The 2021 Road to Mallorca heads to its season finale – The Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A, and it’s all to play for at T Golf & Country Club as 45 players look to secure one of the life-changing 20 European Tour cards. Here are three men to keep an eye on this week…
Ricardo Gouveia
Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia is a man for the big stage. The 30-year-old arrives in Mallorca in search of his second Grand Final victory, after triumphing at the 2015 edition in Oman and has eyes on becoming the first man to top the Road to Mallorca Rankings on two separate occasions. The Portuguese has enjoyed an impressive 2021 season with victories at the Italian Challenge and Made in Esbjerg Challenge, along with six top ten finishes. Gouveia enters the Grand Final in red hot form after a third place finish at the recent Challenge Costa Brava as he looks to make history in Spain.
Jonathan Thomson
Jonathan ‘Jigger’ Thomson arrives at the Grand Final in impressive form following second place finishes at the Swiss Challenge and Challenge Costa Brava. The Englishman currently sits in 25th place on the Rankings and is still in search of a maiden Challenge Tour victory but has proven he can produce moments of magic when required, having made a hole-in-one at The Open earlier this season to secure his spot for the weekend at Royal St George’s. The 25-year-old will need a strong performance at the Grand Final if he is to climb into the top 20 and make the step up to the European Tour next season.
Kristof Ulenaers
Kristof Ulenaers has it all do at the Grand Final, currently sitting in 38th place on the Rankings. The Belgian has proven his ability to perform in Spain, bursting onto the scene at the Challenge de Cádiz to secure victory on his first Challenge Tour event since turning professional. The 23-year-old followed this up with a tie for fifth at the Challenge de España but has struggled for form since, only making five cuts in 14 appearances. Ulenaers will be hoping a return to a happy-hunting ground can rekindle a spark as he will need to record a top four finish at the Grand Final to have a chance of securing European Tour playing rights for the 2022 season.
