Qualifying for the final three events, worth more than €1 million, is now complete. With 15 European Tour cards awaiting, the starting positions have been set for the final sprint on the Road to Mallorca.
Top five
After 21 events, the top five reads, in order: Calum Hill, Antoine Rozner, Richard Bland, Jack Senior and Cormac Sharvin. As a group they account for five wins this season, but amazingly, neither Bland or Sharvin have lifted a trophy yet. Consistency counts, but it is also a precursor to winning, so keep your eye on both Bland and Sharvin over the next month.
Waiting in the wings
Less than 10,000 points separate the next five on the Road to Mallorca Rankings: Ricardo Santos, Matthew Jordan, Adrian Meronk, Robin Roussel and Francesco Laporta. They have certainly earned their top ten ranking and are poised to continue their fine play. At last week’s Italian Open, Laporta lead all Italian players by finishing in tie a for seventh. He was the third Challenge Tour player this season to finish as low-national at his Rolex Series national open after Cormac Sharvin and Calum Hill also accomplished the feat.
In need of a big finish
It is great to be in the top 15 of the Road to Mallorca Rankings, but finishing in the top 15 is a different story, and a tremendous challenge. It will require a strong finish, and for Conor Syme, Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez, Darius van Driel, Oliver Farr and Lars van Meijel, the Hainan Open is the first opportunity to reinforce their position inside that coveted cut-off number.
Remember, top 45
Ugo Coussaud currently holds the 45th and final position on the entry list for the season finale in Mallorca, but with two crucial events in China, the spots in the Challenge Tour Grand Final will go to the players who produce their best stuff when it matters the most. Moves can and will be made, so strap yourself in for a thrilling two weeks at the Hainan Open and Foshan Open.
