The 24 edition of the Côte d'Opale Pro-Am was won last Saturday by the young Léo Lespinasse. This competition brings together nearly 400 enthusiasts every spring on the magnificent golf courses of Hardelot, Wimereux, Belle-Dune and Le Touquet. Interview with Christophe Cantegrel, the organizer of this unmissable event for tricolor golf.

  • Photo: DR

What is your assessment of the 2017 Opal Coast Pro-Am?

Christophe Cantegrel: Very satisfaying. There were 86 teams and 352 players in total this year. Many come back every year and enjoy the very friendly atmosphere of the tournament. The weather conditions were pretty good, which made it possible to achieve good scores. The young Léo Lespinasse (member of the Alps Tour) won the event with a very low total score of 273 (-13), which did not happen often in the event. On the last day, in Wimereux, he even returned a card of 65 (-7). No less than 12 pro players scored under par over the four days.

Last year, Philip Golding won the event in 278 moves (-8).

What have been the significant developments in the event over the past quarter of a century?

In the first year, there were 32 teams (of 4 players) at the beginning. In 2000, we passed the 70 team mark to reach 100 teams in 2004. Since then, we have maintained roughly the same number of participants.

The courses have evolved a lot over the past twenty-five years. Wimereux has progressed enormously and today reaches the level of very good links. Holes 13-14-15-16 of the course of the sea, in Le Touquet, have been completely modified. Hardelot has also evolved a lot, even if the quality of the greens is not always up to the rest. It should improve next year.

What were the best gifts offered this year during the various awards ceremony?

Seiko watches were offered to the winners of the precision competitions, men and women. Each evening, a draw won a week at Lux in Reunion, an electric trolley cart or a week at Belle Mare in Mauritius, with the Air Mauritius flight included. Callaway prizes were offered, as well as numerous activities (putting, black-jack). Champagne also flowed afloat (Laughter) !

This year, Marc Farry (7e at -2) took part in the event, which was won in 2016 by former French Open winner Philip Golding. Has the Côte d'Opale Pro-Am hosted other great players during its long history?

Alexander Levy had come a few years ago, just before he turned pro. Victor Dubuisson too, when he was 14 and was 2 index. Lots of Challenge Tour players (Sebastien Delagrange, Anthony Snobeck, Charles-Edouard Russo…) participate in Pro-Am. For women, Sophie Gicquel-Bettan or Valérie Derrey competed in the tournament.

Any changes planned for the next edition?

Since 2008, the awards ceremony has taken place every evening at the Palais des Congrès in Touquet, which will be under construction next year. We are therefore going to relocate our golf village to the town hall. In addition, this year we have experienced a departure of teams every 12 minutes, instead of 10 minutes previously. Result: the games ended faster and the participants were delighted. I received a lot of congratulations from Belgian players in particular, who are attentive to the fluidity of the game. We will therefore maintain this pace of starts next year.

Finally, to properly celebrate the 25th edition, it is not impossible that we bring in some celebrities.

Interview by Franck Crudo