The inaugural Foshan Open has received a huge boost with no fewer than 45 out of the leading 50 players on the European Challenge Tour Rankings competing next week.
The US$350,000 event, which is one of the final three on the Tour schedule this year, is expected to be a week of high drama as some of the world’s top emerging golfing talents battle it out to secure a high finish and a chance of a spot on the highly lucrative European Tour in 2014.
“Only the top 15 on the Rankings at the end of the season will get through and so The Foshan Open is a very important event in that respect,” said Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour.
“This is its first year on the Tour schedule but already it is one of the top five in terms of prize money, so if a leading player misses out on competing in Foshan it could damage his prospects of getting into next season’s European Tour.”
Currently leading the Rankings is 24 year old Andrea Pavan from Italy, who has won twice this season and he is closely followed by Daan Huizing from the Netherlands, in third place behind Brooks Koepka who is now plying his trade on The European Tour following his automatic promotion thanks to three wins earlier in the season.
Like Pavan, 22 year old Huizing has won twice this year, his wins coming in consecutive appearances at the Northern Ireland Open Challenge Presented by Clannah and XJET, followed two weeks later by victory at the Kharkov Superior Cup.
Those promising young stars, as well as Frenchman François Calmels, will arrive at Foshan Golf Club in search of a third win of the season, which would seal automatic promotion to The European Tour.
A major attraction for the event will be the appearance of two highly celebrated English players, Nick Dougherty, a three time winner on The European Tour and Oliver Wilson, a member of Nick Faldo’s European team in The 2008 Ryder Cup.
“We couldn’t be more delighted with the player field,” said Keith Hardman, General Manager of Foshan Golf Club.
“To have such superb young talents making the long trip from Europe to Foshan is both a privilege and an acknowledgement that we are putting on one of the Tour’s more important events. And to have seasoned winners like Dougherty and Wilson here will be a great bonus for the spectators. Added to that the weather forecast for next week is good and spectators are sure to have a great experience when they come here.”
The Foshan Open runs from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th October at the magnificent Tony Cashmore designed Foshan Golf Club. 126 players from 21 countries worldwide will compete for the iconic Canton Trophy and a share of the US$350,000 in prize money.
