In their words: 2005-2008 ranking winners, when France was ruling the Alps Tour

During those years 2005-2008, France was ruling the Alps Tour by far. After the first 4 seasons when the winners of the ranking were all Italians, there came Cedric Menut (2005), Francois Calmels (2006), Julien Quesne (2007) and Julien Grillon (2008).

In 2006 and 2008, all top 5 at the end of the season were French players, leaving little space to other foreign contenders. Here they share their memories about that golden era.

Class of 2005

CEDRIC MENUT (France)

“My first season on the Alps Tour in 2005 is the best memory I have of my professional golf career. I always had the dream of being a golf pro, and the tournaments I’ve played and the wins I had on the Alps made my dream come true.

I remember I became good friend with Francisco Valera, a Spanish player six years older than me who would go on playing on the Challenge and European Tour for many years; we had finished the season first and second respectively in the Alps Tour ranking, and that same year we played the European Tour QSchool all the way to the final round, how exciting and so many good memories!

Playing an Alps Tour tournament is always a great pleasure for me and I will always feel at home there. I’m proud of having written a part of the story of this Tour!”.

Class of 2006

FRANÇOIS CALMELS (France)

“I started playing on the Alps Tour by chance as at the time I had not really decided whether I would turn pro, and I did it only a few weeks before the start of the season. 

We kicked off in March with three tournaments in a row in Morocco, and I finished respectively 10th – 1st – 1st. This was super important for my confidence and it was the real boost for my golfing career, also because I did not have any sponsors at the time – actually I had never really thought about how I could find the money to play as a pro – and by winning so soon, I was able to self-finance my season. Thinking about it now, if I had missed those first cuts, I might as well stopped playing because I had no money! 

Since then, even though I haven’t been the most consistent player, I realized that I was able to win whenever I put myself in the situation to do it. This is something I’ve learnt playing the Alps Tour. And thanks to the self-confidence I had gained during that year, I was able to get a European Tour card at the QSchool, which was something completely unexpected only a few months earlier.

The French Federation had created an Alps Tour Team for all the players involved, and we would train and travel together; this certainly helped me to progress fast, and to accumulate lots of very good memories”. 

Class of 2007

JULIEN QUESNE (France) 

“The Alps Tour has been the springboard for my golfing career. It helped me to learn my job in a serious atmosphere, which was at the same time friendly and convivial. 

I have so many pleasant memories connected to this tour, especially the four victories I had (the first one in Morocco in 2004, the Trophée Maroc Telecom, and then the three in France in 2007: the Open International de Normandie in July, the AGF Allianz Open Trophée Preven’s in August and the Open International Stade Francais Paris in September) and the season ranking, after a quite disappointing year on the Challenge Tour. 

I can say that the Alps Tour has launched my career at first and then again, revamping it. I even came back to play one tournament last year as a preparation for some bigger events. 

I would like to sincerely thank all the people that make this Tour possible, all the sponsors and the number of volunteers who participate in the unfolding of the tournaments.

I made a lot of friends on this tour and I keep only good memories about it. Only my driving licence was at risk: at that time we used to travel all over Europe by car, and this would cost me some points and some fines!”.

Class of 2008

JULIEN GRILLON (France)

“The Alps Tour has been a fundamental stage for me. I was a good amateur player and I had tried the European Tour QSchool in 2006, but I had gained a weak category, so the Alps Tour was kind of an obvious choice for me. When I started in 2007, I had a consistent season finishing 7th in the ranking, although with no wins; the following year I won in Austria – the Uniqa FinanceLife Open – with a margin of 4-5 strokes, and this gave me a lot of confidence; the rest of the season I had a series of top-10s and a second win in Italy – the Open Golf Padova – which allowed me to lead the ranking with a large margin and start a new chapter on the Challenge Tour, knowing that my game was strong enough. I have been on the Challenge Tour for 5 years then, sometimes having the chance to play the European Tour, too, all this thanks to the Alps Tour which was the right training ground for my game.

I remember the jolly atmosphere with many other French players, and the fact that many tournaments were in France helped to limit the expenses. The level of the game improved a lot year after year, I can say it by experience because although I was on the Challenge I used to train by playing some Alps tournaments and the cuts were lower and lower. The organisation as well has moved forward over the years, and the quality of the venues, too.

I think the Alps Tour is an excellent school for the future pro golfers, one that gives you the right weapons to face the Challenge and the European Tour, a really formative experience”.

More stories 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

In their words: the winners of the Alps Tour rankings share their memories

The Alps Tour is turning 20 years old: as old, as young, as some of our members. Its story is strictly connected to those of the 20 remarkable players who have won the Order of Merit, year after year. That’s why we thought that one of the best ways to celebrate our 20th anniversary is to let them talk about their experiences, and their memories.

We start from the beginning, with the words of the first four winners 2001 – 2004, all of them Italians – at that time the tour was not as cosmopolitan as it is now! More will follow in the next few weeks. Enjoy!

Class of 2001

STEFANO REALE (Italy)

“The Alps Tour has been the springboard for my professional career. I remember very well the first year when we would wander around Europe by car, looking for the golf courses which sometimes were literally in the middle of nowhere!

I was coming from some golden years as an amateur, I was 19 and decided to try my chance as a pro with this new-born tour, which granted the card for the Challenge Tour to the top 5 in the ranking – I thought it would be a good training ground to start tasting that world bypassing the European Tour QSchool.

I started on the right foot and had some good results very soon, then won my first pro tournament in Crans, the Memorial Olivier Barras, which also gave me an invite to play the Omega Masters, wow!

I remember a wonderful year, full of gratifications and new friendships. The Alps Tour has given me the possibility to play the following year the European Challenge Tour where I’ve been a regular for 12 consecutive seasons, but as soon as I had the chance I would go back and play some Alps tournaments. For me, it was like coming back home!”.

Class of 2002

ALESSANDRO NAPOLEONI (Italy)

“Playing the Alps Tour has been the best golf experience of my life. It was like living in a family and it made me feel good – that is why I was playing so well!

With the French players, the Spaniards, and all the others, we were not just playing together the same tour, we were all friends. After the last putt, all the players would run to the winner spraying water and hugging and congratulating, it was like having a party!

I remember when towards the end of the season I was already leading the ranking with a large margin and was in a good position for also winning the last tournament, but at a certain time in the last round I hit a horrible shot and started to lose my focus. I had my father on the bag and he got mad at me, saying that I was going to hand the trophy to Lionel Alexandre, with whom I was sharing the match. I said to dad, ‘And so be it!’! I had already secured my card, and I was happy for Lionel to have a chance to climb the ranking – which he did eventually, as he finished 3rd that year.

Since then, I have always missed that friendly atmosphere and the sportsmanship we had on the Alps Tour!”.

Class of 2003

EMMANUELE LATTANZI (Italy)

“Playing the Alps Tour was undoubtedly the best possible choice for a young pro, and it was a no-brainer for me since its beginning, in 2001. I was 25 at that time and I remember that first year I made the cut in 9 tournaments out of 10.

In 2003 the schedule would count 19 tournaments in five different countries, and six of them were hosted in Italy: I won three times within one month, in summer, and went on to be the best in the Order of Merit that year in front of some remarkable players who then had great results in the European Tour like Felipe Aguilar, Gregory Bourdy and Felipe Lima. Really, it was a super experience!

After my experience on the Challenge Tour, I’ve been back playing the Alps for many years after – I have been a member until 2011 – and I keep so many good memories about it all!”

Class of 2004

ANDREA MAESTRONI (Italy)

“2004 was a year to remember for me, my golden year! And also the jumping board for my career. Until then I had never won a pro tournament, I had played some Alps events before, but never full time. But when I realized that with 20 tournaments that tour was the best path for me to forge and strengthen my experience, I was able to collect my first Open – the Open de Marcilly, I remember a very tough five-way playoff!

Since then, everything has changed. By realising that I was able to win, my game evolved and so did my mindset, and my scores reflected my new awareness. I ended up by winning the Order of Merit and my card for the 2005 Challenge Tour, but this was not the end as with Alessandro Tadini we brought Italy back in the World Cup, and then I also conquered a card for the European Tour at the QSchool.

For me the Alps Tour has meant a fantastic opportunity and a stairway to the international golf world. And the story repeated 11 years later, when I returned to the Alps QSchool in Spain at La Cala and went on to win the Open de Guadeloupe in 2015, then finish 7th in the ranking which resulted good enough to gain another Challenge Tour pass and from there, my third season on the European Tour.

After 20 years I can undoubtedly give credit to the Alps Tour for always evolving and for being a solid landmark in the international golfing world. Congratulations to all the staff and… long live the Alps Tour!!!”.

More stories 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

Celebrating our 20 Years of Raising Golf Stars

It was the year 2001 when the Golf Federations of France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria first launched a new professional tour. They called it, appropriately, Alps Tour – from the mountain range that stretches across those four countries, from west to east – and its purpose was clearly established since the very beginning: to provide Europe’s best young talented players with the opportunity to build a fundamental professional tournament experience and to use it as a springboard towards higher levels – Challenge Tour, European Tour, and beyond.

In the last twenty years the Alps Tour has been expanding its borders and visiting more countries – Slovenia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Portugal, and – regularly since 2009 – Spain, which quickly became an essential pillar of the organization with its Federation; beyond Europe, the Alps Tour has flown over the Mediterranean Sea to Morocco, Israel, Tunisia, and Egypt cumulating an impressive list of tournaments – and winners.

There have been highs and lows in those twenty seasons, great golfing stars blooming from the rankings and world economic crisis which unforgivingly hit the tournament schedules; but the past year was undoubtedly the most challenging we all had to face. The COVID-19 pandemic was about to destroy all the efforts that had been put in building a successful tour, brick by brick, and therefore deprive many rising golf stars of their future careers. This was not the case, in 2020 the Alps Tour was able to organize a season of tournaments, a final ranking and have three players promoted to the 2021 Challenge Tour.

On the strength of this difficult experience, Alps Tour wants to look at 2021 as a new era capitalizing on the success of the past and celebrating this important anniversary in style with a new tagline – “Raising Golf Stars”, which stresses its role of training ground for future golf stars – and a new logo: an A which represents a stylised peak of a mountain, or the ambition to climb the golf rankings for the players.

“I am extremely proud of the Alps Tour family”, says Alps Tour President Marco Durante, “including directors, staff and players, all together, for their strong response to the COVID-19 crisis. Together we faced, and overcame, an unprecedented situation which forced some difficult – sometimes hard, or bold – decisions, such as postponing with short notice the second Winter series in Egypt or anticipating and moving the Qualifying School to Italy. We had the understanding of the Challenge Tour for keeping at least three spots for our top players next season, despite the “freezing” of their order of merit, and we had the continuous support of our founding Federations, together with sponsors and organizers, to keep the Alps Tour alive and in good health. Especially I must thank Estelle Richard, Alessandro Rogato and Alessandro Pia for their extraordinary efforts throughout the season, and my Board for its unparalleled commitment for the sake of offering playing opportunities to our members”.

“It was also our paramount concern to have a safe environment for our players and staff: and we can now proudly state that all our precautions were successful in keeping all our tournaments Covid-free”.

“The Alps Tour is turning 20 years old: as old, as young, as some of our members. Our commitment continues to be to raise future golf stars: and we are sure that we shall find some more between our players in the new season. All the best to all of you!”

While we need to wait a little more to announce a definitive schedule, this is the link to the first draft of an early provisional schedule of tournaments for the first part of 2021; we plan to organise 16 tournaments overall, with 8 dates in Italy, 3 in France, 2 in Spain, 1 in Austria and 2 in Egypt.

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

Qualifying School 2020 – First Stage Second Round – Partial Results, Play-off Tomorrow

November 11th, 2020 – Rome, Italy –Despite play being delayed for two hours by fog at Terre dei Consoli Golf Club everyone finished before nightfall. All the rounds were concluded at the Golf Nazionale as well. However, on both courses there are six players tied at 33rd position meaning a play-off is necessary tomorrow to determine the official announcement of all the qualified players.

After the withdrawal of an exempt player from the Final Stage an extra slot was added to the Golf Club Parco de’ Medici number of places for a total of 14 for which the qualified players list is official.

Golf Club Parco de’ Medici course: 14 spots available for the Final Stage:

The first winner of the day into the club house at -3 (141) was Will Heffernan after a round of 70 (-2). The sole Australian player at the QSchool, the Melbourne native explained his presence so far from home:

“I’ve been living in the UK for the past 3 months playing golf there since Australia’s in lockdown. I play on the Asian tour as well but they’re not up and running at the moment, so hopefully I can get some status on the Alps Tour”.

With four birdies and two bogeys, his game showed regularity over the 36 holes:

“My game was solid. I hit my driver really well, which obviously helps. The putter was a little bit cold today. I hit it a lot better than what the score suggests but I played pretty solid, hit the middle of most greens and made some nice up and downs”.

In second place at -1 (143) is yesterday’s leader, the Italian amateur, Alessandro Radig. After shooting 69 (-3) yesterday, two birdies and four bogeys saw him finish the day with a 74 (+2).

Coming in at Par (144) to take the third position is the Austrian player Robert Molnar. Despite a double bogey on the par four 4th hole, five birdies and a bogey saw him card a 70 (-2) for the day.

Of the fourteen places available for the Final Stage there are four amateurs and ten professionals qualified.

Golf Nazionale course: 37 spots available for the Final Stage:

It was a three-player share of the first place at -2 (142). Alessandro Notaro from Italy, and the two Spanish  pros,  Sigot López and Roberto Garagorri. The Italian, who has previously played on the Alps Tour, carded a 69 (-3) today with five birdies and a double bogey. Lopez had two birdies and three bogeys for a 73 (+1) whilst his compatriot, Garagorri, had one of the best scores of the day on the course with a 68 (-4) after six birdies and two bogeys.

The play-off tomorrow morning will see six players vying for five spots.

Terre dei Consoli Golf Club course: 36 spots available for the Final Stage:

David Morago from Spain headed the leader board at -4 (140). A former Alps Tour player, he last played the circuit in 2017 and was happy with conditions here in Rome:

“The course was great, it’s long and wide so after three years of no competition it was perfect for my game. My game the last couple of days was great. I missed a lot of chances but in general it was really, really good and steady. So, I’m ready for the next stage”.

One stroke behind him in second place is the Austrian player, Jurgen Maurer on -3 (141). An eagle, two birdies and two bogeys saw him in for a 70 (-2) for the day.

In third place with the best score on the course in the second round, is the Italian player Marco Archetti on -2 (142). Five birdies and a single bogey gave him a 68 (-4) today.

Six players will be competing in the play-off tomorrow for the remaining 4 spots.

Results Round 2 Golf Nazionale: click here

Results Round 2 Terre dei Consoli Golf Club: click here

Final Results Golf Club Parco de’ Medici: click here

Entries Final Stage: click here

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.

Instagram @alpstourgolf

Facebook @Alpstourgolf Satellite

Twitter @AlpsTourGolf