The 2014 Turkish Airlines Challenge champion, Oliver Farr, hopes that Welsh dominance at this event continues after compatriot Rhys Davies’ win last year.
Farr returns to Belek, the scene of his triumph two years ago at the National Golf Club, with fond memories of his two shot victory over rivals Jérôme Lando Casanova and Dave Coupland, who are also in the field for this year’s edition around the New Course at Gloria Golf Club.
Davies was victorious last year and, like his compatriot the previous season, used that triumph as a springboard to finish in the top 15 of the Road to Oman Rankings and earn a European Tour card, and Farr is hopeful of extending the Welsh winning streak in Turkey this week.
“The title has been in Welsh hands since the first tournament and hopefully we can continue that,” he said. “That’s definitely the goal this week. I’m lucky in that I’ve played the course before. I had a look at it today and it’s in great condition.
“It’s nice to be back in Turkey. I haven’t played here since I won in 2014, so I’m looking forward to a good week.”
The 28 year old battled against the elements in the Challenge de Madrid last week, where he recorded his best finish of the season so far, and Farr believes the best is yet to come in 2016.
“It has been a disappointing start really,” he admitted. “I think I’ve been playing better than my results have shown.
“I played well last week. My game is improving and getting closer to where I want it to be. Hopefully we’ll see better results over the next few weeks.
“Last week in Madrid was tricky. It’s a fiddly course as it is, and the weather blew a lot of people away – me included.
“It was the first day of bad weather we’ve had on the Tour this year. It’s good to get that out of the way I guess.
“Hopefully things won’t be too bad over here, or at least not as much wind. The rain you can deal with, but it’s the wind that really makes things difficult. Madrid was high up and we were in the mountains so you didn’t know where it was coming from.
“Luckily, we get to play on some great courses and in some really nice weather. But you do get the odd bad day here and there.”
