The European Challenge Tour was in Italy for the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil, returning to Terre dei Consoli Golf Club for the first time since 2016. Here are five things you might have missed from a dramatic week in the heat.
Debut professional win for Jordan
Matthew Jordan sealed his debut Challenge Tour win, beating Lorenzo Scalise in a play-off, and by doing so claimed his first professional title. The 23-year-old joined the paid ranks in September 2018 and has quickly established himself as one of the up-and-coming stars on the Challenge Tour, recording four top ten results before lifting the trophy in Italy.
Siem’s 17 year Challenge Tour return
Marcel Siem returned to Challenge Tour action for the first time since 2002. The German lost his European Tour card at the end of the 2018 season and is mixing his playing opportunities between the European Tour and the Challenge Tour. The 38-year-old, who made his first Challenge Tour appearance since the 2002 Fortis Bank Challenge Open, carded rounds of 70-71-70-72 to finish in a share of 38th position.
Red hot Rasmus
Rasmus Højgaard has had an astonishing debut Challenge Tour season so far, finishing inside the top ten three times, including a share of second place at the Challenge de España, and added to those results with a ninth place finish in Italy. The 18-year-old recorded rounds of 71-70-71, plus the low round of the week, a nine under par 63, to race up the leaderboard on Sunday.
Low round of the week ✅
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) June 30, 2019
Bogey free ✅
Leader in the clubhouse at 13 under par ✅
A final round to remember for Rasmus Højgaard!#ItalianChallenge pic.twitter.com/lLOPthZUiE
Largest European prize fund
The Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil was the largest European prize fund on the Challenge Tour this season, as players battled for the €48,000 winner’s cheque from the €300,000 pot. With the increased prize fund, there was the chance to leap up the Rankings and Jordan did just that, jumping from 24th to second position.
Swedish domination finishes
Ahead of Jordan’s triumph, Swedish players had won the last three editions of the Italian Challenge; Sebastian Soderberg in 2018, Joel Sjöholm in 2017, and Johan Edfors in 2016. However, England’s Jordan stopped Sweden’s domination of the event and became the first Englishman since Sam Little in 2011 to claim the title.
