It is one of the most picturesque venues on the European Challenge Tour schedule, but who will provide the spectacular golf to match the setting at this week’s Fred Olsen Challenge de España? We have a stab at some of the favourites to emerge victorious at Tenica Golf.
Rhys Davies
The Welshman earned the second Challenge Tour title of his career here back in 2009, a result which virtually sealed his promotion to The European Tour.
The following year he went on to join winners’ enclave on the top tier with victory at the Trophée Hassan II but a second place finish that same season at the Madrid Masters added further weight to the suggestion that he is very comfortable on Spanish soil.
Having claimed a third Challenge Tour title earlier this year at the Turkish Airlines Challenge, Davies is edging back towards winning form – finishing 43rd, 30th and 21st in his last three events.
A proven winner, he could well be in the mix come back nine on Sunday.
Nacho Elvira
How could we rule out this home favourite? The only man to have won twice on the Challenge Tour this year, the 2013 graduate is tantalisingly close to a quick-fire return to The European Tour.
While the 28 year old from Madrid has not quite hit the heights of title contention in recent weeks, he has made the cut in his last three events, suggesting he just needs a spark to set his game alight once more.
While he missed the cut the last time he played here two years ago, he did shoot a breath-taking final round of 62 in 2012 to clinch a tied 13th place finish.
This man can go really low when he wants to and he’s shot the lights out here before. Does a career-changing third victory beckon?
Ross McGowan
The Englishman’s sole European Tour victory came in Spain when he won the 2009 Madrid Masters en route to a 12th place finish in The Race to Dubai.
There is no doubting the 32 year old’s class and, having struggled with injury and form in recent years, he is increasingly looking back to his old self.
A runner-up finish at the D+D REAL Czech Challenge was followed a month later by a tied sixth place finish at the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts, moving him into the top 20 of the Road to Oman Rankings.
Is it time McGowan returned to the winners’ circle with a third Challenge Tour title?
Chris Selfridge
This Northern Irish rookie has crept under the radar somewhat this year but is fast proving that he could be a real force to be reckoned with on the Challenge Tour.
In five starts, he has secured three top 20 finishes, with his best result coming courtesy of a tied tenth place at the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge, while he has not yet missed a cut.
The 23 year old entered professional golf earlier this year on the back of a strong amateur career in the American collegiate ranks, so he certainly has some pedigree.
Will this be the week everything comes together and he well and truly announces his name in the higher echelons of European golf?
Markus Kinhult
The prodigious Swede makes his Challenge Tour debut this week having proved that he has the game as well as the mental fortitude to battle it out among some of the best players in the game.
Kinhult led the field at the Nordea Masters after each of the opening two rounds, briefly stealing the local spotlight from the likes of Henrik Stenson, Alex Noren and Jonas Blixt.
While he could only manage a tied 33rd place finish – to add to his tied 21st finish the year before – he has still decided against turning professional, but a victory here this week might change everything for the 18 year old.
It may be a long shot, but we’ve seen amateurs triumph on the Challenge Tour before and this kid has shown that nothing fazes him.
