The European Challenge Tour continues its ‘Scandinavian Swing’ as it returns to Finland for the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge. Here we take a look at the key stats ahead of this week.
10-This year marks the tenth playing of the Finnish Challenge, and the third consecutive year that it will be held at the expansive Vierumäki Resort. Despite celebrating its tin anniversary, the event dates back much further than one decade. The inaugural tournament was held in 2001 at Golf Talma where it stayed for the next two years before falling off the Challenge Tour International Schedule. Revived in 2012, The Finnish Challenge was contested at Kytäjä Golf for three years, before moving to Aura Golf Club in 2015 and settling at Vierumäki in 2016.
4-The current Road to Ras Al Khaimah Ranking of Stuart Manley, who won the 2013 Finnish Challenge. It was the Welshman’s first title on the Challenge Tour, and he earned it with a final-round three under par 69 to close the event on 21 under par for a two-shot victory.
7010- The length, in yards, of Vierumäki Resort, which will offer a stern test to the field as their mid-iron play and par five scoring abilities are sure to be tested on the par 72 lay-out.
292- The yardage of the par four 13thhole. At under 300 yards, most players will have their eye on driving the green, or at the very least, making birdie on this unconventional par four. However, the number 13 could prove to be unlucky for some as big numbers might add up quickly if the tee shot lacks precision.
3-The number of rounds that were played at last year’s Finnish Challenge when torrential rain forced the cancellation of the final round. Third round leader Paul Howard was awarded the victory, his first on the Challenge Tour, after shooting 68-65-66 to ultimately triumph by two strokes.
4.32-The scoring average of the 475-yard par four tenth hole, which played as the most difficult at last year’s Finnish Challenge. More than 100 bogeys were made on the back-nine’s opening-hole, and nearly 20 double bogeys or worse.
4.41-In true yin and yang fashion, the easiest hole on the course comes right before the tenth. Last year, the 512-yard par five tenth hole played to this scoring average — over a half-stroke under par for the week. Nearly 200 birdies and 20 eagles were made in the rain-shortened event.
383-The number of spots Howard gained in the Official World Golf Ranking after triumphing at last year’s event. Despite being rain-shortened, a 54-hole tournament is officially sufficient for the allocation of prize money and ranking points.
6- The number of countries represented by the past champions of the Finnish Challenge. England have the most wins with three, which include triumphs in both of the tournaments held at Vierumäki Resort over the last two years.
0-No Finn has ever won the Finnish Challenge in its ten-event history. That could all change this week, with native sons Kalle Samooja and Kim Koivu — both currently occupying one of the top ten positions on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah — in the field this week.
