The European Challenge Tour returns to France for Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge with a number of intriguing subplots waiting to catch the eye.
Last year, Andrew Johnston claimed his second win of the season on his way to topping the Challenge Tour Rankings and earning a place on The European Tour while runner-up was Byeong-hun An, now also enjoying European Tour life after claiming victory at the BMW PGA Championship in May.
This year a strong field is hoping to use this event as a springboard for similar success, with home fans likely to focus their attention on Sebastien Gros.
The Frenchman is currently second in the Road to Oman Rankings and won this season’s previous event in his home country, the Najeti Open Presented by Neuflize OBC.
The 25 year old missed the cut in the first two stagings of this tournament but is in good form after finishing tied for third in his last event, the AEGEAN Airlines Slovakia Challenge.
The 2013 winner of this event Brinson Paolini is back in France again this week and showing signs of a return to form after a top five finish in last week’s Fred Olsen Challenge de España.
Other notable faces in the field are the antipodean pair of Scott Arnold and Ryan Fox, fresh from competing in The Open Championship at St Andrews.
Both men made the cut, Australian Arnold shooting a fine 66 on the Monday to finish five under par, one ahead of New Zealander Fox.
Jens Fahrbring is another whose form suggests a second win of the season might come this week in France.
The 31 year old Swede tied for 20th here in 2013 before finishing as runner-up last year, so clearly likes the course as he bids to add to his victory in the D+D REAL Czech Challenge in May.
And it is also worth considering the merits of two Scots, the experienced Jamie McLeary and the rookie Bradley Neil.
McLeary was eighth here two years ago and tied for fourth in his last event, the D+D REAL Slovakia Challenge.
Neil turned professional at his home event, the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts, and secured his first pay cheque with a tied 11th finish at the Fred Olsen Challenge last week.
