Michele Ortolani won the National Open Championship/Franco Chimenti Trophy with 280 (-8) shots, the prestigious event held in memory of the historic president of the Italian Golf Federation who recently passed away. Ortolani (70 70 72 68) recovered from fourth place with a 68 (-4, four birdies) and finished the competition tied with Luca Cianchetti (71 68 70 71), leader after three rounds, and with the brilliant amateur Filippo Ponzano (69 72 70 69), who climbed from second, and then overtook them with a birdie on the first extra hole.
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FrancoChimentiTrophy, results
On the Golf Nazionale course (par 72), the Coverciano of golf in Sutri (VT), in the 84th edition of the tournament that concluded the Italian Pro Tour 2024, the circuit of national and international competitions organized by the FIG, with the support of the Official Advisor Infront Italy, Filippo Bergamaschi (his title in 2016) and the other amateur Bruno Frontero ranked fourth with 283 (-5), Marco Florioli and Jacopo Vecchi Fossa, past winners in 2018 and 2021, ranked sixth with 284 (-4), and Enrico Di Nitto, defending champion and also winner in 2017, ranked eighth with 285 (-3).
Ortolani, who turned 28 yesterday, signed his first victory as a professional after a season spent on the Asian tours. For the next one, the plans will depend on the outcome of his participation in the Qualifying School of the Asian Tour. I struggle, he said at the end, to find the words to express how happy I am with my first success, which came after a week complicated by the wind and the cold and the result of a lot of work done with my staff, whom I thank. Then the satisfaction and the emotion of having obtained it on this course and in the tournament in memory of Franco Chimenti. For his exploit, he received a check for 7,250 euros out of a prize pool of 50,000 euros.
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Filippo Ponzano, a twenty-year-old from Turin, who has been wearing the blue jersey for a long time and is a member of the Circolo Golf Torino-La Mandria, said: For me it was a dream to arrive on the last day of the competition competing for the victory and therefore I am very satisfied with what happened. I am convinced that the experience will be very useful for the future. He received the award for best amateur, while Massimo Florioli (44th with 304, +16), Marco's father and on the highest step of the podium in 1997, received the award for best senior.
The awards ceremony Applause and emotion at the awards ceremony, in the presence of the family of President Chimenti. Speakers included: Andrea Abodi, Minister for Sport and Youth; Carlo Mornati, CONI Secretary General and FIG Extraordinary Commissioner; Matteo Amori, Mayor of Sutri and, representing the Chimenti family: Ugo, Maria Vittoria and Paola children of the late President who awarded the special prizes to the winner and the best amateur. The ceremony was conducted by Alessandro Rogato, President of Golf Nazionale. Marta Maestroni, General Secretary, was present for the FIG. President Carlo Scatena was present for the FIG Regional Committee Lazio.
