Alps Tour final becomes fiercely competitive

The final of the Alps Tour, held in Hulencourt, Belgium, has turned into a highly competitive event with significant stakes, including the Order of Merit and five spots on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2027. The tournament has drawn top players vying for these opportunities, adding pressure to each round.

Alexandre Vandermoten in contention

Alexandre Vandermoten, a Frenchman of Belgian origin, is in a strong position for the Order of Merit after securing four victories this season. His performance of 69 (-3) on the long Belgian course, despite a bogey on the difficult 18th, has placed him in fifth place, just a few points behind the current leader Andrea Romano, who is projected to be in 24th place after the first round.

Paul Franquet and Alexis Leray remain in the race

Paul Franquet, who also posted a 69 (-3) on the opening day of the tournament, is still in the running with Alexis Leray. While Franquet has nothing more to play for, Leray, a 21-year-old player from Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, can still aim to climb the rankings. However, he remains projected in seventh place and will need to perform better in the next two rounds to make an impact.

Alessandro Nodari leads the tournament

Alessandro Nodari, who was ninth in the overall standings before this final, is leading the tournament with an eventful card of 66 (-6), marked by a bogey, a double, and nine birdies. If he wins, he would climb to third place in the Order of Merit, surpassing Maxime Legros. Nodari leads by one stroke over the Irishman Sam Murphy, who urgently needs a victory, and by two strokes over the Spaniard Eduard Rousaud and the Englishman Archie Smith.

Augustin Holé struggles but recovers

Augustin Holé, a player from the C&S Golf Team, had a double bogey on hole 5 due to a ball in the water, but he was able to recover with five birdies on the following holes, despite a bogey on 18. His 70 (-2) places him provisionally in tenth place, four units behind the leader. Holé must win to have a chance to climb on the HotelPlanner Tour.