Ahead of the fifth edition of the Turkish Airlines Challenge we bring you ten key statistics from the Turkish event.
5 – First played in 2014 the Turkish Airlines Challenge celebrates its fifth anniversary this season. Having first been staged in May from 2014-2016, the tournament now occupies the final week of April and is a significant part of the early-season schedule.
3– The number of years the event has been held at Gloria Golf Club – the current host venue for the tournament. The first edition of the event was held at National Golf Club, while the last three have been staged at Gloria Golf Club – both in Antalya.
4 – The largest margin of victory in Turkish Airlines Challenge history. Last year Englishman Ryan Evans won his first Challenge Tour title by finishing four clear of Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen, while in 2015 Welshman Rhys Davies claimed his third of four Challenge Tour titles with a four-shot triumph.
21– The lowest under par total in Turkish Airlines Challenge history, achieved by Evans en route to victory last season. The then 30 year old carded scores of 66-66-64-71 to pull clear of the chasing pack and become the first player to break 20 under par after four rounds in Antalya.
19– The difference between the lowest and highest winning scores in Turkish Airlines Challenge history. While Evans soared to victory last season, Oliver Farr was forced to battle his way to the title in 2014 at National Golf Club. The Welshman finished the week at two under par and was the only player in the field to break par that year.
3– Three of the previous four Turkish Airlines Challenge champions have gone on to graduate to the European Tour following their victories in Antalya. After triumphing in Turkey, 2014, 2015 and 2017 winners Farr, Davies and Evans all progressed to Europe’s top tier that same season. Although 2016 champion Clément Sordet didn’t make it into the top 15 at the end of that year’s campaign, the Frenchman did win twice in 2017 to finish second in the Challenge Tour Rankings – and is now a European Tour player this season.
27– The average age of a Turkish Airlines Challenge champion. The youngest winner of the event was Sordet back in 2016 who was 23 years old when he lifted the title while last year’s champion Evans – aged 30 at the time – is the oldest player to have triumphed in the Turkish tournament.
607– The length in yards of the longest hole at the New Course at Gloria Golf Club. Despite its monstrous length, the fifth proved to be the fifth easiest hole last season, with competitors averaging 4.82 when tackling the lengthy par five – with six eagles and 127 birdies scored there over four rounds.
116 – The number of bogeys made at the par four 13thlast year – the toughest hole on the New Course. The testing 463-yard hole saw no eagles and just 32 birdies and was also witness to 23 double-bogeys or worse. With competitors averaging a score of 4.34 on this hole in 2017, any player walking away from the 13thunder par this year will most likely be near the top of the leaderboard.
2005– The New Course at Gloria Golf Club opened 13 years ago in 2005. Designed by Frenchman Michel Gayon, the par-72 course is one of two championship courses at Gloria Golf Club and is an undulating, tree-lined track.
