The Challenge Tour’s return to Rome has received the backing of one of the world’s leading Information Technology companies with the newly-named EMC Golf Challenge 2014.
The tournament, which will carry a record prize fund of €180,000, will return to the Challenge Tour schedule for the first time since 2011 when it takes place at Olgiata Golf Club from October 2-5.
EMC is a world-renowned information technology company which specialises in data storage, information security, virtualization, analytics, cloud computing and other products and services that enable businesses to store, manage, protect, and analyse data.
Past winners of the tournament, previously the Roma Golf Open, include former Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari (2009) and two-time European Tour winner Mikael Lundberg (2007).
Marco Fanizzi, CEO of EMC Italy, said: “We strongly believe in the values associated with sport, and that is why we have decided to put our support behind golf and the European Challenge Tour.
“It’s not only about competition, sport for us means respecting the competitor and playing with the right commitment, but most of all being loyal with every single player.”
Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour, said: “We are delighted to have the support of such a world-famous company as EMC for this tournament, and we hope this can be the beginning of a long and healthy partnership.
“The Challenge Tour provides a unique opportunity for companies to be associated with a strong, youthful brand which provides a crucial link between the grassroots of golf and one of the biggest tours in world golf, The European Tour.
“This tournament has been a great success in the past, with Edoardo Molinari’s win on home soil in 2009 a particular highlight. Just a year later, he played in The Ryder Cup and proved the opportunities provided for players by the Challenge Tour.”
The event last took place in 2011, when Englishman Sam Little beat Sweden’s Pelle Edberg in a play-off to clinch a third victory of the season and automatic promotion to The European Tour.
The stunning venue, located to the north of Rome, has undergone some major course changes since it last hosted the Challenge Tour, and will pose a different test for the players competing this year.
