The European Challenge Tour will stage its first event in England for two years when the inaugural English Challenge takes place from July 22-25 at Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa near Colchester, England.
The Gainsborough course, which is situated in stunning ‘Constable Country’ on the Suffolk/Essex borders, has hosted events on the European Senior Tour and the EuroPro Tour, but it is the first time the 6,757 yards (6,179 metres), par 72 layout will have been used on the Challenge Tour.
The 2008 Weston Homes PGA International Seniors was won by England’s Nick Job, who praised the course’s greens as “among the best in the world”, whilst the Stoke by Nayland EuroPro Tour was won last year by his compatriot Tom Haylock, now playing on the Challenge Tour alongside Colchester’s own Jamie Moul, the Club’s touring professional.
The tournament, which will be co-funded by veteran golf agent Rocky Hambric, is the first Challenge Tour event to be played on English soil since the Oceânico Group Pro-Am Challenge was staged near Manchester in June 2008, when Italian Alessandro Tadini succeeded England’s Ross McGowan as champion.
Alain de Soultrait, Director of the Challenge Tour, said: “With English golf currently on such a high, it is the perfect time to hold a Challenge Tour event in England. We need to develop more tournaments to help sustain the recent growth, so we are delighted to be able to announce the English Challenge in July.
“Former Challenge Tour player Ian Poulter is now sixth in the Official World Golf Ranking, whilst in more recent seasons the likes of 2009 Madrid Masters winner Ross McGowan, 2008 Challenge Tour Number One David Horsey and most recently James Morrison, winner in Madeira, have all performed admirably on The European Tour.
“We must thank Rocky Hambric and the owners and members of the superb Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa for being at the forefront of this new initiative and for granting us use of their course. The greens are amongst the best in the whole of England, and I have no doubt our Members will enjoy the challenge of playing there.”
Susanna Rendall, Managing Director of the family-owned Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa, said: “We are absolutely delighted that The European Tour has selected our venue to host this prestigious event on the Challenge Tour schedule – the first to be staged in the UK for over two years.
“Having hosted events on the European Senior Tour in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and on the EuroPro Tour for several years, we believe our selection is further testimony to the quality and standard of both our courses and facilities, and our reputation is growing accordingly. The entire team here are very much looking forward to working again with The European Tour and welcoming some of the golfing superstars of the future to Stoke by Nayland.”
Hambric, whose clients include Challenge Tour champions Antti Ahokas and Mark Haastrup, as well as European Tour Members Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, Francesco Molinari and Oliver Wilson, said: “In this new era of greatness for professional golf in England, it’s vitally important that a premier Challenge Tour event is staged in the country.
“So I’m pleased to be able to work with the Challenge Tour in order to help make that goal a reality. There’s another wave of outstanding young English talent coming hot on the heels of the current generation of golfing greats, and they deserve every opportunity to develop and gain access to the higher levels of the game.”
England’s Robert Dinwiddie, currently leading the Challenge Tour Rankings, said: “It’s absolutely great news. I think all the players were pleasantly surprised in these tough economic times how many events we had on this year’s Challenge Tour Schedule, so to add another tournament is fantastic – especially as it’s in England, speaking purely from a personal point of view. I’ll have to give Jamie [Moul] a call to get the inside track and arrange a couple of practice rounds. I’ve never played the course myself before but have heard it’s in great condition, especially the greens, so I’m really looking forward to getting down there.”
Spectators, who are welcome to come along and watch the event for free, can visit the club’s websiteherefor directions and further information about the venue.
