The European Challenge Tour heads to the Netherlands for the B-NL Challenge Trophy, taking place at Twentsche Golfclub from May 18-21. Here’s everything you need to know for the week ahead…
Twentsche Golfclub
Located on the beautiful Twickel estate, Twentsche Golfclub was founded in 1926 and is one of the oldest clubs in the Netherlands. In the late 1990s, Irish architect Tom Macauley designed the 18-hole layout that's now in play today. This week the players will contend with a par 72 course that measures 6,332 metres from the back tees, with holes laid out as two returning loops of nine. Water comes into play at several holes, most notably in the form of a pond between the greens of the par three third and par five fifth. Highlight holes include the short par four second, the right doglegging par four ninth, the longest of the par fives at the 12th and the short par three 15th where the green is surrounded by five bunkers.
Opportunity knocks
Road to Mallorca Number One, Ugo Coussaud, has been in imperious form through the first eight events of 2023, racking up 909 points on his way to a commanding lead at the top of the Rankings. After taking his place in the Soudal Open field on the DP World Tour last week, Coussaud won’t be teeing it up in the Netherlands this week, giving one of the chasing pack an opportunity to close the gap. South African JJ Senekal, Zimbabwean Benjamin Follett-Smith and Spaniard Manuel Elvira are just a few of the names inside the top ten that will be hoping to take full advantage this week.
Challenge Tour in the Netherlands
For the winner this week at Twentsche Golfclub, the omens are good. The two previous winners of the B-NL Challenge Trophy, held in 2021 in the Netherlands and in 2022 in Belgium, have gone on to secure their DP World Tour status by the end of the year. In 2021, Spain’s Alfredo Garcia-Heredia triumphed in a four-way playoff, and then in 2022, Alexander Knappe from Germany won by one shot on his way to a third-place finish in the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
From 2007 to 2009, the Dutch Futures tournament was also held as part of the Challenge Tour season. Scotland’s Peter Whiteford won the inaugural event, Taco Remkes won the following year in his home country, and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts dominated in 2009, winning by four shots.
