Italian champion returns alongside strong Portuguese contingent led by runner-up Figueiredo at Amendoeira for Rolear Algarve Classic
Fresh from his dominant wire-to-wire victory at the PGA Aroeira Challenge, Ludovico Addabbo will look to continue his blistering start to life on the MENA Golf Tour when the Rolear Algarve Classic gets underway this week (2-4 December) at Amendoeira Golf Resort’s O’Connor Course.
The 27-year-old Italian’s emphatic three-stroke triumph in Lisbon last week, where he carded a bogey-free final round 65 to finish 18-under-par, not only secured his first professional victory but also banked him $18,000 from the $100,000 prize fund. Now he returns to action hoping to build on that breakthrough performance in the second of 12 events on the relaunched Tour’s inaugural season.
“Last week’s win gave my confidence a little boost, but I already knew that my game was in shape,” said Addabbo. “It’s been a very big relief after a long time playing well without big results and I’m excited for this week’s event to try to keep the momentum going.
“I played the O’Connor Course today and it’s long, pretty wide open. The greens are big and hilly, so you have to manage your irons well and stay in a good spot because if you miss the side of the green you can have very long putts.”
Stiff Competition
Addabbo will face stiff competition from a strong Portuguese contingent spearheaded by local favourite Pedro Figueiredo, who finished runner-up at Aroeira. The 34-year-old delighted home supporters with a spectacular eagle from the rough on the 17th hole to claim second place, and he’ll be determined to go one better on home soil this week.
Joining Figueiredo in representing Portuguese golf is Tomas Gouveia, younger brother of Ricardo, who won the 2015 Challenge Tour Rankings and represented Portugal at the 2016 World Cup.
“Last week was great, finishing second. I had three really solid rounds,” said Figueiredo. “I really like the O’Connor course. It suits my game as well. It requires good mid-iron play, which is a strength of mine, and good putting as the greens are quite big. So, I’m looking forward to this week.”
Scottish Challenge
The Scottish challenge will once again be formidable, led by Sebastian Sandin who shared the opening round lead with Addabbo at Aroeira before finishing third at 13-under-par. The Dunblane player, who also finished tied-second at Q School, has shown impressive form over consecutive weeks and will be among the favourites to challenge for the title.
Fellow countryman David Rudd will be looking to build on a solid performance at Aroeira, while compatriot Aidan O’Hagan also showed promising form in the season opener. Rising star Will Porter again joins a strong Scottish contingent that will be eager to make their presence felt on the leaderboard at Amendoeira.
Among those looking to kick on will be the UAE’s Ahmad Skaik, who made his professional debut at Aroeira after a stellar amateur career that included a gold medal at the 2025 GCC Golf Championship and a 13th-place finish at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. The Dubai-based left-hander will be eager to find his rhythm in his second tournament as a professional.
“It’s completely different courses. The other one was a tight golf course, this one has wider fairways,” said Skaik. “It’s more reminiscent of courses in Dubai. Every time I travel, I try to learn something new. It doesn’t matter what tournament it is, whether it’s a big event or a small event, you always learn something, and that is what is the most important at the end of the day.”
Q School Winner
Q School winner Chris Wood returns to action after a challenging opening week at Aroeira. The former Ryder Cup star and three-time DP World Tour winner dominated qualifying at Troia with a six-stroke victory but will be looking for a stronger showing on the O’Connor Course as he continues his journey back to competitive golf’s upper levels.
England’s Will Marshall and France’s Nicolas Calvet, both of whom earned their Category 3 Tour cards alongside Sandin at Q School, will also be back in action looking to build on their performances from the season opener. The pair impressed in testing conditions during qualifying and have shown they possess the quality to compete for titles.
France’s Sébastien Gros returns to the field bringing pedigree from his time on the HotelPlanner Tour, where he claimed two victories in 2015 and finished second in the season Rankings. His experience at the highest level adds further intrigue to what promises to be a compelling week of championship golf.
The O’Connor Course at Amendoeira Golf Resort presents a distinctly different challenge from last week’s venue in Lisbon. Designed by Christy O’Connor Jr. and opened in 2008, the par-72 layout is characterised by extensive water hazards, with lakes and watercourses featuring prominently throughout the round. The front nine includes the course’s signature ‘Amen Corner’ at holes 7, 8 and 9, where a great lake snakes dangerously through three demanding holes. The 18th hole provides a dramatic conclusion, climbing uphill along a stream to a two-tier green, testing players’ accuracy one final time.
Second Event
The Rolear Algarve Classic represents the second leg of back-to-back Portuguese events before the MENA Golf Tour relocates to Egypt for four tournaments in January and February. The Tour then moves to Morocco, where a mid-season Q-Sprint on 22-23 February will provide additional players with the opportunity to join the circuit or improve their category status.
With guaranteed prize funds, rapid 48-hour payouts, and Official World Golf Ranking points on offer throughout the season, the MENA Golf Tour continues to establish itself as a credible development pathway for professionals at all stages of their careers.
For Addabbo, this week represents a chance to prove his opening victory was no fluke. For Figueiredo and the Portuguese contingent, an opportunity to claim home glory. For the rest of the field, another opportunity to take a step towards golf’s biggest stages.
