Having become only the fourth player in the history of the European Challenge Tour to win from the cut line in last week’s Norwegian Challenge, Jens Fahrbring has targeted a quick-fire double at the Rolex Trophy.
After rounds of 69-72 over the first two days at Losby Golf and Country Club, Fahrbring stood seven shots off the pace but a weekend master-class saw the Swede surge through the pack and into the record books, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Vanhootegem (the 2002 Aa St Omer Open), José-Filipe Lima (2004 Segura Viudas Challenge de España) and Klas Eriksson (2008 Trophée du Golf Club de Genève).
Coincidentally, Eriksson’s triumph from the cut line came at the Rolex Trophy (formerly called the Trophée du Golf Club de Genève), the elite 40-man tournament which his compatriot Fahrbring will be bidding to win next week.
By his own admission, the Rolex Trophy was not on Fahrbring’s radar prior to his stunning success near Oslo, but now that he has qualified for the €228,000 event, the 29 year old is determined to extend his hot streak at Golf Club de Genève, in the Swiss capital.
“The Rolex Trophy wasn’t in my thoughts until I won last week,” he said, “so it’s a big bonus to be in the field.
“I’m really looking forward to the week, it’s going to be great. I haven’t been to Geneva before so I’ll get there early to practice and get to know the course.
“It was nice to have the week off after my win to catch up with some friends and family, and also to recharge the batteries because winning any tournament can take it out of you. It also gave me the chance to buy a jacket and tie for the dinners at the Rolex Trophy, because I didn’t have one!”
Fahrbring owes his place on the Challenge Tour to his success last season on the Nordic League, an approved Satellite Tour.
He finished third on the 2012 Order of Merit thanks chiefly to his victory in the Mediter Real Estate Masters and a further six top five finishes, thereby earning promotion to the Challenge Tour.
Having initially struggled to make the step up to the Challenge Tour, Fahrbring turned the corner at Le Vaudreil Golf Challenge, opening with a round of 66 en route to posting a top 20 finish.
With confidence fully restored, Fahrbring duly finished in a tie for third place in the Finnish Challenge before capturing his maiden Challenge Tour title in Norway one week later – a victory which has seen the Sollentuna native expand his horizons.
He said: “Because of my category, my goal at the start of the year was to finish in the top 70 of the Rankings, to make sure I have a full card for next season. Before Finland I still had a lot of work to do, but after my third place there and then my win in Norway the week after, my goals have now changed and of course I want to finish in the top 15 of the Rankings.
“Now that I’ve won once, if I get myself in position again I know I can win again. I have to become tougher mentally and my game still needs to improve to be able to compete on The European Tour, but that will come with hard work and experience. I have so much more belief now, which is great.”
