s the perfect base for exploring Andalusia and Spain’s fascinating cultural cities like Granada, and the breathtaking surroundings create the perfect backdrop for holidays, weddings and corporate events.
