Lorenzo Gagli is confident of putting in a big performance on the European Challenge Tour this week, as he returns to a familiar stomping ground in Golf Sempachersee for the Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf.
The experienced Italian has made a promising start on the 2016 Road to Oman, following two top five finishes in Egypt and Madrid with a tied tenth spot at the Turkish Airlines Challenge a week later.
Gagli, who currently sits at 14th on the Road to Oman Rankings, went on to miss cuts at the rain-affected Montecchia Open by Lyoness and the D+D REAL Czech Challenge.
But the 30 year old is aiming to rise up the rankings this week and build on the promise he showed during his early season purple patch.
“I started the season very well,” said Gagli, whose highest career finish to date came in 2011 on the European Tour when he finished runner-up at the Bankia Madrid Masters.
“But I have missed the last two cuts, so I am hoping to return to playing how I was at the beginning of the season.
“I played my best golf in Egypt but I missed a lot of putts otherwise I would have had the chance to win. I played very good and solid in Madrid and Turkey too so I am feeling good. I have found a better rhythm in my putting over the last few days so I am feeling confident.
“I know the course well after playing here five or six times and it is looking really nice and in great condition.”
Florence-born Gagli first progressed to the Challenge Tour in 2008 via the Alps Tour, where he won three times to guarantee his place in the top five of the Order of Merit.
The Italian enjoyed a solid first season on Europe’s top developmental tour, where the highlight was a tied third place finish at the Credit Suisse Challenge at Wylihof Golf Club – which was won by Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello.
While Gagli is impressed by how his former rival has gone on to become a Race to Dubai contender, he is focused on improving his own game so that he can challenge for a top 15 place.
“Rafa this season is playing so good,” he said. “I am working hard on all parts of my game – trying to improve physically, mentally and technically.
“My target is to return to playing on the European Tour but it is not easy.
“I think it is easier to stay on the European Tour rather to qualify for there because the Challenge Tour is very hard, there are only 15 spots, and the quality of the players on the Challenge Tour is getting better and better.”
Also competing in Lucerne this week is current Road to Oman Rankings leader Jordan Smith, who sits top of the pile after finishing one shot behind France’s Damien Perrier in the Czech Republic last week.
Germany’s Dominic Foos will be hoping to go one step further than he did in last year’s competition, where the 18 year old finished third behind American Daniel Im and England’s Gary Boyd – who are both now competing on the European Tour.
Among the home favourites is Joel Girrbach. The young Swiss has showed a lot of promise in his rookie season on Europe’s top developmental tour, most notably in Egypt where he was a joint runner-up.
