The Fred. Olsen Alps de La Gomera got under way this Friday at Tecina Golf with a day of good golf and low scores on one of the most spectacular courses on the Alps Tour calendar. The main protagonist of the day was the Swiss Maximilien Sturdza, who carded a 64 (-8), without a single bogey, to sit atop the leaderboard after the first 18 holes
Sturdza produced very solid golf from start to finish in a round in which he barely made any mistakes. Four birdies in the first nine holes allowed him to build momentum before completing an equally brilliant back nine to open a two-shot lead over his nearest pursuers
“It was a really good round. I felt good from the moment I woke up, I did my usual warm-up routine and I started quite well. I was four under after nine holes and then the putts kept dropping. I think I only missed one or two greens all day, so it shows my game is there”, explained the leader
The Swissman faces the remaining two rounds with a clear idea. “I’m going to try to do exactly the same, be consistent and stay mentally present. Also, it’s been very satisfying to complete a round without bogeys”
Two shots off the lead are the Spaniards Alfonso Buendía and Gonzalo Leal, both with rounds of 66 (-6) that put them in a privileged position for the weekend
Alfonso Buendía has confirmed the good form he has been showing in recent weeks and produced a very solid card on a course that presented excellent playing conditions
“I’m really happy. It was a pretty generous day, the course was very good. We only had a bit of wind early on, but after that it was spectacular. I’ve been playing well for several weeks and I feel everything is in order. The difference this week is that I’ve got my girlfriend caddying for me and I’m sure that’s a plus”, he said with a laugh
The Spaniard goes into the second round intending to keep the same approach. “We’ll stick to the same strategy, trusting that we’ve done the work, enjoying it and trying not to give any shots away”
For his part, Gonzalo Leal produced one of the day’s highlights thanks to a spectacular eagle at the 2nd hole that set the tone for his round
“I started with an eagle at two, then birdie and birdie, so I hit a very good rhythm from the start. Then I made a few more mistakes, some caused by a wind that was changing a lot, but I also holed some good putts towards the end. The bogey on the last hole annoys me a bit, but the feelings are very good”, he explained
Currently 12th in the Alps Tour Order of Merit and one of the best-placed Spaniards in the fight for one of the five spots that grant access to the HotelPlanner Tour, Leal maintains his ambitions to keep climbing the rankings this week
Asked about his well-known power off the tee, the Andalusian downplayed that aspect of his game. “People exaggerate a bit. With the driver I usually carry between 305 and 310 metres, but distance alone is worth nothing. After that you have to get the ball onto the green and hole the putts. It helps, of course, but it’s not everything”
He also highlighted another facet of which he is particularly proud. “I think I’m a very solid iron player and I feel very comfortable with my wedges. It’s something I’m proud of, although better not to talk about it too much”, he joked
Fourth place, at five under par, is shared by Malte Von Blankenfeld, Paul Margolis, Luca Memeo, Marco Florioli, Lars Keunen, Theo Boulet, Mateo Bardou and the Spaniard José Manuel Pardo Benítez
Among the notable players in the Order of Merit, the Frenchman Alexandre Vandermoten, third in the ranking, finished the day with 69 (-3), while Robert Moran, fourth, signed for a 68 (-4). Pablo Alperi, fifth in the overall circuit standings, also remains well placed after completing the course in 71 (-1)
Among the amateurs, the Frenchman Romain Buttarazzi leads with a 69 (-3), which also places him inside the tournament’s overall Top 30
“I’ve managed to keep my patience after a difficult start with the long game. Then I drove the ball very well and took advantage of some opportunities around the green to make birdies. I’m satisfied with my game overall and very confident for the coming days”, said the best amateur of the day
The second round of the Fred. Olsen Alps de La Gomera will be played this Friday at Tecina Golf. After the 36 holes the cut will be set, with the top 40 and ties advancing to contest the final round on Saturday
The Fred. Olsen Alps de La Gomera is supported by the Gobierno de Canarias, Promotur Turismo de Canarias, the Cabildo Insular de La Gomera, the Federación Canaria de Golf, the Alps Tour and Kyocera. The promoter and organiser of the tournament is JGolf
