The European Challenge Tour Rankings will begin at the Turkish Airlines Challenge, when the action gets under way at Samsun Golf Club from April 25-28.
With changes to the Challenge Tour International Schedule, the Turkish event will have the honour of being the first tournament to count towards the 2019 Order of Merit.
Players will aim to follow in the footsteps of Joachim B. Hansen who won last year’s event to kick-start his campaign, en route to topping the Challenge Tour Rankings and graduating to the European Tour.
Winning in Turkey has proved important when attempting to graduate to the European Tour with four of the previous five champions gaining European Tour status after claiming the Turkish Airlines Challenge.
Oliver Farr lifted the inaugural trophy in 2014, before compatriot Rhys Davies followed suit 12 months later. Whilst Ryan Evans won his maiden Challenge Tour title in 2017 ahead of Hansen’s success in 2018.
For its sixth edition, the Turkish Airlines Challenge will take place at Samsun, having spent four years at Gloria Golf Club after making its debut at National Golf Club in 2014.
It will be the first time Samsun will host a Challenge Tour, European Tour or Staysure Tour event, however, it was the venue for the 2017 Deaflympics golf competition.
Click here to view the 2019 Challenge Tour International Schedule
