Norway’s Espen Kofstad defeated Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson in a play-off to win Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge in Denmark, claiming his first Challenge Tour win in five years.
The 34-year-old started the day two shots back at Esbjerg Golfklub but posted five birdies and one bogey in a round of 67o finish on 11 under par, tying with overnight leader Ferguson who closed with a round of 69.
Kofstad then birdied the first extra hole, with Ferguson only managing a par, to secure his fourth Challenge Tour win overall and first since the D+D REAL Slovakia Challenge in 2016. The 2012 Challenge Tour Number One said it was sweet winning again after a few tough years.
“This one was better than the other ones I think,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming, it’s been five years and it’s been really, really hard, I’ve been injured so much, and I finally got my stuff together and started to perform again.
“It’s crazy, I remember after wrist surgery in 2016 I took almost two years off and I played 2019 without too much practice and I thought I’m going to have to do something or I’m going to have to quit golf, so yes this one feels pretty special.”
Kofstad, now moves up to fourth place in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, virtually securing his playing right on the European Tour next season.
“I managed to stay pretty calm all day, I’ve been working really hard on just keeping myself level all day long.
“The goal this year has been to win three (European Challenge Tour titles) so I could get myself up as quick as possible, I’ve got one and I’m also very happy finishing top 20, but the goal is to keep going and keep playing good golf and then try to put myself in the position.”
Spain’s Angel Hidalgo signed for a one under par round of 70 to secure third place on eight under.
Ivan Cantero Gutierrez of Spain finished a further shot back in a share of fourth place alongside Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia who continued his superb form with a final round of 66. Gouveia won his two previous Challenge Tour appearances including last week’s Made in Esbjerg Challenge - Presented by FREJA & TotalEnergies.
In a tie for sixth place saw four players sharing a six under par total including Norwegian Olympic representative Kristian Krogh Johannessen who posted a four under par round, alongside Mateusz Gradecki of Poland, Per Längfors of Sweden and Englishman OJ Farrell.
Spaniard Santiago Tarrio still leads the Road to Mallorca Rankings on 141,493 points, with Gouveia in second place and Ferguson sitting in third position after the Scotsman recorded his seventh top 20 finish of the season.
The Road to Mallorca continues next week in the Netherlands, with the B-NL Challenge Trophy at The Dutch from August 26 – 29.
