Hansen strengthens grip on Road to Ras Al Khaimah lead

As the European Challenge Tour enters the final three months of the season, we’ve taken a look at the latest movers and shakers on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah.

Hansen marches on

Joachim B. Hansen took a step closer to securing a spot on the European Tour next season by registering a tied third finish at the Euram Bank Open last week.

The Dane increased his lead at the top of the Road to Ras Al Khaimah Rankings by moving onto 142,651 points, more than 38,000 ahead of second-placed Lorenzo Gagli.

Scottish substance

The biggest move in the upper echelons of the Rankings in recent weeks has come from David Law, who finished one shot behind eventual winner Darius van Driel in Austria last week.

The Scotsman won his maiden Challenge Tour title at the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts in June and came agonisingly close to picking up his second trophy of the season in Austria. His runner-up finish means he jumps from 11^thto fifth on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah, thanks to earning 19,800 points.

First time winners

Dutchman van Driel’s win in Austria was his first triumph on Europe’s top developmental tour and he now sits 33^rdon the Road to Ras Al Khaimah, just 15,000 points off the top 15 as the race to secure a spot heats up.

Much like van Driel, England’s Ben Stow secured a dramatic victory to earn his first Challenge Tour title at the Prague Golf Challenge. He finished one shot ahead of Switzerland’s Joel Girrbach to lift the trophy in the Czech Capital and now sits 19^thon the Road to Ras Al Khaimah, just 7,000 points behind that coveted 15^thspot.

Consistency is key

Of the top 15 on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah, six are without a win on the Challenge Tour this season.

Adri Arnaus, Jens Fahrbring, Grant Forrest, Eirik Tage Johansen, Kalle Samooja and Jack Singh Brar all occupy top 15 berths, but none have brought home silverware this term.

Spaniard Arnaus has missed just three cuts this season, consistently picking up Road to Ras Al Khaimah Ranking points, while Norway’s Johansen has played the weekend in every event he’s competed in this year.

Forrest has finished as a runner-up on two occasions this season, in the Andalucía Costa del Sol Match Play 9 and the Hauts de France Golf Open, while Swede Fahrbring finished second in Kenya, losing in a play-off to Gagli, and has since made every cut in the Challenge Tour events he has competed in this season.

Singh Brar and Samooja, meanwhile, have three top tens apiece, with the latter on an excellent run which has seen him finish second and tied fifth in two of his last three starts.

As it stands