Once again the top five players from each of the four satellite tours will enter the second tier fray this year looking to replicate the success of their 2014 forebears, so challengetour.com put those competitors under the microscope ahead of the season getting under way in Madeira this week.
The last campaign, in fact, saw three players settle into life on the European Challenge Tour with aplomb, as graduates from the Alps, EuroPro and Pro Golf Tours – namely Jason Palmer, Oliver Farr and Florian Fritsch, respectively – all finished in the top 15 in the end of season Rankings.
Proof, therefore, that the transition from mini-Tour professional to potential world beater is possible, so all that remains to be seen is whether anyone will follow in the footsteps of those from the class of 2014 come this year’s season climax.
Alps Tour
Nino Bertasio topped the Rankings last season thanks to consecutive tournament victories in the middle of the season, in order to earn himself a first crack at a full season of second tier action, since he made 12 starts three years ago en route to 135th on the Rankings.
The 26 year old from Brescia will be joined by Spain’s Borja Etchart, Austrian Tobiaz Nemecz – whose brother Lukas played on the Challenge Tour in 2014, having also graduated through the Alps Tour a year prior – as well as French duo Thomas Elissalde and Clement Berardo.
They will hope to follow in the footsteps of former Order of Merit winner Jason Palmer, after the 2013 Alps Tour top dog finished eighth on the second tier Rankings last year, thanks to a maiden victory at the Foshan Open and a runner-up result in Oman.
EuroPro Tour
Scotland’s Elliot Saltman ended the season on top of the British-based circuit, notching three runner-up finishes throughout the year en route to claiming the Tour Championship in Egypt and first place on the order of merit.
He will be joined by Englishmen Peter Tarver-Jones, who won two consecutive starts in the middle of the year, as well as James Watts, Stiggy Hodgson and James Robinson.
Like those earning their place through the Alps Tour, these five will hope to replicate the success of EuroPro Alumni Oliver Farr, who went on to finish tenth on the second tier Rankings in his rookie season last year thanks to a first title at the Turkish Airlines Challenge.
Nordic Golf League
Based around Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, Jacob Glennemo took the Scandinavian tour by storm in 2014, winning three tournaments as part of a run of results that saw him finish in the top ten in 13 of his 23 starts.
The Swede will be joined by compatriots Jesper Billing and Steven Jeppesen, who both claimed tournament victories of their own last year, as well as David Palm, who was a model of consistency. Norwegian Elias Bertheussen also earned himself a shot at the Challenge Tour this year thanks to two wins in just 12 starts.
Pro Golf Tour
Germany’s Florian Fritsch showed what could be achieved following an order of merit topping performance on the Pro Golf Tour, and compatriot Marcel Schneider will look to follow his example by earning a place in the top 15 at the end of this campaign.
As part of an all-German top five on the north-European based circuit, Schneider will be joined by Sebastien Heisele, Sean Einhaus, Max Kramer and Alexander Knappe, who will all have high hopes of a first class showing in 2015.
For more information on all four Tours, please see the links below:
Alps Tour:http://alpstourgolf.com/
EuroPro Tour:http://www.europrotour.com/
Nordic Golf League:http://eccotour.org/nordicgolfleague/
Pro Golf Tour:http://www.pga.de/progolf-overview.html
