Switzerland’s Marco Iten is back on home soil for the Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf, fresh off his season-best result — a tied tenth place showing — at last week’s D+D REAL Czech Challenge.
The 27 year old, who carded rounds of 68-69-70-73 to finish in a tie for 39that last year’s Swiss Challenge presented by ASG, admits a full schedule this year has kept him focused on the task at hand, but the chance to compete in his native land creates excitement that lingers below the surface.
“I haven’t really had much time to think about it because it’s been pretty busy the last month,” said Iten. “But it’s definitely been in the back of my head, and I am really looking forward to it.”
This year will mark the ninth consecutive season the tournament has been held at Golf Sempachersee in Lucerne, and Iten believes the course is a true examination of a golfer’s overall game.
“It’s a pretty good test honestly. Compared to some of the other stuff we see, it’s actually quite different in the way that you don’t hit driver on too many holes — it kind of keeps you guessing.
“Off the tee there could be some irons, or it could be some fairway metals and a few drivers. You need to draw it and you need to cut it. It asks all the questions for sure.”
At last year’s event, fellow countryman Joel Girrbach successfully answered those questions and became the first player from Switzerland to win on the Challenge Tour in nine years.
There is no doubt that Iten would like to keep the title on home turf, and he is looking forward to the chance to compete in front of, and be supported by, his friends and family.
“There should be some familiar faces, and hopefully some more on the weekend, but I think there will definitely be some of my folks out there.”
This year will mark the third time Iten has competed in the Swiss Challenge presented by ASG, and when asked which golfers from Switzerland he looked up to, there was no hesitation.
He said: “It’s definitely André Bossert who plays on the Staysure Tour now. He lives in the same area as me and if we’re both home we actually practice together at his course.
“I’ve been able to kind of pick his brain if there are ever any questions or just kind of seeing what he does in certain areas — not so much the game itself but everything around it. Things like how he’s organised and how he sets everything up, and that’s certainly been helpful.”
The Swiss Challenge presented by ASG is set to begin this Thursday, and will represent the eighth event on the Challenge Tour's International Schedule.
