The Open des Volcans Challenge de France, one of the European Challenge Tour’s longest running events, celebrates its 14th anniversary this week at the Golf des Volcans in France’s Auvergne region.
The Challenge Tour is now synonymous with producing The European Tour’s next generation of golfing stars, and, over the past 14 years, the Open des Volcans Challenge de France has crowned three champions who have gone on to taste success at the very highest level.
Warren Bennett, the outstanding player at Golf des Volcans back in 1998, progressed to win The European Tour’s Scottish PGA Championship the following year, while Philip Golding followed Bennett onto the winners’ podium at Volcans in 1999 before securing the prestigious Open de France in 2003.
The 2001 Open des Volcans Challenge de France needs no introduction. Scott Drummond’s first win as a professional at the Open des Volcans Challenge de France laid the foundations for what would become the one of the greatest victories ever recorded on The European Tour by a former Challenge Tour player.
No-one will ever forget the manner in which Drummond, in his rookie season on The European Tour, won the 2004 PGA Championship at Wentworth by seeing off a truly world class field that included players of the calibre of Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh.
Drummond’s victory proved beyond doubt that the Challenge Tour offers up and coming professionals the best golfing education in the game, and can prepare those players with the talent to go all the way for life at the very top level of a fiercely competitive sport.
The Challenge Tour itself is a fiercely competitive arena. With the exception of Number One Rafael Gomez, who has recorded two victories so far this year, the 2005 season has boasted a different winner in each of the 16 tournaments played.
This week will be no different in terms of strong competition as the Challenge Tour players convene at Golf des Volcans for another vital week in the race for the top 20 places on the Rankings, which ensure a place on The 2006 European Tour International Schedule.
