The European Challenge Tour returns to Spain for the Empordà Challenge at Empordà Golf this week. Here are three men to keep an eye on as the action unfolds…
Form horse: Jeremy Freiburghaus
There’s only one man who can claim the title of Form Horse this week – and that is Switzerland’s Jeremy Freiburghaus. The 26-year-old has finished inside the top ten in each of his last three starts, with a play-off defeat to Javier Sainz at the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A sandwiched between a fourth placed finish at the Challenge de España and a tie for ninth at last week’s D+D REAL Czech Challenge.
Local favourite: Pedro Oriol
Pedro Oriol will tee it up this week hoping to make a charge for his first title on home soil. The 35-year-old, who won the 2017 Rolex Trophy, is a passionate Spaniard and winning in his home country would undoubtedly be a dream come true. He has only three Challenge Tour starts under his belt so far in 2022, but has made the cut in all three, with his best finish being a tie for 23rd place in Scotland a fortnight ago. Oriol missed much of last season due to a shoulder injury, spending 11 months away from competitive action.
The outsider: Julien Quesne
With only eight starts in the last two years, Julien Quesne would not be a name who stands out as a favourite this week. However, with two DP World Tour and two Challenge Tour wins to his name, he absolutely has the ability to get over the line and there is nothing more crucial than having that knowhow of how to win. The Frenchman’s last triumph came in 2013 at the Italian Open, so a return to the winner’s circle is well overdue…
