Federico Colombo will have just one thing on his mind when he tees up for the Roma Golf Open, the penultimate event of the Challenge Tour season: a place in the top ten of the Rankings.
The 23 year old is currently 12th after finishing tied eighth at last week’s Allianz Open de Lyon, and with two events remaining – both in his home country – he knows he needs a good performance at Olgiata Golf Club on the outskirts of Rome to break into the top ten.
Colombo has already guaranteed a place in the top 20 and a European Tour card for 2012, but finishing among the top ten would secure a better category for his second campaign on Europe’s biggest stage.
“It has been a good season for me, but the last month before last week was not so great,” he said. “My swing deserted me for a while, but I saw my coach before the Allianz Open de Lyon and worked on a couple of things, and it seems to have done the trick.
“I was delighted to play well in France last week and hopefully that will help me kick on and finish the season very strongly. Of course a place in the top ten is my goal, that is what I am focusing on right now and I hope I can get over the line.
“Everyone is feeling the pressure right now and the atmosphere in Rome and at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final will be very tense.”
Of the 7,097-yard, par 71 Olgiata course, Colombo added: “I like it a lot and I’ve always played pretty well there. I like the shape of the course and it’s a design which really suits my game.
“It’s nice knowing that the last two events of the season now are in my home country. My girlfriend will be able to come for the weekend and hopefully there will be plenty of people coming to support the Italian players.”
Another man who will be intent on succeeding in Rome is Andrea Pavan, who has grown up playing at Olgiata Golf Club. The 22 year old has had an impressive debut season on the Challenge Tour, having turned professional at the end of last year, winning the Norwegian Challenge and reaching his current position of eighth in the Rankings.
A week off last week will have left him refreshed for the final two events, but the rest of the top ten, including Rankings leader Tommy Fleetwood, will all be out to cement their position in money list to ease the pressure heading to the final event of the year.
