Tag: Challenge Tour

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European Challenge Tour Satellite Tours

The Eurpean Challenge Tour announces two events in Spain this October: The Empordà Challenge and the Challenge Costa Brava

Britishman Ewen Ferguson teeing off at one of the Challenge Tour events from this year 2021 in Esbjerg, Denmark.

Date: Wednesday August 25, 2021
Empordà Golf to host second Spanish Swing of 2021

Press Release

The European Challenge Tour today announced that two events in Spain – the Empordà Challenge and the Challenge Costa Brava – will take place in consecutive weeks at Empordà Golf, this October.
The Empordà Challenge will be held from October 14-17 while the Challenge Costa Brava will then take place from Tuesday October 19 – Friday October 22. The latter will mark the end of the regular Road to Mallorca season, determining the 45-player field for the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A from November 4-7.

Jamie Hodges, Javier Gervás, and Emilio Cuatrecasas look forward to welcoming these events

Empordà Golf is the former host venue of European Tour and European Tour Qualifying School events, and the two Challenge Tour tournaments will be played on the Links Course, which underwent substantial renovation work during 2020. The back-to-back events replace the Hainan Open and Foshan Open in China which were cancelled earlier this month due to the ongoing effects of the global pandemic.

Jamie Hodges, Head of Challenge Tour, said: “We are grateful to Empordà Golf and the promoter, JGolf, for their help in bringing these events to fruition.

“It was important for us to provide our members with these replacement tournaments to ensure playing opportunities were maximised at an important time of the season and having enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Javier Gervás and his team, we knew it would be possible to organise a solution with their help.

“Empordà Golf has stood the test of time in terms of hosting professional events and we are all excited to spend two weeks in Spain at such a wonderful venue.”

Javier Gervás, General Manager of JGolf, said: “When the space in the Road to Mallorca Schedule emerged we worked hard to help cover those two crucial weeks in the calendar.

“We knew that Empordà Golf were interested in going a step further in terms of the professional tournaments it has hosted and we therefore proposed hosting the last two Challenge Tour tournaments before the Grand Final.

“They have put in great effort that I am sure will be rewarded. We will now have two decisive tournaments in Spain this season with international coverage that will put Empordà Golf in the spotlight of world golf.”

Emilio Cuatrecasas, President of Empordà Golf Club, said: “The decision to hold the Empordà Challenge confirms the effort being made by all the Costa Brava clubs to improve their facilities and become a world-class sports destination.

“It is also noteworthy that the growing popularity of these international tournaments is driving many young people to practice golf, getting the clubs to feed not only their energy but also an updated vision of this sport that will bring considerable progress in the sporting, social and environmental fields.”

The Empordà Challenge and the Challenge Costa Brava will be the second Spanish Swing on the 2021 Road to Mallorca, following the Challenge de España and the Challenge de Cádiz, which took place at Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri, Cadiz, in June.

The Empordà Challenge and the Challenge Costa Brava will be supported by the Challenge Tour, Empordà Golf, Girona Provincial Council through the Costa Brava Tourist Board and Kyocera. The promoter and organiser is JGolf.

Press Release by The European Challenge Tour

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European Challenge Tour Live Satellite Tours

Tinning set for second Challenge of the Danish Swing

European Challenge Tour player from Denmark, Nicolai Tinning is set for the 2021 Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge.

Nicolai Tinning is looking to take inspiration from his sporting family as he prepares to tee it up in the Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge this week.

The Dane competed in his first European Challenge Tour event of the 2021 Road to Mallorca International Schedule last week at the Made in Esbjerg Challenge – Presented by FREJA & TotalEnergies, finishing in a respectable tie for tenth place at Esbjerg Golfklubb, which also provides the setting for this week’s event.

Tinning is looking to rekindle the winning tradition that is prominent in his family after his father

His father, Steen Tinning, has two wins apiece on both the European Tour and the Legends Tour, while Tinning Snr’s cousin, Iben Tinning, also had a successful career recording six Ladies European Tour titles.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I’ve been coming here since I was 12, I have quite a big golf family. My dad is the guy to speak to about everything, we have talked a lot about Tour life and how to get around, how to behave and how to play Pro-Ams. Some of it I have learnt from my dad and I’ve talked a lot with my Dad’s cousin Iben who also played a high level of golf and of course my coach Ben.

“I enjoyed last week a lot, there was a lot of people here the first week, it was amazing. I didn’t play that well on Saturday but I played really well on Friday so it was amazing to play here and there can’t be a better place for me to play a tournament.”

The 28-year-old competed in 19 European Challenge Tour events in 2019 with his best result coming at the Swiss Challenge Presented by Swiss Golf in which the Dane recorded a tie for 13th place but has admitted that it is excellent to be back playing after being very busy off the course.

“I’m just trying to enjoy it,” he said. “I played 19 events on the Challenge Tour and then Covid came. There have been a lot of things going on in my personal life, I’m going to be a dad in January, and I got married last year, so it’s just trying to enjoy it and play this amazing course. I just love being here.”

Tinning is joined in the field for the Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge by last week’s Made in Esbjerg – Presented by FREJA & TotalEnergies champion and five-time Challenge Tour winner Ricardo Gouveia, as well as three-time Challenge Tour winner Daan Huizing.

The action in the second event of the Danish Swing gets under way at 7:30am local time on Tuesday August 17, with Tinning teeing it up alongside fellow Dane Nicolai Kristensen and Robin Dawson of Ireland at 9:10am.

Press Release by the European Communication

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European Challenge Tour

Challenge Tour: Huizing looks to get back to winning ways in Denmark

Daan Huizing, from the Challenge Tour, looks forward to play again in Denmark at the Made in Esbjerg Challenge 2021.

Daan Huizing is looking forward to back-to-back events in Denmark as he attempts to return to winning ways in the Made in Esbjerg Challenge Presented by FREJA & TotalEnergies.

The Dutchman has competed in 12 tournaments out of 16 on the 2021 European Challenge Tour schedule securing five top 20 finishes. That record includes victory at the Irish Challenge in May after producing a sensational round carding a four under par round of 67, beating Eduard Rousaud in a play-off to secure his third European Challenge Tour title.

Huizing is looking to rekindle that kinds of form in the next event of the Challenge Tour in Denmark this week.

“I think points wise it’s huge,” he said. “I also think for my own progression and development as a player. I think I’ve matured a lot in the last two, three years and showing really good improvement towards the European Tour.”

“Of course you want to win and I thought Ireland was beautiful I loved the place, I loved the whole week, even walking on the last hole or walking in the play-off I said to myself wow, I love it here, how beautiful is this? That was a great state of mind to be in and then you play your best golf and now it’s a challenge to get those ingredients back again and put it all together again so I can win again.”

Huizing said playing back-to-back events can be challenging at times but is looking forward to being back in Denmark after finishing a solid tied 12th place at the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge last week.

“All I’ve heard is that it’s really good, so yes I am definitely looking forward to it,” he said. “The courses I have played in Denmark have all been good, the greens have always been very nice, last week in Finland was also top notch.”

“I did it one time in Spain (playing back-to-back events) and I actually thought it was quite challenging because the course gets a little mind numbing, maybe it’s different here because it’s a tougher course and maybe they can do more with the course, but I think for them to have the events in the first place is a really great achievement. I don’t mind it and especially on a great golf course like this I am actually looking forward to it.”

The 30-year-old is currently in ninth position on the Road to Mallorca but is focused on climbing the rankings in order to secure a return to the European Tour.

“I have my goal which is to finish in the top five of the Rankings, then you will have a better category for next year, so week in week out you try and give your best, get results and get more points on the board.”

Huizing is joined in the field for the Made in Esbjerg Challenge by last week’s Vierumäki Finnish Challenge winner Marcus Helligkilde and Italian Challenge and four-time European Challenge Tour winner Ricardo Gouveia.

The action in Denmark gets under way at 7:30am local time, with Huizing teeing it up alongside Denmark’s John Axelsen and Englishman Andrew Wilson at 13:20.

Press Release by the European Tour Communication

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European Challenge Tour

Manley triumphs in Austria to secure third Challenge Tour title

Stuart Manly wins the Challenge Tours Euram Bank Open. (Photo: Getty Images)

Stuart Manley claimed his third Challenge Tour title in dramatic fashion after recording a birdie on the last hole to secure a one-stroke victory at the Euram Bank Open.

The Welshman had three holes to play this morning after the third round was suspended on Saturday night due to thunderstorms and heavy rain and trailed 54-hole leader Matias Honkala by one stroke.

After playing his first nine holes in level par after two birdies and a double bogey, he made his move at the turn after posting four consecutive birdies from the tenth hole. Tied for the lead with Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson on the par three 18th tee, he fired his tee shot to 15 feet and rolled the putt in for an 18 under par total and his third victory on the Challenge Tour.

The 42-year-old, who last won on the Challenge Tour in June 2018 at the Hauts de France Golf Open is delighted to be back in the winners’ circle once again.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “It’s been a tricky year with an injury just before South Africa, I almost thought the season was going to be over and to be here now with the winner’s trophy is amazing.

“I could feel the adrenaline pumping (on the 18th). I chose a six iron, I had 200 yards – a six iron doesn’t quite go 200 yards – but I thought just hit it firm and hit it harder, the adrenaline will take over. It landed right by the pin and went about 15 feet past, so it was a great opportunity. I knocked it in and I’m over the moon.”

Manley who has played at Golfclub Adamstal many times admits that it is suited to his game but says that he had to be patient throughout in order to have the outcome that he did.

“I had to have patience and really good management on my game,” said Manley. “I didn’t hit it amazing, but I hit it pretty solid. I made a lot of putts, my chipping was spot on, everything was pretty good I didn’t hit in trouble all week, so just the patience and short game was really good.

“The golf course is amazing, probably the most scenic golf course I’ve ever played and the condition it was in today after we had all that rain yesterday was amazing, so yeah I really like the golf course.”

“It is tough, physically more than anything, I got off the golf course just before nine o’clock and then you’re trying to find a restaurant to eat and then you need your sleep and your rest but then you have to be back at the golf club for about six this morning..”

Ferguson recorded his fourth top-four finish of the season with his runner-up result, matching his performance at this event in 2019.

In a share of third on 16 under par were South African Oliver Bekker, ranked fifth on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, and Honkala.

Hinrich Arkenau of Germany finished fifth on 15 under, with Chase Hanna and Federico Maccario sharing sixth place after rounds of 66.

With his victory, Manley jumps to 20th place on the Road to Mallorca Rankings after his third event of the season. Spain’s Santiago Tarrio still leads on 110,993 points, with Frenchman Julien Brun and German Marcel Siem occupying second and third place, respectively.

The Road to Mallorca continues next week in Italy, with the Italian Challenge at Margara Golf Club, from July 22-25.

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Satellite Tours

Alexander Knappe: “I think I can win on this course”

Alex Knappe is looking forward to playing the Euram Bank Open Tournament at the Challenge Tour

Alexander Knappe is looking to build on the solid foundations he has put in place on the Road to Mallorca as he tees it up in the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal this week.

The German has four top 20 finishes to his name in 2021, including a tie for sixth at the Challenge de Cádiz along with a share of eighth place at the Open de Bretagne last month.

Knappe, who won twice on the European Challenge Tour in 2016, is targeting a return to the winner’s circle for the first time in almost five years and believes this week’s venue offers him an opportunity to do so.

“I think I can win on this course,” he said. “I am just preparing well now to give myself the best shot, to maybe this time win a bigger tournament.

“I want to finish inside the top 20 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and to do that, I want to get a win. It’s always nice to get that winning feeling, being the best and then we can take it from there, so that’s my goal, winning a tournament.”

The 32-year-old finished in a tie for third place at Golf Club Adamstal in 2020 when the Euram Bank Open was dual-ranked by the European Tour, however he is conscious of the varying obstacles he must overcome due to the courses features and also the ever-changing weather.

“It is always nice to come back to a place where I did well, and especially this place,” he said. “It’s one of my favourite places due to the scenery. Being in the mountains, it’s really calm being with nature, so I love it here, It’s great.

Knappe comments on the weather

“I looked for the forecast and it was saying it is going to be really rainy over the weekend, so maybe it’s going to play really soft, so we always have to adjust but that’s what is special about this place.

“Every day is like a new day here. In the morning it’s cold, the ball is not travelling that far and, in the afternoon, it’s flying further, because we’re high up so it’s really special.”

Joining Knappe in Ramsau this week is Road to Mallorca Number One Santiago Tarrio, who has twice tasted victory on the 2021 Road to Mallorca, along with highly ranked Scotsman Craig Howie, who occupies fifth place on the Rankings following his victory at the Range Servant Challenge by Hinton Golf earlier this year.

The action gets under way at 7:30am local time, with Knappe teeing it up alongside American pairing Chase Hanna and Paul Peterson at 8:10am.

Interview transcript by European Tour Communications

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European Challenge Tour

Challenge Tour Unveils 2021 International Schedule

This year's Challenge Tour Grand Final is set to take place at T-Golf and Country Club, Mallorca, Spain (Image: Getty)
This year's Challenge Tour Grand Final is set to take place on Nov 4th-7th at T-Golf and Country Club, Mallorca, Spain.(Image: Getty)

• Challenge Tour returns with 25 tournaments in 15 countries

• Road to Mallorca returns to the Netherlands for the first time since 2009

• New events to take place in the UK and Germany

• Top 20 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings will graduate to the European Tour

The European Challenge Tour today announces the 2021 Road to Mallorca International Schedule, which will comprise 25 tournaments in 15 different countries around the world.

The schedule features a mixture of long-standing and new events in a season which will run from April to November as the next crop of golfing stars compete for one of the 20 cards on offer for the 2022 European Tour season – an increase of five from the 15 spots available at the end of the last full Challenge Tour season in 2019.

New additions to the schedule include a trip to The Dutch, the three-time host venue of the KLM Open on the European Tour, for the B-NL Challenge Trophy as the Challenge Tour returns to the Netherlands for the first time since 2009. New events in the United Kingdom and Germany also make their debuts on the schedule, with all three events taking place consecutively in August and September.

Several long-standing events such as the Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open, the Swiss Challenge and the Rolex Trophy will all return to the Schedule in 2021, with the latter celebrating its 30th anniversary at Golf Club de Genève as the top 40 players on the Road to Mallorca Rankings tee it up alongside amateur guests in the Pro-Am format.

The 2021 season will begin with the Limpopo Championship in April, the first of three co-sanctioned events with the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, and end almost seven months later at the Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca in November.

All events on the Challenge Tour schedule will be played under the auspices of the European Tour’s health strategy which will continue to evolve in line with Government guidance in the countries where tournaments are played.

Jamie Hodges, Head of Challenge Tour, said: “I am thrilled to be able to unveil our global schedule for 2021 which sees us return to the number of events we had prior to last season.

“There were 20 wins by former Challenge Tour players on the European Tour in 2020, which shows how important our Tour is in preparing the next generation of stars for the biggest stage and we’re excited to give our current Membership more opportunities to follow in their footsteps.

“We are now at the beginning of the third year of our partnership with the Federación Balear de Golf and we are looking forward to working closely again with them in 2021, culminating in our second trip to T-Golf & Country Club for the Challenge Tour Grand Final.

“I would also like to extend our thanks to those events that have been a part of the Challenge Tour Schedule for many years – we are grateful to them for their continued partnership. Finally, I would like to thank all our promoters and the various national Federations who are so integral to the success of the Challenge Tour; as well as the many tournament sponsors and partners who make our Road to Mallorca International Schedule possible.”

(Text: European Challenge Tour Press Release)

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European Challenge Tour Live

South African Swing postponed

Christiaan Bezuidenhout tees-off in Sun City at the South African Open in Dec 2020. (Source: Getty)

The European Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour today jointly confirmed the postponement of the three co-sanctioned tournaments in South Africa.

Following thorough consultation with the medical teams from both Tours, it has been agreed to reschedule the three co-sanctioned events, that were due to take place in February, until later in the year.

The Challenge Tour’s ‘South African Swing’ will now begin in the week of 22-25 April. An announcement will be made shortly regarding this tournament and its venue. This will be followed by the Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club from 29 April – 2 May, and then the Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt Golf Estate from 6-9 May.

Jamie Hodges, Head of Challenge Tour, said: “The decision to postpone these events follows consultation with all stakeholders and was made with the health and well-being of all players and staff as our absolute priority. 

“I want to express our thanks to the Sunshine Tour, and each of the tournament venues, sponsors and stakeholders for their flexibility and understanding of this situation. We greatly appreciate our partnership with our friends at the Sunshine Tour and look forward to co-sanctioning the three events later this year.”

Thomas Abt, Sunshine Tour Commissioner, said: “In light of the current worldwide increase in COVID-19 cases and after consultation with our own health experts and GolfRSA and its Risk Mitigation Strategy, we believe it is the most responsible course of action to postpone these tournaments.

“The safety of our members as well as our staff is our primary concern. I’d like to thank the Challenge Tour as well as our own Sunshine Tour Board of Directors and sponsors for their guidance, patience and understanding amidst what remains a very fluid situation for world golf.”

Text: European Tour Press Release, 13/01/2021

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European Tour

European Tour and Challenge Tour to resume in Austria

The European Tour and the European Challenge Tour will resume their 2020 seasons with back-to-back dual ranking events in Austria in July.  

The Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club, from July 9-12, will mark the return of the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca after a five month pause following the global outbreak of Coronavirus. It will be followed by the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal, which remains in its original slot on the calendar but now begins a day earlier, taking place from Wednesday July 15 to Saturday July 18.

Both tournaments will have prize funds of €500,000 and will be dual-ranking events with the European Tour, which fully resumes its 2020 season with the Betfred British Masters Hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House from July 22-25.

It will be the third consecutive year the Euram Bank Open has been part of the Challenge Tour schedule, with Darius van Driel of the Netherlands and Callum Hill of Scotland winning in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Jamie Hodges, Head of the Challenge Tour, said: “We are pleased to announce the resumption of the Challenge Tour season with the Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club and the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal, two dual ranking events which will take place in consecutive weeks in July.

“Our measured approach to the 2020 season has mirrored that of the European Tour and we have been informed each step of the way by our Medical Health Strategy, led by our Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Murray, aligned to individual government safety advice.

“Part of this strategy is to play, wherever possible, in clusters in one territory and we are therefore grateful to the Austrian Golf Federation and the two venues, Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal for their support in making these events happen.

“We will continue to be guided by the European Tour’s Medical Health Strategy and we will announce details of subsequent 2020 Challenge Tour events in due course.”

 Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, said: “These two dual ranking events provide vital playing opportunities for our members following the enforced period of inactivity since March. 

“We are therefore grateful to both Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal, as well as the Austrian Golf Federation, for their support and we look forward to visiting Austria ahead of the European Tour’s full resumption with the Betfred British Masters at Close House the following week.”

Christian Guzy, President of Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg, said: “We are celebrating our tenth anniversary with the European Tour this year and Diamond Country Club has a history of exceptional moments at the various events we have hosted. For example, the tournament ten years ago was staged at short notice, and two years ago we held the world´s first Shot Clock tournament. Accordingly, we enjoy the trust of those individuals who are responsible for the European Tour.

“Due to the Coronavirus crisis, this year´s event also takes place under very special conditions. There are official regulations, which we will strictly comply with. Nevertheless, we want to hold the tournament to the fullest satisfaction of the Tour and the players. I would also like to thank the political decision-makers in Austria, whose measures were a great contribution in ensuring golf was one of the first sports to resume. The tournament will be a good showcase not only for Austria, but also for the state of Lower Austria.”

Franz Wittmann, President of Golf Club Adamstal, said: “I am pleased, that we have become part of the European Tour with the EURAM Bank Open in Adamstal, and that together with the Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg, Austria will be a pioneer in international top-class golf in Europe following the suspension due to Coronavirus crisis. This is comparable with Formula 1, as Austria will stage the first two successive races. In our country we can be very proud of that. I hope, that with this restart we can also mark a significant return for golf. For me personally I wish, that as many Austrians as possible will be represented on the leaderboards of both tournaments.”

Dr. Peter Enzinger, President of the Austrian Golf Federation, said: “Especially in these unprecedented times, it is a great sign and a well-earned accomplishment for golf in Austria, that the European Tour and Challenge Tour will restart their seasons after this enforced break with two events on Austrian soil. With so much time pressure it was not easy to accomplish, but the co-operation with the European Tour and the Austrian Ministry of Sports during this preparation process has been outstanding and successful.

“We are very much looking forward to having these events and Golf Club Adamstal and Diamond Country Club, together with the Austrian Golf Federation, will again be perfect hosts and European Tour partners.”

The Challenge Tour’s resumption will be five months after Christian Bezuidenhout won the Dimension Data Pro-Am to conclude three consecutive weeks in South Africa at the start of the 2020 Challenge Tour season. Bezuidenhout’s victory at Fancourt Golf Estate in February followed wins for JC Ritchie, his fellow South African, in the Limpopo Championship at Euphoria Golf Club and Sweden’s Anton Karlsson in the RAM Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club. 

On the European Tour, the two dual ranking events in Austria precede the Tour’s full return at the Betfred British Masters at Close House, which launches a six-week UK swing, alongside the  English Open at the Marriott Forest of Arden, the English Championship at Marriott Hanbury Manor, the Celtic Classic and the Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort and the UK Championship at The Belfry. 

All European Tour tournaments played in 2020 will be underpinned by the Tour’s Medical Health Strategy and its ‘Golf for Good’ initiative.