Hot off the plane from the first event counting towards the 2019 European Challenge Tour Rankings, we take a look at three players who could make their mark at the Challenge de España this week.
Matthew Baldwin
This season sees Matthew Baldwin return to the Challenge Tour and he will begin his season on Europe’s top developmental circuit at the event where he clinched his debut title in 2011. The Englishman overcame Julien Guerrier in a play-off to lift the trophy and will be one of four former winners of the event teeing it up at Izki Golf.
After warming up for the 2019 Challenge Tour campaign by winning twice on the satellite MENA Tour, Baldwin will be aiming to be in the mix come Sunday afternoon. His first win came at the MENA Tour Qualifying School before he dominated in the following week, winning the biggest event on the MENA Tour – the Journey to Jordan I – by an impressive eight shots. If he strikes hot, Baldwin could be a tough act follow.
Chase Koepka
Chase Koepka will look to follow in his brother’s footsteps when he tees it up at the Challenge de España. Elder brother Brooks claimed his third Challenge Tour title and second of the 2013 season when he recorded the lowest winning result of his professional career – 260 total, 24 under par. Now, Chase has the opportunity to join his brother as a Challenge de España champion when he makes his debut at the event this week.
Two years ago, in a season where the American graduated to the European Tour, he recorded five top five finishes, including two runner-up finishes in Italy and Kazakhstan. If he can show his consistent form from two season’s ago, there will be a chase on to see who can catch him.
David Borda
Local homegrown star David Borda is expected to prosper on a course he knows very well. Borda grew up close to Izki Golf and his knowledge of the layout could hold him in good stead if he is to flourish this week.
The Spaniard progressed to the Challenge Tour after a fantastic year on the Alps Tour where he won twice, including the Alps Tour Grand Final, en route to finishing inside the top five to claim his Challenge Tour playing rights. The year ended with further triumph as he finished inside the top 25 of the Final Stage at European Tour Qualifying School to secure his European Tour card.
He will make his maiden 2019 Challenge Tour appearance at Izki Golf and locals will be looking forward to seeing if he can replicate his Spanish touch on the Challenge Tour this week.
