Maxime Legros won the 23rd Open International de la Mirabelle d’Or at Golf Domaine de la Grange aux Ormes near Metz on Sunday, finishing six shots clear of Italy’s Alessandro Nodari and Enrico Di Nitto. The victory, his third Alps Tour win of the 2026 season, earned the Frenchman automatic promotion to the HotelPlanner Tour, European golf’s next developmental rung.
Legros started the final round one shot behind overnight leader Di Nitto but, according to the Alps Tour’s final-round report, needed only one hole to catch the Italian before pulling away. He shot seven under par in the closing round to seal a dominant win across the 54-hole event.
How the Final Round Turned
Legros built an early advantage but let Di Nitto back into contention with a couple of three-putts before reasserting control on the back nine. By the 16th hole, five shots separated him from the field.
I’m very happy and, above all, very relieved. I won’t have to answer all those questions anymore about when the third win was going to come. Since the start of the tournament, I had played better on the back nine, so my goal was to get off to a strong start. I managed to build an advantage quite quickly, but I let Enrico back into it with a couple of three-putts. Thankfully, I was able to extend my lead again on the back nine.
The closing stretch still tested his composure. “By the 16th hole, I was five shots ahead and started imagining every possible disaster scenario,” he said. “But after making birdie on 17, I was finally able to fully enjoy the walk up the 18th.”
Why Three Wins Matter
The Alps Tour awards automatic HotelPlanner Tour promotion to any player who reaches three victories in a single season. Legros is the second player to trigger that clause in 2026, following Andrea Romano, who earned promotion the previous week after winning the Open de Roissy – Grand Prix PGA France.
Legros credited an injury he suffered last year with reshaping his approach. “The injury has actually helped me become much calmer on the golf course,” he said. “I’ve also improved a lot with my putting, which gives me much more confidence in my game.”
What Comes Next
The tournament, a fixture on the Alps Tour since 2005, drew 134 players to eastern France, including 56 French entrants and 25 amateurs. The event carried a minimum prize fund of €49,000 and 45,000 Order of Merit points, with €7,100 and 6,525 points going to the winner.
Legros now turns his attention to the next level.
I’ll be able to start my HotelPlanner Tour journey with the French swing, which is great because it’s close to home. I want to use these next six months to adapt to a new tour, new courses and new opponents.
