Golf, the national Open begins

It’s an all-national Open that will start tomorrow, for four days of competition and 50 thousand euros in prize money. Because “National” is the Viterbo golf of Sutri, the federation’s home course where the scene dominates, overlooking the green of the 7th hole, the School, the Technical Center that teaches golf to those who want to become a teacher, club director or green attendant. The Italian athletes train here. And then “National” is this Championship that dates back to 1935, born just ten years later than the Italian Open. If the latter has since brought a high-level international field to our country, the former tells the story of all-Italian elite golf, from its origins to today, with a roll of honor that sees almost all the best Italians rewarded. This year on the pitch there is Gregorio De Leo, the twenty-five year old from Biella who doesn’t waste time. Just a week ago he went to Spain to get back on the major European tour card in a grueling six-round race (the final stage of the Qualifying School), which he finished eighth, 20 strokes under par for the field. Now the national championship that he has never won awaits him, to fly immediately afterwards to Australia where the first two events of the 2026 season will be played at the highest level. Also worth following is Jacopo Vecchi Fossa, 31 years old from Reggio Emilia, already two titles in this race (2018 and 2021) and ready to raise the bar: thanks to two titles this year, the Challenge Tour awaits him in 2026.

what a story

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In the 1950s the title was a three-way affair, precisely those “three musketeers” who had dominated the period home and away. Alfonso Angelini won it ten times, a record never broken; Ugo Grappasonni four; Aldo Casera three. Self-taught, they observed the samples and learned. “It takes sacrifice to become great in this sport”, said Angelini. “We were three friends before we were opponents on the pitch, one looked at the other and we gave each other advice to improve.” The Seventies greeted two other champions, Roberto Bernardini (four titles) and Baldovino Dassù (three), who also won the Italian Open in 1976. A double was also achieved later by Massimo Mannelli between 1980 and 1981. Costantino Rocca (two victories) and Giuseppe Calì (three) were to be beaten in the following decade. Silvio Grappasonni, Massimo Florioli, Alberto Binaghi and Massimo Scarpa dominated the scene after 1990, with the year 2000 welcoming a new generation of champions: Andrea Pavan stepped up and won the National Championship while still an amateur (2006). Among others, Alessandro Tadini, Lorenzo Gagli, Nino Bertasio, Renato Paratore and Francesco Laporta also wrote their names in the roll of honour. A beautiful story.