The European Challenge Tour returns to the home soil after a stretch of events in South Africa throughout February and March, with the Road to Mallorca Rankings currently being led by South African JC Ritchie who took full advantage of home comforts to win twice in the Rainbow Nation.
Santi’s Spanish Success
The Challenge de España produced a home victor in 2021 with Santiago Tarrio claiming a one-shot victory, courtesy of a fantastic final round of 66. The Spaniard went on to finish third on last year’s Road to Mallorca Rankings and secure DP World Tour playing privileges for 2022. Those competing this week will be hoping to follow suit, including Ivan Cantero Gutierrez, with the 26-year-old currently the highest-ranked Spaniard on the Road to Mallorca.
Seve Designed Host Course
This week’s event returns to Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri in Cádiz for a third year running. The course was the first designed in Spain by the legendary Severiano Ballesteros, the five-time Major Champion and 50-time DP World Tour winner. According to the course website: ‘For many, it’s his masterpiece. Our two courses and the practice range were designed for players to enjoy from the entire philosophy of golf. Beginners and experts alike will note the spirit of the famous Spanish golf champion throughout them.’
History
The Challenge de España has been played at a number of different courses across Spain since its inauguration in 1999, with two memorable moments arriving at Tecina Golf. In 2016 Italian Nicolo Ravano posted a second round of 59 to equal Frenchman Adrien Mörk’s lowest round in Challenge Tour history, which has since been surpassed by Spaniard Alejandro del Rey’s record-breaking round of 58 at the 2021 Swiss Challenge.
In 2013, Four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka won the Challenge de España at Tecina Golf, his second of three victories that season as the American secured automatic promotion to the DP World Tour. Koepka went on to win the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018, and the PGA Championship in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first golfer in history to hold back-to-back titles in two Majors simultaneously.
Another Albatross?!
England’s Todd Clements carded a rare albatross last year, holing his second shot into the par five 11th during the first round. The 25-year-old is in the field for this week’s event and will be hoping to repeat the feat…
