Ahead of this week’s seventh stop on the 2014 Challenge Tour, europeantour.com takes a look at a quintet of top talent you should be keeping an eye out for at Golf & Spa Kunetická Hora.
Cyril Bouniol
Shared the lead going into the final round of the Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda last week, but on a low scoring final day a two under par round of 69 was only good enough for a share of fourth place. It is a result that continues an exemplary start to his maiden voyage aboard the good ship Challenge Tour, and was in fact the best of his career so far, improving on a tie for fifth last month at the Challenge de Catalunya. Looking at his results, and his ability to seemingly learn on the job, it is surely only a matter of time before this Frenchman is hoisting some silverware above his head.
Jordi Garcia Pinto
Has taken advantage of the biggest weeks on the Challenge Tour so far, finishing in the top three at the NH Collection Open and the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI. That has him atop the Rankings after six events, with a commanding lead of over €18,000, but he was in a leading position last year and let it slip. He looks a much different animal though this season, and having not won since the 2013 Barclays Kenya Open, this could be the week he enters the winners’ circle once again.
Jeppe Huldahl
Since winning The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open on The European Tour back in 2009, the Dane has struggled for his best form, and is back on the Challenge Tour looking to rekindle that tournament winning golf. Last week almost yielded a first victory for five years, as Huldahl lead alongside Bouniol heading into the final round en route to a share of 12th place in Austria. The foundation of that result was a round of 60 on day two, and if it had not been for a three putt bogey on his penultimate hole, it probably would have yielded the second ever 59 on European golf’s second tier. Truly electric form, and the kind of play that could see him win this week.
Sam Hutsby
Some solid, if unspectacular, form proceeded Hutsby’s arrival in Austria, and after a disappointing two over par score in the opening round, the Englishman could have been forgiven for thinking it might not be his week. However, on the putting green after his round he had a few of the guys look at his stroke, and it turned out all was not as it seemed. The former Walker Cup player had been using a black line on his ball to line up his putts, but little did he know that he was aiming as much as two feet right of where he thought. The next day he forgot the line and just trusted his eyes, and Bob’s your uncle, he was rolling them in from all over the place. That culminated in a fine 64 on Sunday and a tie for seventh, his first top ten finish since last September’s Open Blue Green Côtes d'Armor Bretagne. If he can roll the rock like he did to finish last week, then he could be a force in the Czech Republic.
Jake Roos
Got his season off to the ideal start with a maiden Challenge Tour title at the Barclays Kenya Open. His form didn’t quite reach those heights in the few events after, but with his family in tow last week in Austria, the South African posted his best finish since that win. Four rounds in the 60s saw Roos finish in a tie for fourth, just two shots back from Moritz Lampert’s winning total, and proof that his victory in Kenya was no flash in the pan. If he were to continue that fine form, having made the short trip to the Czech Republic, then he will surely be a force to be reckoned with this week at Golf & Spa Kunetická Hora.
Honourable mention
Having just picked up a first title on the Challenge Tour,Moritz Lampertcould well be in for another top finish this week, as he rides a wave of confidence from his title winning form.Jérôme Lando Casanovastruggled on Sunday in Austria as he fell away to 22nd place, but he is playing very well of late, and has lead at the end of the second round in Austria, as well as after three days in Turkey, over the past fortnight. Finally, England’sTom Murrayhas struggled to get starts this season, but having lead after day one in his first event of the season last week in Austria, he will no doubt be there or thereabouts again this week. He says that he has been playing well back home, and could have finished higher than his 17th place finish last week if it hadn’t been for a quadruple bogey nine on his last hole, while leading the tournament at that stage in the second round.
The Challenge Tour. Where Heroes Are Made.
