Albert Boneta and Nathan Legendre have arrived at the Alps de Las Castillas in top form. So much so that they have set a new record at Lerma Golf, with a score of 60 (-12), and are neck and neck in the tournament after the first round, four strokes ahead of Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner, winner of this year's Gooser Open.
Both amateurs, 22 years old, have arrived in Lerma with a bang, and with a veritable festival of eagles and birdies, they're giving a glimpse of the two great professionals they'll become when they turn professional. Between them, they racked up five eagles, 17 birdies, and three bogeys today—a truly spectacular performance. They certainly don't lack confidence, nor the certainty that they can be among the best professional golfers because they already are, and today they proved it with their 60 strokes, a score worthy of the finest golfers. But for that, we'll have to wait until September.
Albert Boneta has an impeccable amateur record, both in Spain with the National Teams, where his victory in the Grand Prix de Landes stands out, among other achievements, and during his university years in the United States. There, he earned the right to play in the 2022 Barracuda Championship, a PGA Tour and DP World Tour event, and gained the experience he is demonstrating week after week on the Alps Tour, where he is currently still playing as an amateur before turning professional next September. The Barcelona native finished fifth last week at the Alps Tour de Andalucía and continues his good run in Lerma, where, despite starting with a bogey on the first hole, an accessible par 5, he managed to turn things around with 10 birdies, two eagles, and a bogey for a 60 (-12).
“I played really well, I sank all my putts, especially on the second nine. I didn't get into any dangerous situations and I sank all my putts. The key to the day was the 4th hole; I was +1 after three holes and I sank a four-meter putt for birdie and from then on I started to wake up,” he explained.
“I feel comfortable on this course. There are courses that appeal to you visually, and Lerma is one of them. I like how the ball rolls on the greens, and I've read the breaks well. There are courses that suit you well, and this is one of them,” he continued.
“I’ve been playing well for a few weeks now, I’ve just been working on my putting a lot more than usual and it seems to be working,” he concluded.
Frenchman Nathan Legendre is having a remarkable season on the Alps Tour, playing in every tournament and making the cut in each one, finishing in the top 15 four times, most notably his third-place finish at the Open La Mirabelle D'Or. Today he carded three spectacular eagles, seven birdies, and a bogey for a 60: “Yes, today was an incredible round. I hit my driver well and putted very well, I hardly made any mistakes, and I played the easier holes very well. I've been playing better for a while now, but the difference in the results is mainly due to a putter change in mid-May, and I've improved a lot,” he explained.
“I’m still playing as an amateur this week, but it should be my last. My plan is to turn professional this summer,” he explained.
“One word to define today’s lap? Success,” he concluded.
Also very commendable was the fourth position of fellow amateur Marcel Fonseca and Asier Aguirre, who both made 65 strokes (-7), while the number 1 of the Alps Tour, Frenchman Benjamin Kedochim, made 68 strokes (-6) and is tied for 19th place.
Alps de las Castillas is sponsored by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation with Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, the Golf Federation of Castilla-León, the Golf Federation of Castilla-La Mancha, with the support of the Higher Sports Council, Alps Tour, Kyocera, Mahou San Miguel, Solán de Cabras, Cillar de Silos and the Hotel Ceres, organized by JGolf.
SOURCE: Tournament Organization
