Italy’s Michele Ortolani finally achieved a long-awaited career breakthrough after capturing the inaugural 2026 BingoPlus Philippine Asian Development Tour (ADT) Open with a 16-under-par total at Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac on June 20.
The 29-year-old Italian secured the first professional title of his career after competing in 194 tournaments since turning professional in 2015. His victory in the USD100,000 event marked a major milestone in a journey defined by persistence and consistency on the international circuit.
Ortolani overcame an early setback with a bogey on the seventh hole before mounting a strong back-nine charge, carding birdies on holes 10, 12, and 16 to finish one shot ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Su-Ching Hung, who closed at 15-under-par. Argentina’s Franco Scorzato finished third at 14-under.
“I would like to thank Luisita Golf and Country Club, BingoPlus, the Asian Development Tour, and the National Golf Association of the Philippines,” Ortolani said after the victory.
“It’s been an unforgettable week. The conditions were challenging, but I’m very happy with how I played. This win means a lot to me and to everyone who has supported me throughout my career.”
The victory earned Ortolani the championship purse of USD17,500 and valuable points in the ADT Order of Merit race.
Ramos Leads Filipino Charge
While Ortolani claimed the title, Filipino golfer Sean Ramos delivered one of the strongest local performances of the tournament.
Ramos finished at 11-under-par, tying for fifth place overall and emerging as the highest-finishing Filipino player in the field. His result also secured him a berth in the 2026 BingoPlus Philippine Open under The International Series, scheduled for November.
“I felt confident early in the round, but my momentum came and went throughout the day,” Ramos said.
“Hopefully next time I can stay more consistent from start to finish.”
Joining Ramos in the prestigious event will be Clyde Mondilla, who posted a final-round 68 to finish at eight-under-par and tie for 11th place.
Although veteran Angelo Que finished higher on the leaderboard at 10-under, he had already secured an exemption into the Philippine Open. As a result, the additional qualifying spot was awarded to Mondilla, the longtime Luisita course record-holder.
Tournament Receives Strong Support
The successful staging of the inaugural tournament also received praise from Asian Development Tour officials, who highlighted its importance in providing competitive opportunities for both regional and Filipino golfers.
ADT General Manager Ken Kudo thanked BingoPlus, the tournament’s title sponsor, for supporting an event that helped bring international-level competition back to the Philippines.
“The support we received for this tournament means a tremendous amount to the players and to the Asian Development Tour,” Kudo said.
“Events like this provide opportunities for players to compete, develop, and pursue their professional goals.”
Asked about the possibility of future collaborations following the successful inaugural staging, Kudo expressed optimism.
“Yes, absolutely,” he said. “We would love to see this partnership continue.”
The BingoPlus Philippine ADT Open featured a 132-player field and served as one of the key stops on the 2026 Asian Development Tour calendar, further strengthening the Philippines’ position as an emerging destination for international golf.