The Road to Mallorca returns to Finland this week for the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge at Vierumäki Resort. Here’s everything you need to know…
Host Course
Approximately 90 minutes’ drive from Helsinki, in a beautiful forest and lake setting, the Cooke Course at the Vierumäki Resort will host the Finnish Challenge for the sixth time. With incredible sauna facilities and spectacular nature trails on site, the players will have plenty on offer to unwind when they finish on the course.
Environmental Challenges
As one of Europe’s most northerly countries, Finland offers some unique environmental challenges for staging a golf tournament. Due to daylight hours, the typical golfing season usually lasts between May – September, with long bright summer days shifting to extended dark winter hours as the seasons change. In 2017 exceptional weather circumstances meant the fourth round was cancelled after torrential rain flooded Vierumäki Resort and Englishman Paul Howard claimed victory as the tournament was reduced to 54 holes.
Road to Mallorca steppingstone?
At last year’s event, Marcus Helligkilde posted a 23 under par total as he went wire-to-wire to claim his maiden Challenge Tour title. Helligkilde recorded two further wins last season as he claimed the 2021 Road to Mallorca number one to secure his DP World Tour card for the 2022 season. Those teeing it up at this week’s event will be hoping to follow in Helligkilde’s footsteps.
Historical Finnish success
Finland’s own Kim Koivu was victorious at the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge in 2018, beating Scotland’s Robert McIntyre in a playoff. Koivu is in the field this week and will be vying for another home win alongside a number of fellow Finns including Oliver Lindell, Matias Honkala and Ilari Saulo.
