Hugo Espírito Santo and Tomás Ribeiro excel at a wet and competitive weekend near Lyon
The 22nd Open International de France de Pitch & Putt brought 71 players to UGOLF Mionnay, just 20 kilometres north of Lyon, for three rounds across the 8th to 10th of May. Portugal sent a four-man contingent — and came away with a podium finish.
Though it was not the biggest tournament in the golf calendar, it was, exactly the kind of result that reminds you how broad and deep the game runs beneath the surface of the DP World Tour. (Federação Portuguesa de Golfe)
Third Place in Testing Conditions
Hugo Espírito Santo, representing Quinta das Lágrimas, and Tomás Ribeiro of Paredes Golf Club closed with a combined total of 144 shots, 18 under par, to share third place. The final round was played in persistent rain, with the top seven players separated by just two shots entering the day — conditions that test patience as much as technique.
Espírito Santo, a former champion of this event in 2023, showed the composure of a player who has been here before. Ribeiro matched him card for card, returning three identical rounds of 48 — a consistency that is harder to achieve than it looks across 54 holes of strokeplay.
The Winner and the Field
The title went to Noa Auch-Roy, a young French player from the host club, who posted a composed 47-47-47 for 141, 21 under par — three shots clear of the field and arguably the performance of the weekend. The runner-up spot went to Spaniard José Maria Ortiz, the defending champion from the 2025 edition at Le Puy-en-Velay, on 143.
The field of 71 also included players from the Netherlands, Italy, Algeria, and Benin — a reminder that Pitch & Putt has a genuinely international following, particularly across southern Europe, where the format has been growing steadily for two decades.
The Other Portuguese Results
Matteo Balzer, playing out of Amendoeira Golf Resort in the Algarve, finished a creditable sixth on 148, 14 under par. Arnaldo Paredes of Quinta das Lágrimas closed in 13th on 160, two under. Four Portuguese starters, four finishers — and three of them inside the top fifteen. By any measure, a strong showing for the national squad on foreign soil.
A Format Worth Knowing
Pitch & Putt is played on a par-54 course, with holes typically ranging from 40 to 90 metres. Every shot is either a pitch or a putt — no drivers, no long irons, no excuses. The format strips the game back to its most transferable skills: touch, trajectory, and reading a green. Portugal has a long tradition in the discipline, and the Algarve in particular has produced players capable of competing at the highest international level.
For the visiting golfer, it is also worth knowing that many of the region’s leading resorts offer Pitch & Putt facilities alongside their full-length layouts — a useful option on a rest day, or for travelling companions who are new to the game.
The Algarve remains one of Europe’s most versatile golf destinations, with courses and formats to suit every level. Whether you are chasing a competitive round on one of the region’s championship layouts, or looking for something more relaxed, Tee Times Golf Holidays can put together a package that fits — tee times, hotels, and transfers all taken care of.
