Andrea Pavan will look to continue a fine run of form on the Challenge Tour when he returns home to Italy for the Mugello Tuscany Open at UNA Poggio dei Medici Golf Club, Scarperia, Italy.
The 24 year old won theBad Griesbach Challenge Tour by Hartl Resortin Germany at the beginning of July for his third Challenge Tour title, significantly boosting his chances of returning to The European Tour at the first attempt.
The victory followed top five finishes in the Scottish Hydro Challenge and the Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda, and he has risen to second place in the Ranking behind Brooks Koepka, who has already won three times in 2013 to earn instant promotion to The European Tour.
Pavan, who lost his card last season after coming 158thin The Race to Dubai, has tasted success on home soil before, triumphing in the Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2011, the year he also won in Norway to graduate to The European Tour via second place in the Ranking.
He also has history at UNA Poggia dei Medici Golf Club near Florence, winning there as an amateur in 2005.
“I played there for the first time in the 2005 the Italian Amateur Stroke Play Championship and I won, so I have some good memories,” he said. “I also played there two years ago, the last time we played it on the Challenge Tour, and I made the cut. I remember the greens were excellent, but I wasn’t putting well at the time.
“The course is a fairly tough walk, and it will probably be very hot, so it is important to be in shape because it can wear you out.
“It reminds me a bit of the golf course where I practise in Rome. There are not many trees, but it is demanding off the tee.
“It’s always nice to play in Italy, even though it is not my home town. A lot of people are rooting for you, and my coach will be there, so it will be nice to see him.”
Three winners from the Challenge Tour season so far will also tee it up in Tuscany alongside Pavan, namely Dylan Fritelli who won in Austria at the end of June, D+D Real Czech Challenge Open winner François Calmels and Telenet Trophy champion Daniel Gaunt.
Two time European Tour winners Markus Brier and Kenneth Ferrie are also set to play at UNA Poggio dei Medici GC.
