FRED. OLSEN ALSP DE LA GOMERA 2026 (Tecina Golf, July 2-4)

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The Fred. Olsen Alps Tour in La Gomera kicked off this Friday at Tecina Golf with a day of excellent golf and low scores on one of the most spectacular courses on the Alps Tour calendar. The star of the day was Swiss golfer Maximilien Sturdza, who carded a 64 (-8), without a single bogey, to take the lead after the first 18 holes.

Sturdza displayed a very solid game from start to finish on a day in which he made hardly any mistakes. Four birdies on the front nine holes allowed him to gain momentum before completing an equally brilliant back nine to open up a two-stroke lead over his nearest rivals.

“It was a really good round. I felt good from the moment I woke up, did my usual warm-up routine, and started quite well. I was four under par after nine holes, and then the putts just kept falling. I think I only missed one or two greens all day, so it shows my game is there,” the leader explained.

The Swiss golfer faces the remaining two rounds with a clear plan. “I’m going to try to do exactly the same thing: be consistent and mentally present. Besides, it was very satisfying to complete a bogey-free round.”.

Two strokes behind the leader are Spaniards Alfonso Buendía and Gonzalo Leal, both with rounds of 66 strokes (-6) that allow them to face the weekend in a privileged position.

Alfonso Buendía has confirmed the good feelings he has been showing during the last few weeks and has built a very solid scorecard on a course that has presented excellent playing conditions.

“The truth is, I’m very happy. It’s been a pretty great day, the course was in excellent condition. We only had a bit of wind at the beginning, but after that it was spectacular. I’ve been playing well for several weeks now and I feel like everything is in order. The difference this week is that I have my girlfriend as my caddie and that’s definitely a plus,” he commented with a laugh.

The Spaniard faces the second day with the intention of maintaining the same approach. “We will continue with the same strategy, trusting that we have done our homework, enjoying ourselves and trying not to give away any shots.”.

For his part, Gonzalo Leal starred in one of the highlights of the day thanks to a spectacular eagle on the 2nd hole that set the course for his round.

“I started with an eagle on the second, then birdie and birdie, so I built up a really good momentum from the beginning. Then I made a few extra mistakes, some caused by a wind that was changing quite a bit, but I also made some good putts towards the end. I'm a little annoyed about the bogey on the last hole, but the feeling is very good,” he explained.

Currently 12th in the Alps Tour Order of Merit and one of the best-positioned Spaniards in the fight for one of the five places that grant access to the HotelPlanner Tour, Leal maintains his aspirations to continue climbing positions in the ranking during this week.

When asked about his renowned 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 meters, but distance alone is useless. Then you have to place the ball on the green and sink the putts. It helps, of course, but it's not everything.”.

He also highlighted another aspect of his game that he's particularly proud of. "I think I'm a very solid iron player and I feel very comfortable with wedges. It's something I'm proud of, although it's probably best not to talk about it too much," he joked.

The fourth position, with 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 top players on the Order of Merit, Frenchman Alexandre Vandermoten, third in the rankings, finished the day with a 69 (-3), while Robert Moran, fourth, carded a 68 (-4). Pablo Alperi, fifth in the overall standings, also remains well-positioned after completing the round in 71 (-1).

Among the amateurs, Frenchman Romain Buttarazzi leads with a round of 69 strokes (-3), which also places him within the absolute Top 30 of the tournament.

“I managed to stay patient after a difficult start with my 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 overall game and very confident for the coming days,” said the best amateur of the day.

The Fred. Olsen Alps La Gomera tournament is supported by the Government of the Canary Islands, Promotur Turismo de Canarias, the La Gomera Island Council, the Canary Islands Golf Federation, the Alps Tour, and Kyocera. The tournament is promoted and organized by JGolf.

SOURCE: Tournament Organization