The D+D Real Czech Challenge takes place this week at Royal Beroun Golf Club from October 2-5. Here are three players to keep an eye on…
Form horse – Hayden Hopewell
Hayden Hopewell is having an impressive debut season on the Challenge Tour, with results in recent weeks putting him in a strong position to tee it up in the season-ending Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A. The Australian currently sits 38th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, and with the top 45 heading to Mallorca for the season finale, another strong outing this week will put him one step closer to securing his place. Two top ten finishes in his last two outings have come at the perfect time.
Local boy – Jiří Zuska
Jiří Zuska tees it up on home soil this week fresh from winning First Stage Qualifying School at Golf de Léry-Poses last week. The 25-year-old was in inspired form, carding rounds of 70-65-70-68 to reach 15 under par for the week, four clear of his nearest challenger, to book his place in Second Stage later this year. That result, coupled with a tied sixth finish in the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos two weeks ago – his best finish of the season to date – will give him plenty of confidence to take full advantage of playing on familiar surroundings in Beroun.
The outsider – Benjamin Follett-Smith
After a fast start to the season, Benjamin Follett-Smith has struggled to find consistent form during 2024 and will be hoping this week can be the catalyst for a big finish to the campaign. The Zimbabwean sits 74th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings and will need a good week to make sure of his place in back-to-back weeks in China, where the top 73 players look set to play. He came agonisingly close to earning promotion to the DP World Tour 12 months ago, and a good week here could go a long way to giving him another chance.
