Another victory for Spain in the Alps Tour. On this occasion, it was the Madrilenian Javier Calles. Seven consecutive victories by six different Spaniards in this circuit, the third division of European golf. Extraordinary.
Calles was crowned champion this Saturday at the Lacanau Alps Open with a total score of -11. Just one stroke behind in second place was the Italian Flavio Michetti, while the Dutch Jerry Ji and the Italian Lucas Fallotico shared third place with -9. The Frenchman Andoni Etchenique, his compatriot Xavier Poncelet, and the Spaniard Jorge Maicas, last week’s winner, completed the top 5 with a total of -8.
Calles takes home a cheque for 6,900 euros and adds 6,525 points for the Order of Merit. His victory was built on his tremendous consistency. He was the only player in the tournament to deliver three cards below 70 strokes. This Saturday, he finished with a score of 69, with just one bogey and four birdies, two of them decisive on holes 16 and 18.
The brand-new winner, aged 23, thus inaugurates his international professional record after turning professional in May last year. Let’s remember that he went into the final round tied for the lead with his compatriot Jorge Maicas and the Frenchman Quentin Debove. Maicas finished with 72 strokes and Debove fell to seventh place with a card of 73. The tournament was held at the UGolf Lacanau, in Lacanau-Océan (France), under a mostly sunny sky and with light winds.
“I am very excited, I still have to process what has happened. It’s a dream come true. I turned professional exactly a year ago and winning my first title in that time is something really special. This victory is for my parents; I wouldn’t be here without their unconditional support, in good times and bad,” said Javier just after lifting the trophy.
And he added: “today I felt very nervous. I knew my position on the leaderboard and kept playing aggressively. The putt for birdie on 17 just slipped away, and when I reached the tee on 18, I kept telling myself to stay aggressive but remain calm.” In this regard, he highlighted the mentality he had throughout the day. “I think my strategy was the difference this week. From the first day, I played smart golf, and that helped me maintain composure. Today I had a target score in mind, which kept me focused and aggressive. I aimed for -6 or -7, but in the end, -3 was enough. That mentality allowed me to stay calm and in control.”
For his part, the Italian Flavio Michetti, aged 21, signed an outstanding final round of 67 strokes (-5), earning him second place with a total of -10. His round was a real rollercoaster: he started with a birdie on hole 5, made a bogey on 11, then chained three consecutive birdies on holes 12, 13, and 14. A double bogey on hole 15 halted his momentum, but he spectacularly recovered with an eagle on the par 4 of hole 16 and closed with consecutive birdies on 17 and 18.
After the Lacanau Alps Open, the eighth event of the season, the Spaniard Álvaro Hernández Cabezuela continues to lead the Order of Merit of the Alps Tour with 15,855.45 points. He is followed by fellow Spaniards Rocco Repetto (14,259.63) and Javier Barcos (12,812.65). The Frenchman Quentin Debove rises to fourth place with 12,688.65 points, while Asier Aguirre, another Spaniard, completes the top 5 with 12,227.40 points. This week’s champion, Javier Calles, climbs to the eighth position in the ranking with 10,115.91 points.
The seven consecutive Spanish victories have been as follows: Álvaro Hernández (2), Rocco Repetto, Javier Barcos, Asier Aguirre, Jorge Maicas, and Javier Calles.
After an exciting series of tournaments, the Alps Tour players will enjoy a well-deserved week of rest before returning to action in the second edition of the Alps de Andalucía, which will be held from 4 to 6 June at the Club de Golf Playa Serena, in Roquetas de Mar.
