San Domenico Golf in Savelletri di Fasano (Brindisi) hosts the Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open, the fourth seasonal event of the Italian Pro Tour, the circuit of national and international competitions organized by the Italian Golf Federation, with the support of the Official Advisor Infront Italy. The tournament, now in its 13th edition and taking place from 24 to 26 October, is also part of the Legends Tour calendar reserved for champions "over 50". Almost all the best players will be on the field, including sixteen of the top twenty in the order of merit, which also includes nine seasonal winners. Along with the professionals, 15 amateurs will also compete for a separate ranking, including former footballers Roberto Donadoni, Mauro Tassotti and Michele Paramatti. It is the third time, after 2021 and 2023, that the competition is held in the name and memory of Sergio Melpignano, founder of San Domenico Golf, which, inaugurated in 2003, gave further impetus to the development of the region and immediately established itself as the setting for important national and international tournaments. The event will end on Sunday 27 October with the traditional Pro-Am.
Legends, schedule
Kingston and Dennis seek a hat trick There will be 60 competitors at the start, including five Italians, for a field full of quality, which promises fun and entertainment. The title is defended by the South African James Kingston, number 13 in the ranking, also on target in 2021 and second in 2022, who aims to achieve the first hat trick in an event in which only one other player has won twice, the American Clark Dennis, who has signed the consecutive double at GC Udine (2017, 2018) and who will be the other past winner in the field.
Dennis (n. 9) is also one of the nine who have climbed to the top step of the podium in 2024. He will be among the favorites, but the most popular on the eve are the Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, number 1 in the order of merit, and the English Peter Baker, number 4. The first, 52 years old from Santa Cruz do Sul, has signed two titles this year and has seven overall on the circuit. He has played his career on the Sunshine Tour with 12 victories in addition to one conquered on the Asian Tour. Baker, 57 years old from Shifnal, seven laurels for him too (one in the season), in 2023 was a money winner just ahead of Da Silva. He boasts three victories on the European Tour (now DP World Tour) and as many on the Challenge Tour.
However, many can aim high, including the other six winners: the Swedes Joakim Haeggman (n. 5) and Jarmo Sandelin (n. 18), the English Robert Coles (n. 6) and Van Phillips (n. 19), his the previous WINSTONgolf Senior Open, the Scot Greig Hutcheon (n. 7) and the South African Keith Horne (n. 8). Without forgetting participants such as the English Andrew Marshall, Phillip Archer and Simon Khan, the Scot Euan McIntosh and the Swedes Mikael Lundberg and Patrick Sjoland, all in the list of twenty.
Five Italians in the competition Costantino Rocca, Emanuele Canonica, Michele Reale, Alessandro Tadini and Mauro Bianco will be the Italians in the field. The only one who plays consistently is Emanuele Canonica. In 2024 he achieved as best placings a nice fifth place in the HSBC India Legends Championship, an 11th in the Swiss Seniors Open and a 13th in the Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy, but he offered other good performances. Costantino Rocca frequented the circuit, at the time called the European Senior Tour, with two successes. Among the exploits of the great champion from Bergamo five titles on the DP World Tour and three Ryder Cups played with two won in the Team Europe. Many years on the continental tours for Reale, Bianco and Tadini, who this year participated in two competitions among the "over 50" with a 19th and a 28th place.
