Francesco Laporta (born 10 October 1990) is an Italian professional golfer who plays on the European Tour. He won two tournaments on the 2019 Challenge Tour.

Francesco Laporta
Personal information
Born (1990-10-10) 10 October 1990 (age 34)
Castellana Grotte, Italy
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight11 st (150 lb; 70 kg)
Sporting nationality Italy
ResidenceCastellana Grotte, Italy
Career
Turned professional2013
Current tour(s)European Tour
Former tour(s)Challenge Tour
Sunshine Tour
Professional wins4
Number of wins by tour
Challenge Tour3
Other1
Achievements and awards
Challenge Tour
Rankings winner
2019
Medal record
European Golf Team Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Gleneagles Men's team

Amateur career

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Laporta started playing as a 13-year old at the San Domenico Golf in Brindisi[1] and developed his amateur career in Italy and South Africa. After playing in a few professional tournaments in the Alps Tour as an amateur, he turned professional in 2013 on the Sunshine Tour.

Professional career

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Between 2013 and 2015 Laporta played full time in the Sunshine Tour, reaching his best career professional finish with a tie for second at the 2013 Zimbabwe Open where he also set a course record.[2][3] At the end of 2015, Laporta earned his 2016 European Tour card at the Qualifying School.[4][5]

Laporta's best result in the 2016 European Tour season came at the Trophée Hassan II where finished T-22, after leading the competition after two rounds.[6] He lost his card at the end of the season after finishing 189th in the Order of Merit.

From 2017 to 2019 Laporta has played on the Challenge Tour. He finished 48 in the Order of Merit in 2017 and 52nd in 2018. His best finish in those two seasons was to be tied for third place in the 2017 Barclays Kenya Open. Laporta started 2019 well when he was runner-up in the opening event of the season, the Turkish Airlines Challenge, losing in a sudden-death playoff to Connor Syme. In October he finished tied for 7th place in the Italian Open to earn his biggest prize. The following week he won the Hainan Open, finishing a stroke ahead of Robin Roussel, a result that guaranteed him promotion to the European Tour for 2020. In November 2019 he won the Challenge Tour Grand Final, taking the Order of Merit title.

Professional wins (4)

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Challenge Tour wins (3)

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Legend
Grand Finals (1)
Other Challenge Tour (2)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 20 Oct 2019 Hainan Open1 −14 (69-71-64-70=274) 1 stroke   Robin Roussel
2 10 Nov 2019 Challenge Tour Grand Final −6 (68-69-70-71=278) 2 strokes   Sebastian Heisele,   Robin Sciot-Siegrist
3 23 Jul 2023 Big Green Egg German Challenge −7 (69-70-70-72=281) 1 stroke   Gary Boyd,   Ashley Chesters,
  Dominic Foos,   Jiří Zuska

1Co-sanctioned by the China Tour

Challenge Tour playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 2019 Turkish Airlines Challenge   Connor Syme Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Italian Pro Tour wins (1)

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No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 13 Apr 2019 Italian National Open Championship −16 (70-68-66-68=272) 4 strokes   Carlo Casalegno

Team appearances

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Amateur

Professional

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Italian Pro Tour » Francesco Laporta". www.italianprotour.com. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  2. ^ Nhakaniso, Daniel (17 April 2016). "Meyer matches course record to lead Zim Open". The Standard. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Roos wins Zimbabwe Open". Sport24. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Hot putter gives Francesco Laporta share of lead at Trophee Hassan II". Golfweek. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Golf, Qualifying School: festa Italia in Spagna, in quattro nell'European Tour 2016" (in Italian). Oasport.it. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Laporta sets the pace in Morocco". Sporting Life. 8 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
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