13th May 2021 | Alps Tour Golf

Winners of the Alps Tour Ranking 2017-2020, In their words: The Last Chapter – So Far!

20 years of life and 20 different winners of the Alps Tour Order of Merit. For the 5th and final chapter of our story “In their Words”, we have asked the last four, from 2017 to 2020Adria Arnaus, Santi Tarrio, Edoardo Lipparelli and Jordi Garcia del Moral – to share their memories with us. Here’s what they recalled, with some really nice words from each one of them. 

Who’s going to follow in their steps by winning the 2021 Order of Merit? Just wait until October and see… In the meantime, enjoy these interviews. 

Class of 2017

Adria Arnaus (Spain)

I’m really proud to be part of the history of the first 20 years of the Alps Tour. I feel like it definitely made me the player I am today. Alps Tour got me in a position to kick off my career and made me realize I was good enough to compete with the bigger guys. 

I have so many great memories of the events I’ve played on the Alps Tour. You know, it is just different when you play in the bigger tours… it gets a bit lonelier; while playing the Alps, I’ve made so many great friendships travelling, sharing houses and moments with other players – not not only Spanish guys!, friends I still have today. On the Challenge and European Tour we are a bunch of players coming from the Alps and we all support each other and remember those times. 

I guess one of the most special moments I had, it was when I won the first Alps Tour event – The Villaverde Open in Udine, Italy – it was my third tournament and third playoff of the season, and I felt like I needed some help, so I went to see one of my friend (another Alps Tour player) David Morago, and he caddied for me that playoff and we were able to pull it through. This shows what the Alps Tour is, it is about competing but at the same time having the support of those you are travelling with, and that was great.

Along the same line, I feel like the courses were a lot of fun for me, they gave me the opportunity to be aggressive or to be cautious when I had to, they weren’t too long so that just made it very enjoyable for me, those “go and attack” kind of courses which reminded me of my home course in Catalonia, Moià, where you can get close to the greens in the par 4s and this would remind me of my roots back home.

It was a great year overall and I will always cherish those moments and I will remember all of the people I was with that year, and I hope that everything continues going forward in the situation we are in nowadays and I am sure we will hear more about Alps Tour graduates in the future”.

 

Class of 2018

SANTIAGO TARRIO (Spain)

The time I’ve spent playing on the Alps Tour is some of the happiest golfing memories I have, it is where I’ve learnt more, where I’ve forged my game in hundreds of battles, where we were all helping one another, no matter the nationalities, as if we were a family.

I cherish all those memories very much, and I’m grateful for the good friends I made: this is not always the case in some other tours. I think the Alps Tour is absolutely necessary to forge and toughen up any player facing a professional career; of course the economic side is difficult, but let me use a soccer metaphor: let’s say you learn the ropes in the Alcoyano (in third division), and therefore you’re used to a hard-working but humble team, to a certain level of stadium, stairs, changing rooms; and when you arrive at the Bernabeu in Madrid or at Camp Nou in Barcelona, then you’ll be able to play your best game more easily.

I remember the Alps Tour as a hard stage but with no doubt, immensely gratifying. I have been incredibly happy to win two tournaments and the Order of Merit in 2018. I think I’ve learned a lot in those years and so did my caddie, we strengthened up together: I am a better player now, and she’s a better caddie. We hope we can keep on progressing, never forgetting where we come from”.

Class of 2019 

Edoardo Lipparelli (Italy)

The Alps Tour is an important start for the approach to professionalism, it is where you begin to understand everything you need to do and how to manage yourself to work in golf. It sets a great foundation for what you will find later in the bigger Tours. I really liked the organization of the tournaments and the information and assistance we were given for the trips. I’ve never felt lost.

As for the experiences worth remembering, there are many. I really like the atmosphere after a lot of tournaments together with the different players and the team of the staff. I even dare saying that you become for us as a big family!

It has always been a pleasure to travel to be able to compete in the Alps Tour”.

Class of 2020 

Jordi Garcia del Moral (Spain)

2020 was a very important year for me. It has helped me to gain confidence because the standard level on the Alps Tour is becoming higher and higher every year. 

I would even say that 2020 was more important than 2012 and 2013 when I played on the European Tour. Now I feel I am more prepared than I was at that time and I’m going to work very hard to get back and enjoy it there. 

The best moment of the year was probably the -12 round I made at Gosser Open, in Austria; even though I didn’t win the tournament, it really meant a lot to me mentally, for my confidence.

I am very grateful for the effort made by the entire Alps Tour organization in 2020 as it was very difficult to get the tour going out with all the Covid restrictions!”.

 

The Alps Tour in numbers since 2001:

€ 15.400.000 prize money distributed;

369 tournaments;

14 countries visited;

153 different venues;

219 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


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. 


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.


18th September 2018 | Alps Tour Golf

Abruzzo Open marks end of regular season

The 2018 Alps Tour season is almost coming to an end as rising golf stars are gathering this week for the final tournament of the regular season, the Abruzzo Open, at the Miglianico Golf and Country Club (Italy) from September 20th through September 22nd. 

The Abruzzo Open will be followed in October by the Alps Tour Grand Final at a date and place to be announced.

The Miglianico Golf and Country Club, a 18-hole par 71 golf course designed by renowned American architect Ronald Kirby, runs along the woods, wineries and artificial bunkers, with plenty of «  off limits » and « water hazards », making it a very unique place to hold the 5th edition of the Abruzzo Open. 

«  The course is very nice and is well-liked by our rising golf stars » tournament director Alessandro Pia said. «  Matt Wallace won the 2016 Grand Final on the same course. Wallace is today in 18th place in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai » he added.

126 players from 15 countries across five continents have entered the tournament including defending champion Guido Migliozzi (ITA) and Santiago Tarrio (ESP), leader of the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour’s official season ranking.  

The €40,000 prize money tournament will be 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. 


27th August 2018 | Alps Tour Golf

Alps Tour season resumes with Cervino Open

After a 4-week summer break, rising golf stars of the Alps Tour are back in action this week heading to Breuil-Cervinia, northwestern Italy, for the Cervino Open August 29th through August 31st. 
 
The Cervino Open is held at the Cervino Golf Club , the highest 18 holes (par 68) golf course in Europe located at 2,000 meters above sea level. Surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery, the golf course sits at the foot of the Matterhorn mountain which is culminating at 4,478 meters above sea level, one of the highest summits in the Alps and in Europe. This year marks the 4th time the Alps Tour makes a stop at the Cervino Golf Club after 2012, 2013 and 2017. 
 
«  The golf course is a challenge for all players, it is not a typical flat course, its design follows the mountain and not the opposite » tournament director Alessandro Pia said. «  This course is very particular because some holes are really narrow, others have big climbs, there are also lots of marmots holes » he explained. « Finally, to make things even more interesting, golf balls fly 10% more because of the altitude and we even had snowflakes falling last year! » Pia concluded. 
 
125 players from 15 countries across five continents have entered the tournament including last year’s winner James Sharp (ENG) and Santiago Tarrio (ESP), leader of the 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. 

17th July 2018 | Alps Tour Golf

Rising golf stars head to the Alps de Las Castillas

Rising golf stars of the Alps Tour are heading this week to León, northwest of Spain, for the Alps de Las Castillas July 18th through July 20th. 

The 6th edition of the Alps de Las Castillas is played for the first time at the León Golf Club, a 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by former professional Spanish player Manuel Piñero. The course is known for its large fairways, numerous bunkers, large greens and numerous lakes, making it a very demanding course but at the same time a continuous challenge. 

128 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 €48,000 prize money tournament, making it one of the biggest events this season, 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. 
 
Round 1 starts at 8h local time tomorrow. 

7th July 2018 | Alps Tour Golf

Tarrio heading for a third victory

The leader of the Alps Tour’s Order of Merit, Santiago Tarrio (ESP), took the lead today of the St-Malo Golf Open at the Saint-Malo Golf Resort with a total of -14.

Tarrio turned in the best card of the day (-8) by making 9 birdies and a bogey. The 27-year-old native of Touro near Santiago-de-Compostella needs one more victory on the Alps Tour to move up directly to the Challenge Tour.
«  The day was perfect with 9 birdies and a bogey. When you play like this, everything is perfect » Tarrio said. «  Tomorrow, I hope to make again lots of birdies and the least bogeys possible. The golf course is really good and adapts very well to my game » he concluded.
French amateur Alexandre Fuchs, who led the tournament up until today after 2 strong rounds, drops down to second place, 1 stroke behind Tarrio. Fuchs made 2 eagles, 3 birdies, 4 bogeys and a double bogey on this «  Moving Day » . Tied for 3rd place at -12 total are Ivan Cantero Gutierrez (ESP) and another French amateur, Felix Mory.
The start of today’s round was delayed by 30 minutes due to heavy fog. Weather conditions then improved to let the sun shine throughout the day with temperatures in the 30s.
Final round is scheduled to tee off tomorrow at 7h30 local time.

24th June 2018 | Alps Tour Golf

Tarrio wins the Open de la Mirabelle d’Or

Santiago Tarrio (ESP) won the Open International de la Mirabelle d’Or today at the Domaine de la Grange aux Ormes with a total of -10. 

It is Tarrio’s second victory on the Alps Tour this season. He won the Gösser Open in Austria in May. 
 
Teremoana Beaucousin (FRA) finished 2nd overall 5 strokes behind Tarrio (-11 total). Thomas Grava (FRA) grabbed the 3rd spot on the podium at -10 total. 
 
«  I’m very happy, I started playing today just like in the past few days, it went all well from the very beginning. It was an easy day, I made some good shots, I reached greens and made some good putts, golf is fun when played like this » Santiago Tarrio said
 
«  I felt comfortable, I did not feel nervous at any moment. I did not make any bad shots, I was putting myself in a situation where I could make birdies on quite a few holes and when you have these sensations, it is always easier when walking the final round of a tournament » he continued. 
 
«  The goal at the beginning of the season was to be in the top 5 of the order of merit, I’m now in the leading spot, I’m just following my path. This is my second victory on the Alps Tour, a 3rd one would take me directly up on the Challenge Tour » Tarrio added.
 
«  I’d like to dedicate this victory to my sponsors. Without their help, I would not be here. These sponsors are Migas Boiro, Conservas G. Montes and Bigoutlet for the gear. I’d like to thank also my family, my father who is also my coach and my girlfriend » he concluded.  
 
«  I’m very happy especially since I finished the day by making a birdie on hole 17 to finish the tournament alone at the 2nd place » Frenchman Teremoana Beaucousin said. «   I had a difficult time at the beginning of the day but I was able to hang on and continue play my game with the same tactic in place during the first 3 days.  I’m very satisfied with this great week » he continued.  «  I was very happy to have my dad by my side this week. He lives in Tahiti and I don’t see him very often » he concluded. 
 
«  I felt great from beginning to end, from the first round to the final round. Even today, I was able to manage the pressure of a final round. I sticked to my game plan which was rather agressive. I enjoyed the whole week » third place finisher Thomas Grava said. 
Weather conditions were sunny most of the day with some clouds and temperatures in the 20s. 

With today’s victory, Santiago Tarrio takes the lead the Order of Merit, the Alps Tour official season ranking. He is followed by Marcus Mohr (ENG) who finished 4th today (-9 total), Louis Cohen Boyer (FRA), Alexandre Daydou (FRA) and David Borda (ESP). 

Rising golf stars of the Alps Tour will now travel to Italy for the Open La Pinetina starting on June 27th.  


23rd June 2018 | Alps Tour Golf

Tarrio and Beaucousin remain co-leaders

Santiago Tarrio (ESP) and Teremoana Beaucousin (FRA) remain co-leaders of the Open International de la Mirabelle d’Or at Golf de La Grange aux Ormes, before tomorrow’s final round with a total score of -10. 

They’re followed by James Sharp (ENG) who is 2 strokes behind at -8 total. Thomas Grava (FRA) is in 4th place at -7 total while Leonardo Sbarigia (ITA) and amateur Felix Mory (FRA) are tied for 5th place at -6 total. Mory turned in the best card of the day at 65 (-6). 
 
«  I played pretty good, I was 2 under until hole 12. Then, I bogeyed hole 13 and 18 to finish but I’m pretty happy with a level par today » Beaucousin said. «  The greens were very firm and it was very windy so it was hard to get the ball close to the hole. I did not make many birdies today but I think it was the same for everybody » he continued. «  Tomorrow, I’m going to try to do my best, stick to the plan and do the same thing as I’ve been doing in the last 3 days » Beaucousin concluded. 
 
«  I think it was a difficult day for everyone because the course was very hard, the greens were very hard, and it was difficult to get the ball close to the pin » Tarrio said. «  Personally, I had a day similar to yesterday. I started playing well the first 9 holes and then the last 9 holes, my swing was no longer that fluid. I think doing level par today is good, we’re still at the top of the leaderboard and tomorrow is another day » he continued.   
 
«  I played well, my putting was very good, I made a few putts between 2,5 meters and 5 meters » 23-year-old French amateur Felix Mory said. «  It was a rather easy day for me except on hole 18 where I made bogey. That’s too bad. Tomorrow, I’ll play relaxed, I’ll let the birdies come in, I’ll try to make pars and we’ll see what happens » Mory said. Mory obtained an invitation to play the Open de la Mirabelle d’Or, his first Alps Tour tournament. He will play the European Amateur Championship next week in The Netherlands.  
 
Weather conditions were sunny most of the day with some clouds and temperatures in the 20s. 
 
Final round will tee off tomorrow at 7h local time.  

22nd June 2018 | Alps Tour Golf

Beaucousin and Tarrio co-leaders

Santiago Tarrio (ESP) and Teremoana Beaucousin (FRA) are co-leaders of the Open International de la Mirabelle d’Or after round 2 with a total score of -10. 

They’re followed by James Sharp (ENG) who is 2 strokes behind at -8 total. Sharp turned in the best card of the day at 65 (-6). 
 
«  I started very well, I played very well at the beginning » co-leader Santiago Tarrio said. «  I started with 3 birdies in a row and then I missed the next 3, all very close » he explained. «  After 9 holes, my level of golf went down a bit. I shot some bogeys, a round at -3 is never a bad score. For tomorrow, I hope to have the same sensations I had during the first 9 holes today and play stroke after stroke as best as possible » he continued. 
 
«  I had a pretty rough start. I was 2 over after 11 holes. I was playing pretty good but I was making some mistakes » co-leader Teremoana Beaucousin explained. «  I made a good birdie on hole 12, a par 5. And then I birdied 13, 14, 15 and 17 hitting inside 2 meters and a good shot on the 18th for another birdie » he continued. «  I’m happy, I just did not play the way I wanted the first 12 holes but then I hit some pretty good iron shots on the back so I was pretty happy about that » he said.
 
Beaucousin shot a total of 7 birdies and 3 bogeys while Tarrio had 6 birdies and 3 bogeys.
 
«  I tend to play well here » James Sharp said. «  I finished 3rd here my first year on the Alps Tour 3 years ago so it’s nice to come back to a place where obviously I played well before and to get within 2 of the leaders is nice » he said. «  But there are still 36 holes to go and therefore, still a long way to go » he concluded.  
 
58 players made the cut set at +2 and will play the next two days at the  Domaine de la Grange aux Ormes. The final round is scheduled for Sunday.   
 
Weather conditions were cloudy all day with sunshines on and off and temperatures in the low 20s.
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