The first tournament to be held in Europe on the 2011 European Challenge Tour Schedule will take place at Golf Disneyland near Paris, France, host venue of the Allianz Challenge de France, from May 5-8.
It is the first time the course will have been used on the Challenge Tour since 1999, when England’s Iain Pyman edged out Argentina’s Gustavo Rojas in a play-off to win the Challenge de France Bayer.
Six years previously Golf Disneyland also hosted the Tournoi Perrier de Paris, an event won by four-time Major Champion Phil Mickelson of America.
The Allianz Challenge de France follows visits to India, Colombia and Kenya, for the Gujarat Kensville Challenge, the Abierto International Copa Antioquia and the Barclays Kenya Open respectively.
The €150,000 event is the first of four Allianz-sponsored tournaments due to be held in France on the 2011 Challenge Tour Schedule, with the Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne (from June 9-12), the Allianz Golf Open Grand Toulouse (from September 22-25) and the Allianz Golf Open de Lyon (from October 6-9) to follow later in the season.
Alain de Soultrait, Director of the Challenge Tour, said: “We are delighted that Golf Disneyland will host the first tournament of the season in Europe, which traditionally marks the start of a busy and important period on the Challenge Tour. Although we are always looking to add new venues to the Challenge Tour it is also pleasing to welcome back old friends onto the schedule, and Golf Disneyland certainly fits into that category.
“With Phil Mickelson, one of the game’s greats, having won on our last visit to Golf Disneyland, I am sure our Members will be inspired to follow in his footsteps. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Allianz for their fantastic and continued support of the Challenge Tour, which continues to go from strength to strength thanks partly to the help of such loyal sponsors.”
