Jarand Ekeland Arnoy is eager to end a remarkable run of three consecutive second place finishes by winning his first European Challenge Tour title at this week’s Hainan Open.
The Norwegian has been on an incredible runner-up streak having finished in second place in his last three starts.
Arnoy’s run began one month ago at the Willis Towers Watson Masters on the satellite Nordic Golf League, where the 20 year old was denied a second professional title by Sweden’s Per Langfors, who claimed victory after a play-off.
The young Norwegian took that fine form to the Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, putting himself firmly in contention in Carlow before eventual champion Julien Guerrier pulled away on the final day.
Full of confidence two weeks later on his next start in Spain, Arnoy carded scores of 67-63-67 to take a two-shot lead into the last round of the Challenge de Espana.
A remarkable closing 65 from Victor Perez, which included a hole-in-one, meant that Arnoy would finish as a runner-up for the third time in succession – but he is fully confident that a win is just around the corner.
“I feel that it is my time to win soon,” said Arnoy, whose back-to-back Challenge Tour second places have caused him to rise from 120thto 36thin the Road to Oman Rankings.
“Everything has changed very quickly for me and if I am able to win soon then I am in with a shot of making the top 15 – which would be huge.
“I have just been playing the same golf as I have all year but I have just holed a few more putts. The game is coming along nicely and I am really happy with how things are shaping up.
“I was very pleased to have bounced back so well from losing out in a play-off. It was my last wild card of the season in Ireland so I really needed to perform well there.
“The second place in Spain was also fantastic and I really enjoyed being in contention. Victor made a hole-in-one, was chipping and holing putts from everywhere so I can’t feel too hard done by – it was just his day.
“It is a great course here in Hainan. There are lots of long holes and small greens so you have to been good off of the tee.
“I have been hitting some really good iron shots over the last few weeks and I am confident that I will be high up the leaderboard once again – hopefully the putts keep dropping for me.”
