Di Nitto Leads Mirabelle d'Or Heading Into Final Round

There's something about June golf in the Lorraine region that feels like a secret the rest of the world hasn't discovered yet. The light hangs golden and late over northeastern France, the rough grows thick and unforgiving, and at Golf Domaine de la Grange aux Ormes near Metz, the 23rd Open International de la Mirabelle d'Or is building toward a Sunday climax that promises genuine tension.

Di Nitto Finds His Form at the Perfect Moment

Italy's Enrico Di Nitto will sleep Saturday night with a one-shot advantage after posting a second-round 66, four under par on a course that punishes the wayward. His lead is slender—one stroke separating him from France's Maxime Legros—but his confidence appears anything but fragile.

What strikes me about Di Nitto's assessment of his own game is how fundamentally sound it is. He pointed to accuracy off the tee as the foundation of everything that followed, noting he missed just two fairways across his opening rounds but managed both situations well enough to save par. When your misses don't cost you, the pressure lifts. Your chipping becomes crisp. Your putts find the center of the cup.

Di Nitto spoke of recent work on his game translating into on-course calm, the kind of statement that sounds simple but represents countless hours of grinding practice and quiet self-doubt. Something has indeed changed this week—you can see it in how he carries himself down the fairways at Grange aux Ormes.

Legros and the Art of the Low Tee-Ball

One shot behind, Maxime Legros fired the day's best round—a five-under 65—and he did it with a weapon perfectly suited to these conditions. He's been working a low tee-ball that flies beneath the wind and rolls out considerably, keeping him in position while the thick rough swallows those who balloon their drives.

It's a tactical approach that speaks to course management at its finest. By staying low, Legros has been hitting shorter clubs into greens than most of the field, a significant advantage when precision matters most. The shot requires trust and repetition, and he's executed it nearly every time he's stepped to the tee this week.

For Legros, Sunday carries weight beyond the trophy. A third title this season would earn him promotion to the HotelPlanner Tour, following the path blazed by Andrea Romano, who has already secured that step up. Legros admitted the Italian's achievement is inspiring, that naturally you think about the future when opportunity looms this close. But he's fighting to stay present, to play the shot in front of him rather than the celebration that might follow.

The Chasing Pack

Three shots back, Davide Buchi lurks in third—close enough to pounce if the leaders stumble. Behind him, a quartet shares fourth place: Alexandre Vandermoten, Théo Brizard, Robert Moran, and Filippo Bergamaschi. Any of them could post a low number and apply serious pressure.

The field has been trimmed to the top 40 professionals and ties after 36 holes, carved from an original 134 players that included 56 French hopefuls and 25 amateurs. What remains is the sharpened edge of Alps Tour competition.

Final Round Setup

Sunday's action begins at 9:15 a.m. local time, with players teeing off from both the 1st and 10th holes. The winner claims €7,090 and 6,525 Order of Merit points, with a playoff to decide matters should regulation end in a tie.

Key Takeaways

Di Nitto's precision: Two fairways missed across two rounds speaks to elite ball-striking under pressure.
Legros's promotion chase: A victory would punch his ticket to the HotelPlanner Tour.
Course conditions: The thick rough at Grange aux Ormes is rewarding smart, controlled golf over raw power.

Golf Domaine de la Grange aux Ormes may not carry the name recognition of France's coastal links or Parisian parkland jewels, but this week it's proving that championship drama needs only quality players and demanding conditions. Sunday in Lorraine should deliver both in abundance.