Di Nitto, one of the most experienced players on the tour, carded a final round of even-par 70 strokes that seemed insufficient for much of the day. However, a crucial birdie on the 18th hole allowed him to catch Essam at the top of the leaderboard and force a playoff, which he ultimately won.

The Roman player thus secured his first victory of the season after coming close to glory with his second-place finish at the Open de la Mirabelle d'Or. The win also carries special significance in his bid for promotion to the HotelPlanner Tour, as it allows him to climb nine places in the Order of Merit to fifth.

“The first thing I said to my caddie after teeing off on the first playoff hole was how incredible it is to feel that kind of pressure. It’s what we play for. It had been a long time since I’d experienced something like that, and it was an amazing feeling,” Di Nitto explained after the victory.

“The birdie on the 18th hole was key. My second round yesterday was also crucial to being in a position to win today. In the playoff, I felt very strong mentally and tried to maintain a positive mindset. Also, this is my first victory as a father, so I'm looking forward to going home to celebrate with my family.”.

For Mason Essam, the final day proved particularly cruel. The Englishman had led the tournament since Thursday and started the day with an advantage, but a round of 75 (+5) prevented him from holding off his pursuers. Without a single birdie on his scorecard during the decisive round, he watched the tournament slip away, first on the 18th hole and then definitively in the playoff. Even so, his excellent week at Playa Serena allows him to climb to ninth position in the Order of Merit.

Behind the two protagonists emerged one of the day's standout names: Álvaro Hernández Cabezuela. The Spanish player quietly climbed the ranks throughout the competition and came close to challenging for the title thanks to a solid final round of 68 strokes (-2), one of the best of the day. That result allowed him to finish in a tie for third place with Frenchman Paul Franquet, also marking his best performance of the season.

“It’s been a very complicated week because of the wind, but I’ve felt comfortable and patient throughout. The second day was especially demanding, and achieving a score of +1 allowed me to stay close to the top positions. Today I played very well, and finishing tied for third is a significant boost to my ranking,” explained Hernández Cabezuela.

“I’m happy with the work I’m doing. Little by little, I’m finding a better feeling and I think we’re close to fighting for wins again, like we did last season. I hope this week will be the push I need to face the coming months with confidence.”.

Victor Garcia Broto, who started the day with a chance to fight for the title, finished fifth, tied with the Italians Marco Florioli and Manfredi Manica with a cumulative score of +1.

Thus concludes an edition of the Alps de Andalucía-Roquetas de Mar marked by the wind, the demanding Playa Serena course, and a thrilling finish that crowned Enrico Di Nitto as the new champion. A significant victory for the Italian and further proof that on the Alps Tour, nothing is decided until the final putt.

The Alps de Andalucía – Roquetas de Mar tournament has been made possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, the Roquetas de Mar City Council, the Andalusian Regional Government, the Higher Sports Council, Kyocera, Bodegas Juan Gil and the Alps Tour, with the organization of JGolf.

SOURCE: Tournament organizers.