The European Challenge Tour returns to familiar surroundings this week in the shape of Empordà Golf for the Empordà Challenge. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the event…
Have I seen you before?
For many players in this week’s field, Empordà Golf will feel like a home-from-home after last year’s double-header. The Costa Brava venue hosted the Empordà Challenge and the Challenge Costa Brava in back-to-back weeks in October 2021 after a gap became available on the Road to Mallorca International Schedule. Frenchman Julien Brun, who graduated from the Road to Mallorca Rankings in 2021, claimed the Empordà Challenge title, before New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier tasted success the following week as he secured his maiden victory.
Delightful design
Acclaimed American architect Robert von Hagge designed the Links Course and Forest Course and this was his first design project in Spain. Von Hagge was a golf course architect for six decades and has helped create some of the world’s most unique golf courses; creating and designing more than 250 layouts in the United States and 18 other countries. Having been established in 1989, Empordà Golf underwent a major upgrade in 2020. The Montgrí castle overlooks the landscape and can always be seen from the two courses at Empordà Golf, the castle view complimenting an abundance of dunes, lakes and bunkers through the Empordà Forest, which will provide a true test for the players this week.
Spanish success
As the Road to Mallorca makes its second stop of the year in Spain, the timing could not be better after the first Spanish winner of the season was crowned just two weeks ago. Javier Sainz, who previously had just one top ten finish in his Challenge Tour career, secured his maiden title at the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A. The 29-year-old posted a stunning six under par round of 65 to close and earn a spot in a play-off, where he defeated Jeremy Freiburghaus on the second extra hole.
See you in November…
This week’s event is the only one that currently matters, but Empordà Golf will welcome DP World Tour hopefuls again later this year. The Girona venue will return as a DP World Tour Qualifying School Second Stage venue later this year, 16 years after last being part of the schedule.
