Swiss Challenge

Last updated

Swiss Challenge
Tournament information
Location Folgensbourg, France
Established2000
Course(s)Golf Saint Apollinaire
Par72
Length7,434 yards (6,798 m)
Tour(s) Challenge Tour
Format Stroke play
Prize fund 270,000
Month playedSeptember
Tournament record score
Aggregate262 Marcel Schneider (2018)
To par−25 Rafa Cabrera-Bello (2008)
−25 Marcus Helligkilde (2021)
Current champion
Flag of Scotland.svg Euan Walker
Location map
France relief location map.jpg
Icona golf.svg
Golf Saint Apollinaire
Location in France
Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine region relief location map.jpg
Icona golf.svg
Golf Saint Apollinaire
Location in Grand Est

The Swiss Challenge is a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour, which was held in Switzerland until 2021. Since then it has since been held in France.

Contents

History

It was first played as the Credit Suisse Private Banking Open in 2000 and 2001 at the Golf Club Patriziale Ascona in Ascona. It replaced the Interlaken Open which ended after financial issues. [1] During the course of the 2002 edition, the heavy rain led to the overflow of the Lake Maggiore and to the cancellation of the event. [2]

Following a four-year hiatus, the tournament returned in 2006 and was held at the Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach through 2009. Since 2010 the event has been played at Golf Sempachersee in Hildisrieden.

Since 2021, the event has uniquely been held in France and been played at Golf Saint Apollinaire in Folgensbourg, close to the Swiss border. In round 2 of the 2021 event, Alejandro del Rey shot the first ever round of 58 on any tour in Europe. It was also the lowest round to-par (−14) on any major tour in world golf. [3]

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upVenue
Swiss Challenge
2024 Flag of Scotland.svg Euan Walker 135 [lower-alpha 1] −93 strokes Flag of England.svg Bradley Bawden
Flag of Norway.svg Kristoffer Reitan
Saint Apollinaire
2023 Flag of Sweden.svg Adam Blommé 271−17Playoff Flag of Sweden.svg Jesper Svensson Saint Apollinaire
2022 Flag of New Zealand.svg Daniel Hillier 274−142 strokes Flag of France.svg Jeong-Weon Ko Saint Apollinaire
2021 Flag of Denmark.svg Marcus Helligkilde 263−251 stroke Flag of Denmark.svg Nicolai Kristensen
Flag of England.svg Jonathan Thomson
Saint Apollinaire
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Flag of Portugal.svg Ricardo Santos 269−151 stroke Flag of England.svg Richard Bland
Flag of Germany.svg Moritz Lampert
Sempachersee
2018 Flag of Germany.svg Marcel Schneider 262−226 strokes Flag of Norway.svg Kristian Krogh Johannessen Sempachersee
2017 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Joel Girrbach 267−172 strokes Flag of Scotland.svg Craig Lee Sempachersee
2016 Flag of Germany.svg Alexander Knappe 272−121 stroke Flag of England.svg Paul Howard
Flag of Norway.svg Espen Kofstad
Sempachersee
2015 Flag of the United States.svg Daniel Im 273−11Playoff Flag of England.svg Gary Boyd Sempachersee
2014 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Pierre Relecom 269−151 stroke Flag of Italy.svg Niccolo Quintarelli Sempachersee
2013 Flag of France.svg Victor Riu 265−193 strokes Flag of England.svg Adam Gee
Flag of the United States.svg Brinson Paolini
Sempachersee
Credit Suisse Challenge
2012 Flag of France.svg Gary Stal 273−11Playoff Flag of France.svg Alexandre Kaleka Sempachersee
2011 Flag of France.svg Benjamin Hébert 272−124 strokes Flag of England.svg Jamie Moul Sempachersee
2010 Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Tadini 266−221 stroke Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Stuart Manley
Flag of Norway.svg Marius Thorp
Sempachersee
2009 Flag of England.svg Peter Baker (2)274−181 stroke Flag of Austria.svg Florian Praegant Wylihof
2008 Flag of Spain.svg Rafa Cabrera-Bello 267−252 strokes Flag of England.svg Gary Lockerbie Wylihof
2007 Flag of England.svg Peter Baker 272−201 stroke Flag of Scotland.svg Andrew McArthur Wylihof
2006 Flag of Spain.svg Francisco Cea 276−16Playoff Flag of England.svg Tim Milford Wylihof
Credit Suisse Private Banking Open
2003–2005: No tournament
2002 Tournament abandoned due to severe weather [4]
2001 Flag of Scotland.svg Greig Hutcheon 266−181 stroke Flag of Spain.svg Jesús María Arruti
Flag of Germany.svg Kariem Baraka
Patriziale
2000 Flag of Spain.svg Álvaro Salto 268−161 stroke Flag of Italy.svg Michele Reale Patriziale

Notes

  1. Shortened to 36 holes due to weather.

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References

  1. "Golfing young guns tee off in Ticino". Swissinfo.ch. 3 May 2000.
  2. Kissane, Sinéad (14 June 2007). "Swiss event cancelled". Rte.ie.
  3. "Del Rey in the record books after posting an incredible 58 on the Challenge Tour". Irish Times. 1 October 2021.
  4. Credit Suisse Private Banking Open abandoned