Christiaan Bezuidenhout claimed three European Tour victories in 2020 – but his season begain with victory in the Dimension Data Pro-am on the Challenge Tour in February.
Picture by SUNSHINE TOUR

THE European Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour have confirmed the postponement of next month’s three co-sanctioned tournaments in South Africa, which will now be played later in the season.

Following thorough consultation with the medical teams from both Tours, it has been agreed to reschedule the three co-sanctioned events, that were due to take place in February, until later in the year.

The Challenge Tour’s South African Swing will now begin in the week of April 22-25.

An announcement will be made shortly regarding the tournament and its venue.

It will be followed by the Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club, from April 29-May 2, and then the Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt Golf Estate, from May 6-9.

The spread of the more virulent strain of the COVID-19 virus in South Africa has forced the two tours’ hand – with a sizeable contingent of the field coming from the UK, which also has experienced a new strain of the coronavirus, which has killed nearly two million victims across the world.

Challenge Tour head Jamie Hodges said: “The decision to postpone these events follows consultation with all stakeholders – and was made with the health and well-being of all players and staff as our absolute priority.

“I want to express our thanks to the Sunshine Tour, and each of the tournament venues, sponsors and stakeholders for their flexibility and understanding of this situation.

“We greatly appreciate our partnership with our friends at the Sunshine Tour and look forward to co-sanctioning the three events later this year.”

Sunshine Tour commissioner Thomas Abt said: “In light of the current worldwide increase in COVID-19 cases – and after consultation with our own health experts and GolfRSA and its Risk Mitigation Strategy – we believe it is the most responsible course of action to postpone these tournaments.

“The safety of our members as well as our staff is our primary concern. I’d like to thank the Challenge Tour as well as our own Sunshine Tour Board of Directors and sponsors for their guidance, patience and understanding amidst what remains a very fluid situation for world golf.”

J C Ritchie won the first leg of the European Challenge Tour’s South African Swing last year with victory in the Limpopo Championship. Picture by SUNSHINE TOUR

Last year’s South Africa Swing on the Challenge Tour began with the Limpopo Championship, which was won by J C Ritchie.

Sunshine Tour regular Ritchie finished two shots of teenage prodigy Wilco Nienaber, who would make such a big impression on the European Tour later in the summer.

Sweden’s Anton Karlsson recorded his maiden win in Cape Town, with Hampshire’s former Amateur Champion Harry Ellis producing his best result of what would become a curtailed season, with a fourth place, just behind Sussex’s Toby Tree.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout announced his intentions for the year with victory in the Dimnesion Data Pro-am at Fancourt in the final leg of the Challenge Tour’s 2020 South African Swing.

The South African went on to win the Andalucia Masters, at Valderrama in June, before turning to his homeland to end 2020 with back-to-back victories in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek, and then the South African Open, at Sun City.

Swede Anton Karlsson claimed his maiden Challenge Tour win in the 2020 Cape Town Open. Picture by SUNSHINE TOUR

The post South African Swing pushed back to spring by Challenge and Sunshine Tours appeared first on Golf North.

Dutchman Daan Huizing won the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle in 2013 – the European Challenge Tour event returns to County Antrim in September

THE Northern Ireland Open will return to Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort in September – helping to kickstart tourism in Country Antrim.

The Challenge Tour event will take place from September 3-6 – with support from The R&A – and offer a €200,000 prize fund.

It will be the first of two back-to-back events on the island of Ireland forming a key part of the European Challenge Tour’s 2020 Road to Mallorca schedule.

The Irish Challenge follows on September 10-13 at a venue still to be confirmed by the European Challenge Tour.

The announcement follows the overall Challenge Tour strategy for the reshaped 2020 season of playing events in regional clusters where possible.

The tournament will be backed by The R&A COVID-19 Support Fund – a £7million package to help golf deal with the impact of the global pandemic.

The R&A’s Fund is providing an additional £300,000 in support of the Challenge Tour in 2020 on top of its existing annual grant.

The Northern Ireland Open will be subject to stringent safety and medical protocols set out in the Challenge Tour’s comprehensive Health Strategy.

It will proceed subject to Government and health guidelines at the time of the event.

The Galgorm Golf & Spa Resort is one of Northern Ireland’s top destinations

Season reshaped by pandemic

CHALLENGE Tour head Jamie Hodges said: “We are delighted to be able to add the Northern Ireland Open to the 2020 schedule as we continue to reshape the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The R&A is dedicated to supporting golf and its additional support this year has been crucial in helping us to stage this event.

“Our thanks also go to Galgorm Castle, a venue that our members know well, and always enjoy playing, and to Tourism Northern Ireland and Mid & East Antrim Borough Council for their valued support.

“While there will be no formal graduation to the European Tour this year, adding events like this to the Road to Mallorca will provide playing opportunities and experience for the stars of the future.

“It is hugely important for our members in the current circumstances.”

Kevin Barker, The R&A’s director of Golf Development, said: “We are pleased to be able to support the Challenge Tour in running this event, and to help to provide the players with another opportunity to compete in what has been such a difficult period for them.

“Through The R&A Support Fund we are trying to provide assistance at all levels of the game from grassroots through elite amateur golf, and on to emerging professionals.

“Following the huge success of The Open at Royal Portrush last year, we are also excited to see this important championship being played at Galgorm Castle, another of Northern Ireland’s outstanding venues.”

The seventh hole on Galgorm’s Championship Course, which will host the Northern Ireland Open again in 2020.

Galgorm Castle Estate a ‘premier destination’

THE parkland Championship Course is nestled in the heart of the 220-acre Galgorm Castle Estate.

It is part of Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort – Northern Ireland’s premier luxury hotel and spa destination.

It is an established venue on the Challenge Tour, having hosted events every season since 2013.

Most recently the ISPS Handa World Invitational Men|Women, which was presented by Modest! Golf Management, was held there in 2019.

Galgorm Castle managing director Gary Henry said: “We are delighted golf is returning to Galgorm Castle and Northern Ireland.

“The Northern Ireland Open is a real positive for the area. We are operating within stringent government guidelines for an event that will help kickstart the tourism economy and generate significant bed nights and spend by bringing players, staff and media to the local area.

“TV coverage of the event will enhance the message that Mid & East Antrim and Northern Ireland is open for business.”

Leanne Rice, Tourism NI’s marketing manager, said: “We are delighted to support the Northern Ireland Open this year.

“Bringing a European Challenge Tour event to Northern Ireland is a fantastic opportunity for our economy and tourism industry as it starts to recover.

“The tournament will deliver significant economic benefits while providing international exposure for Northern Ireland as a premium golf destination.

“Our golf clubs and wider sector have been significantly affected by the pandemic and we are delighted that participants will get to enjoy our fantastic golf product, with the appropriate health and safety guidelines in place.”

Mayor backs bid to kick start tourism sector

MID and East Antrim Mayor councillor Peter Johnston said: “I am delighted to give my support to the Northern Ireland Open in the world-class surroundings of Galgorm.

“An event as prestigious as the Northern Ireland Open is a major asset for the area at any time. But particularly so this year in terms of helping our tourism and hospitality sectors to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The council is leading on a major tourism campaign to support our local sector, called #RediscoverMEA, and the Northern Ireland Open aligns perfectly with that.”

Following the suspension of the season in February, the Challenge Tour re-started with the first of two dual ranking events in Austria last week – the Austrian Open – won by Scotland’s Marc Warren – followed by this week’s Euram Bank Open.

•The Northern Ireland Open is the next scheduled event from September 3-6, with details of further events from September through to the end of the season to be confirmed in due course.

The Challenge Tour draws on relationships with golf federations and PGAs around the world to create an international schedule for golf professionals from across the globe.

It gives players from developing golfing nations the opportunity to test their skills among some of the most talented up-and-coming stars.

The post Galgorm Golf Resort ready to welcome Challenge Tour’s return to Northern Ireland appeared first on Golf North.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout stormed into the first round lead at the Dimension Data Pro Am with a superb 11-under par 61, at Fancourt’s Outeniqua Course. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

CHRISTIAAN Bezuidenhout took full advantage of benign early conditions at Fancourt Golf Estate to post an 11-under par round of 61 on the opening day of the Dimension Data Pro-Am.

The South African, who lost a play-off against Australian Lucas Herbert at last month’s Dubai Desert Classic, recorded a blemish-free round on the Outeniqua Course.

Bezuidenhout will take a two-stroke lead into the second day ahead of Spain’s Santiago Tarrio Ben, who recorded a nine-under par 63 on the Montagu Course.

Meanwhile four-time Major Champion Ernie Els and Portuguese 20-year-old Stephen Ferreira were a shot further back at eight-under.

The World No. 60 made the turn in 31 strokes and required one fewer on the way in to take full advantage of the generous Outeniqua Course, recording the lowest round of his career in the process.

“I got off to a good start today with birdies on the first couple of holes,” said Bezuidenhout, who won the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama, in June.

“It was crucial to get off to a good start because, over the years, the Outeniqua has been the scoreable course so I’m obviously very happy with my 61.

“I was especially happy with my start – I was four-under after five holes, so that also helps,” added 25-year-old Bezuidenhout, whose sole Sunshine Tour win came in the 2016 Sun Fish River Challenge.

“It’s a bit shorter than the other courses and there’s a bit of space to miss here and there.

“All the par fives are reachable, so you want to make birdies on them and there are also four or five short-ish par fours where you’re only going into the green with a wedge, so you need to take advantage of those.

“I know I’m close to breaking into the world’s top 50, but I set myself a goal to finish the year inside the top 50,” said the Johannesburg pro who also won twice on the Big Easy Tour, in 2015.

“If it doesn’t happen this week, then I’m just going to keep going and see if I can achieve my goal by the end of the year.”

The Dimension Data Pro-Am celebrates its 25th anniversary this year – and with the European Challenge Tour co-sanctioning the event with the Sunshine Tour for the first time in 2020 – Bezuidenhout hopes to see it go from strength-to-strength in the future.

“This tournament just seems to get bigger and better every year, with better players,” Bezuidenhout added.

“It’s great to see the partnership with the Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour,so hopefully it can keep growing for the next few years as well.

“This is an unbelievable place, one of my favourite places in South Africa. I normally come here during our summer breaks and it’s just beautiful.

“All three courses are in great condition, the weather is perfect, so I can’t complain.”

The majority of low scores were carded on the Outeniqua Course on day one, with only six of the top 17 playing the Montagu or The Links first off.

A shot behind Els and Ferreira is a group of seven players on seven-under, including Limpopo Championship winner JC Ritchie and multiple European Tour winners George Coetzee, Haydn Porteous and Germany’s Marcel Siem.

Every player will tee it up on each of three courses at Fancourt Golf Estate this week, with leader Bezuidenhout taking to The Links at 9.20am local time for his second round on Friday.

•For live scoring from the Fancourt Golf Estate, click here.

The post Bezuidenhout’s in different Dimension with superb 61 at ‘easiest’ of Fancourt courses appeared first on Golf North.

JC Ritchie claimed his seventh Sunshine Tour title – and his first co-sanctioned with the European Challenge Tour – after defending his Limpopo Championship crown.
Picture by SUNSHINE TOUR

JC RITCHIE carded a five-under par 67 in his final round to successfully defend his Limpopo Championship title and claim the opening tournament on the 2020 Road to Mallorca season.

The South African held off a determined charge from his compatriot Wilco Nienaber at Euphoria Golf Club to seal his second consecutive victory at the tournament.

Ritchie, who had six Sunshine Tour victories going into the Limpopo Championship started the day two shots behind overnight leader Jacques Kruyswijk.

But the 25-year-old, who represents The Els Club Copperleaf, soon took control with three front nine birdies to reach the turn with a one-shot advantage.

And the Pretoria-based pro picked up two further gains over the closing stretch to finish two shots clear of Nienaber on 19-under.

JC Ritchie was bogey-free throughout the weekend and admitted he needed to play some of the best golf of his career to top the 204-player co-sanctioned field.

“It feels really awesome to win this week,” Ritchie said. “After winning last year, to come back and win it again just feels unbelievable – and I don’t think it has started to sink in yet.

“To have the Challenge Tour players coming to play the event this year definitely made defending the title harder.

“And I found myself getting rather nervous on my back nine, but I was able to keep it together well.

“I feel like I played the best golf I possibly could have played this weekend, and I don’t really feel like I could have played any better out there today.

“To play bogey-free over the weekend is crazy good golf, especially with the conditions over the last few days, which were tough.

“I’m planning to head over to Europe to play some events on the Challenge Tour this year,” revealed Ritchie who picked up a cheque for €35,957.35.

“First though, I think there is quite a party waiting for me at home,” he added.

The Limpopo Championship was co-sanctioned with the European Challenge Tour for the first time this season.

Nienaber came agonisingly close to securing his first professional title but was ultimately forced to settle for second place despite carding a sublime five-under 67 to match Ritchie’s Sunday score.

The 19-year-old finished two shots clear of overnight leader Kruyswijk and fellow South African Hennie du Plessis, with Louis de Jager ensuring the host country rounded out the top five places.

JC Ritchie takes an early lead on the Road to Mallorca Rankings as he looks to secure his European Tour card for the first time this season.

First-round leader Daniel van Tonder finished in ninth place – one shot ahead of Scotland’s Craig Howie, who had three top 10s in top amateur events in South Africa, in 2017, and finished T11th at the South African Amateur Strokeplay that same season.

The Peebles pro – who finished 34th at the European Tour Qualifying School, in November, missing out on a card by two shots – clearly relishes the continent’s conditions.

•To see the final results from Limpopo, click here.

The Challenge Tour now travels to Cape Town for the RAM Cape Town Open, which gets under way from February 6-9.

The post JC Ritchie clinches back to back Limpopo titles after holding off Nienaber charge appeared first on Golf North.

Wiltshire’s Ben Stow is looking for a fast start to the 2020 European Tour Challenge Tour season when he tees it up in the new South Africa swing at the Limpopo Championship. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

WILTSHIRE’S Ben Stow is aiming for a winning start to the European Challenge Tour season at this week’s Limpopo Championship.

A Walker Cup winner five years ago, Stow is looking to put the disappointment of narrowly missing out on his 2020 European Tour card behind him.

The European Challenge Tour travels to South Africa for the first time in the Tour’s history, with the co-sanctioned event (January 30-February 2) providing an early opportunity for the Englishman to throw down the gauntlet to his fellow Challenge Tour members.

Stow, who won the Brabazon Trophy at the English Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship in 2014, finished 17th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings in 2019.

That was two spots outside the graduation places, having battled injury during the second half of the season.

The 28-year-old Rushmore Park member has finished in the top 30 in the Race to Mallorca Rankings for three consecutive years.

And with 20 cards available in 2020, up from 15 last year, is confident this can be the year he secures a maiden full season on the European Tour.

“I played consistency all year really,” said Stow. “I think I only missed two cuts all season and had ten top 10s – but managed to finish 17^th on the rankings at the end of the year.

“I think it’s really good the Challenge Tour has 20 cards this season – and it’s a move that’s been popular with the players.

“The Challenge Tour is a really good test of golf and you have to maintain that form over the course of the season, so it seems like a good move.”

With the last three winners of the opening event on the Road to Mallorca going on to secure their European Tour playing rights at the conclusion of the campaign, Stow recognises the importance of a fast start.

The youngest-ever Wiltshire Amateur Champion at 16 in 2008, said: “There is almost a million euros to play for over the next three weeks.

“So it is important to play well over these opening tournaments in South Africa and start to build some momentum.

“That’s something I’ve been able to do well over my career. Spending some time in the off-season with my coach and then trying to come out and hit the ground running.

“I’m very excited and I believe I can do very good things,” said Stow, the South Western Counties 2011 Amateur Champion, who pipped fellow Challenge Tour player Rhys Enoch, at Saunton, that summer.

Stow will get his opening round under way at 11.10 am local time at Euphoria, with play beginning at 6.30am at Koro Creek and Euphoria.

•Follow live scoring here.

Limpopo first leg of South African swing

THE Limpopo Championship is the first of three events in South Africa on the Challenge Tour schedule.

The RAM Cape Town Open takes place from February 6-9, and the Dimension Data Pro-Am is being staged from February 13-16 forming the first three events of the season.

This week’s action will feature 204 players from the Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

They are bidding for a lion’s share of the $250,000 prize fund, with the field playing one round at both Euphoria and Koro Creek before the top 60 and ties make it through to the weekend at Euphoria.\

•Hampshire’s Harry Ellis, the 2017 Amtaeur Champion, who had limited starts on the Challenge Tour in 2019, is in the field this week and tees off on the Euphoria Course at 6.30am – which is two hours ahead of GMT.

The post Challenge Tour – Limpopo Championship: Stow greets five extra cards up for grabs appeared first on Golf North.

Bai Zheng-kai became the first Chinese player to win on the European Challenge Tour by four shots at the Foshan Open thanks to an excellent final round of 65.
Picture by RICHARD CASTKA / SPORTPIXGOLF.COM

HISTORY was made at the Foshan Open as Bai Zheng-kai became the first Chinese player to win on the European Challenge Tour shooting six-under on the back nine to secure victory at Foshan Golf Club.

Bai signed for a seven-under par 65 to post 23-under for the tournament – four strokes clear of Dou Zecheng, who finished second on 19 under.

Scotland’s Calum Hill – who needed victory to earn automatic promotion to the European Tour – finished with five successive birdies to get to 18-under and return to the top of the Road to Mallorca rankings thanks to his third-place finish.

However, the day belonged to 22-year-old Bai, who showed maturity beyond his years as he put the Foshan course to the sword over the final nine holes, and made Challenge Tour history in the process.

“It feels amazing,” Bai said. “Becoming the first Chinese player to win the Foshan Open is unbelievable. I’ve had a great week and I’m very happy.

“All the Europeans are good players and it just feels amazing to win this tournament. I’m honoured to become the first Chinese player to win on the Challenge Tour.”

Bai, also known as Bobby, set a new course record in the second round when he posted a bogey-free 63. And the PGA Tour China player drew on that experience as he came down the stretch with victory in his sights.

“I looked at the leaderboard around the turn and felt like I needed a few more birdies,” said Zheng-kai.

“My ball-striking was good, my putting kept me going along the last couple of holes and I made a lot of birdies.

“I also played pretty well when I shot 63 on Friday. I made a lot of putts and my ball-striking was really good. Everything fell into place that day.”

One shot behind Hill in a tie for fourth place was Hampshire’s Richard Bland and Germany’s Alexander Knappe on 17-under, while Poland’s Adrian Meronk, Denmark’s Benjamin Poke and Wiltshire’s Ben Stow shared sixth place on 16-under.

Royal Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan, Christofer Blomstrand, and overnight leader Ricardo Santos, who posted a one over-par 73 on Sunday, complete the top 10 in a share for ninth place a further shot back.

Final scores in Foshan Open

As Bai is not a member of the European Challenge Tour, he will not receive the Road to Mallorca Rankings points allocated for the winner of the Foshan Open.

As a result Bai is ineligible to play in the Challenge Tour Grand Final next month. But he does earn a start in the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai this week.

Nervious finish in Race to Mallorca

ONE man who will play at Club de Golf Alcanada next month is Hill, who finished solo third to replace Hainan Open Champion Francesco Laporta at the top of the Road to Mallorca rankings.

Bland’s tie for fourth spot moves him to third place in the rankings and will mean there is one Challenge Tour Grand Final winner in the field at

Knappe, who played on an invite this week, climbed 43 places to 46th position on the Road to Mallorca.

But the German missed out on a spot in the Challenge Tour Grand Final, by just 882 points – the only consolation was Knappe, a two-time Challenge Tour winner, did secure full playing privileges for next year.

Somerset’s Laurie Canter made it through in 44th spot, one of nine Englishmen, including Bland (3rd), Lancastrians Jack Senior (7th) and Matthew Baldwin (38th), Jordan (10th) Stowe (17th), Kent’s Steve Tiley (30th), Essex’s Dale Whitnell (34th) and Surrey’s Ross McGowan (40th) to make it through to the season’s finale.

Those that missed out were Essex’s Todd Clements (50th) and Staffordshire’s Richard Mansell (64th), who played limited schedules having graduated from the EuroPro Tour via sponsors’ invites.

Kent’s Matt Ford (61st) and 2013 Amateur Champion Garrick Porteous (56th) will now head to the European Tour Qualifying School along with Lincolnshire’s David Coupland, Walton Heath’s former Welsh international David Boote and Scotland’s Bradley Neil, who won the Amateur Championship, at Royal Portrush, in 2014

There is now a week’s break on the Challenge Tour schedule as the top 45 players prepare for the final event of the season in Mallorca, where the leading 15 players will earn full European Tour cards for next season.

Scotland’s Conor Syme currently in 12th place will need a good week to lock up his European Tour card while his Walker Cup team-mate Jordan – a winner of the Italian Challenge Open – will also be looking nervously over his shoulder.

Meanwhile the other four Englishmen in the field know a victory in Mallorca will guarantee them the ultimate prize of a place on the European Tour in 2020.

Last year Portugal’s Pedro Figueiredo claimed the 15th card with 94,339 points. Wales Oliver Farr currently occupies that spot with 77,027 points so will most likely need a top 20 finish to guarantee his third promotion from the Challenge Tour since 2014.

•See the current Road to Mallorca standings by clicking here.

The post Chinese hero Bai Zheng-kai waves Good Bai to Challenge Tour season with Foshan win appeared first on Golf North.

Wiltshire’s Ben Stow believes a six-week break In July after an injury, has left him feeling fresher for the China leg of the European Challenge Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

WILTSHIRE’S Ben Stow celebrated his birthday in style by setting a new course record of 64 at Foshan Golf Club to lead the Foshan Open by one stroke after the opening day.

The 28-year-old sits one shot ahead of Germany’s Alexander Knappe, who would have joined Stow as holder of the course record of eight-under par, if not for a closing bogey to leave him on seven-under.

Another six players share third place on six-under, including 2017 Champion Oliver Farr.

Stow, playing in the first group of the day off the 10th tee, bounced back from a double bogey on the 17th hole – his eighth – with a birdie to make the turn in two-under.

The 2013 Brabazon Trophy winner then notched five consecutive gains from the second to the sixth, which catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard.

And a closing birdie saw him beat the existing course record of 65, set by Wales’ Rhys Davies and Aussie Scott Arnold.

Stow, alongside playing partners Wil Besseling and Simon Hawkes, raced around Foshan Golf Club, with their front nine taking just one hour and 50 minutes and Stow spoke of how much he enjoyed the pace of play.

“It was great to play so quickly,” Stow said. “We played the front nine in one hour and 50 minutes, which in tournament golf is unheard-of,” revealed Stow, who is currently 26th on the Road to Mallorca.

“It was great. We were out first and with Wil and Simon – none of us are slow – we didn’t really rush. We just played when we were ready. It was really enjoyable actually.

“I played great and putted well so I’m really chuffed. I’ve been working really hard recently so it’s nice to get some results,” said Stow, who was a member at Rushmore GC, on the Hampshire-Wiltshire border, as a junior.

The 2011 Faldo Series UK winner would love a top 15 finish to the season to earn promotion to the European Tour and join former Wiltshire team-mate Jordan Smith.

Stow added: “I played really solid and I just hit one bad tee shot down 17. Where I left my approach shot left me with a very, very fast putt and I just missed it coming back.

“I knew I was playing well and on 18 the wind was down when we played it. So I managed to get it quite a long way up 18 and then I easily made the green in two – then it was a good two-putt.”

The 2018 Prague Golf Challenge winner missed a period of time earlier this year through injury, having also suffered a serious knee injury before his breakthrough win a year ago.

But despite the frustration of being side-lined at the time, Stow admits he is now reaping the benefits of the enforced mid-season break.

“Traditionally I haven’t played very well in China, but I had six weeks off this year with an injury in July, and right now, I think it’s a bit of a saving grace because I feel fresh and quite chilled out,” said Stow, who spent four years playing for Kentucky University’s Wildcats.

“In previous years I’ve always played quite a lot and then got here and felt quite tired. So maybe the moral of the story is take a month off in July.”

Joining Farr in a tie for third place on six-under is Australia’s Cory Crawford, Royal Liverpool’s Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil Champion Matthew Jordan, Finland’s Roope Kakko, Kent’s Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge winner Steven Tiley and Italy’s Aron Zemmer.

Rounding off the top 10 in a tie for ninth place on five-under is Portugal’s Ricardo Santos and China’s Liu Yanwei, who is currently the leading Chinese player.

•The second round of the Foshan Open begins at 6.55am local time on Friday, with leader Stow due off at 11.10am.

To follow live scoring click here.

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Matthew Jordan is seeking his second win on the European Challenge Tour in the Hainan Open, and is ina seven-way tie for first at the halfway point. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SEVEN players share the 36-hole lead on seven-under at the Hainan Open, following a day of relatively low scoring at China’s Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club.

Holland’s Wil Besseling, Frenchman Robin Roussel and China’s Liu Yanwei set the target after teeing off early on day two, while Hampshire’s Richard Bland and Royal Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan – plus China’s Xiao Bowen and South Korean Jaewoong Eom – joined them on seven-under as darkness began to descend over Sanya.

Of the leaders, Liu posted the lowest round as a six-under 66 earned him a share of the lead, while Besseling and Bland posted rounds of 67.

Bland, whose only victory in more than 570 European and Challenge Tour appearances came in the Grand Final back in 2001, is looking to regain the card he lost last year.

The Stoneham GC member, who is currently third on the Road to Mallorca rankings, said: “It was another hot day. I played the back nine, which was our front nine, well and I think I turned in 32.

“I felt like I actually left a couple out there. I played a little scrappy on the back. My short game kept me going, which was nice because you need that,” said Bland, who lost a play-off in the 2002 Irish Open.

“The ninth is just playing like an absolute brute, especially with that back right flag – you’re not getting anywhere near that,” added Bland,

“It was disappointing to make five but I’m not going to lose any sleep over it – not that I’m sleeping at the minute anyway!

“I’ve been coming to China for quite a number of years and flying East for a number of years and I still haven’t worked out how you sleep for those first four or five nights.

“I feel like I sleep great and then I look at the clock and I’ve been asleep for an hour-and-a-half.

“I haven’t been tired on the course or anything like that. I’ve been staying very hydrated. It would be nice to sleep a bit better, but hopefully that will come.

Xiao, Eom and Roussel signed for rounds of 68, while Wirral-based Jordan added a 70 to his opening 67.

Jordan, who would like to join Walker Cup team-mates Scott Gregory and Robert MacIntyre on the main tour, said: “I’ve played well. I started off the first round a bit iffy.

“I saved it a little bit in the first seven holes but from then on, from about the eighth hole yesterday, I played solid. I’ve shown positives on both days, so I’m happy.

“I didn’t think it was that different to yesterday,” added the winer of the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil, in June.

“I did battle well actually, yesterday I just got up and down a couple more times,” said 23-year-old Jordan. “Over the two days I’ve been very solid and it doesn’t take much to pick up a shot or drop a shot.

“It’s a great event. It’s great to come to China, I’ve never been here before.

“It’s good to experience different things like the cuisine and course. The course is obviously very good. I haven’t heard one person say anything bad about it. The wind keeps it honest.”

Chinese ace Liu Yanwei said: “I had an early tee time this morning and the wind was low and then became stronger, but it was still better than yesterday.

“I didn’t play badly yesterday with seven birdies, but I got six bogeys and made some mistakes to end with a score of one-under.

“I controlled it a lot better today, with the same number of birdies, but I only bogeyed the 14th hole.”

Twenty-two year old Liu added: “I had an early tee time this morning and the wind was low and then became stronger, but it was still better than yesterday.

“I didn’t play badly yesterday with seven birdies, but I got six bogeys and made some mistakes to end with a score of one-under.

I controlled it a lot better today, with the same number of birdies, but I only bogeyed the 14th hole.

“Over the past two days, the ninth hole has caused trouble for most of us. It is 480 yards long and we had to play against the wind.

The wind direction has been basically the same since Tuesday, but it was a bit different on the seventh and eighth holes today.”

One shot further back is Frenchman Damien Perrier, Chinese duo Bai Zheng-kai and He Shaocai – who posted the low round of the day with a 65 – and Yeh Yu-Chen, from Chinese Taipei, who all share eighth place on six-under.

In total, 63 players survived the halfway cut of one-over par or lower, including the two Chinese amateurs Chen Guxin and Liu Enhua.

•To follow lives scores in the third round of the Hainan Open click here.

The post Nothing Bland about course or food in China as Jordan hits front with six others appeared first on Golf North.

Antoine Rozner fired a seven-under 65 to lead after the first round of China’s Hainan Open on the European Challenge Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

A BOGEY on the final hole denied Antoine Rozner a blemish-free opening round at the European Challenge Tour’s Hainan Open, in China.

But the Frenchman will nevertheless take a commanding two-stroke lead into day two after carding a seven-under par round of 65.

Rozner, who has won twice on the Road to Mallorca this season, made five birdies prior to the turn after starting his quest for a third victory of 2019 on the 10th tee at Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club.

Three more gains and that single bogey arrived on the back nine as the rest of the field were able to match one of the tournament’s early starters.

Royal Liverpool’s Matthew Jordan posted a bogey-free 67 to sit in second place, while Frenchman Damien Perrier, Denmark’s Benjamin Poke and late-finisher Josh Geary, from New Zealand were a stroke further back on four-under after opening rounds of 68.

Rozner – winner of the Open de España and Prague Golf Challenge and looking for a third win that would guarantee automatic promotion to the Europrean Tour – acknowledged the quality of his play in China.

But he also admitted to getting a bit of luck along the way. “It was great,” said Rozner, who lies second in the Road to Mallorca rankings, needing a place in the top 15 to earn his full European Tour card for 2020.

“It was just one of those days where I hit a lot of good shots, a lot of good putts and made very few mistakes.

“When I did have a mistake, I got a good bounce and saved par. I got some good reads and it was one of those days where everything just went right.

“I played great and I think if I can keep playing like this for the next three days, I should be in pretty good shape ” added Rozner.

The 26-year-old’s undoubted highlight was a tricky downhill birdie putt from 25 feet on the fourth hole, which he was delighted to convert for a superb up-and-down from the bunker.

“I hit a good drive into the reachable par four and I was in the bunker with an uphill lie,” said Rozner. “It was quite a long bunker shot, so it wasn’t easy and I left it short.

“The putt was really, really fast and I was just looking to put it around the hole, to be honest. It ended up going in, so it was definitely the highlight of the day.”

With temperatures peaking at 33 degrees Celsius in Hainan, Rozner is keeping a keen focus on maintaining his energy levels ahead of the second round.

“I’m not going to waste much energy on the range,” he said. “It’s quite exhausting out there because the wind is swirling and it’s very hot.

“Saving energy is going to be key this week so I’ve got to be careful by staying hydrated and getting some good night’s sleep.”

Kiwi Geary came closest to matching Rozner’s total but two bogeys in his final three holes dropped him back into a tie for third.

That left him one shot clear of eight players on three-under including Zhang Jin and Xiao Bowen, who are currently the leading Chinese players.

The second round will begin at 7.10am local time, with Rozner due on the tee at 12.10pm.

•For live scoring in the Hainan Open click here.

The post Red-hot Rozner in front as Frenchman seeks automatic promotion at Hainan Open appeared first on Golf North.

Canadian Aaron Cockerill shares the lead at the Stone Irish Challenge after a five-under par 67, after a run of good results on in Morocco. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

AARON Cockerill’s red-hot form has travelled from Morocco to Ireland and he will take a share of the lead into day two at the Stone Irish Challenge.

The Canadian, who has jumped from 97^th to 50^th on the Road to Mallorca rankings over the past three tournaments, carded a five-under par 67 to sit atop the leaderboard.

He shared the lead alongside Somerset’s Laurie Canter, Spaniard Emilio Cuartero Blanco and Dutchman Daan Huizing.

The round was the first trip Cockerill made around the difficult Headfort New course, after he spent the early part of the week working to make travel arrangements for the upcoming Hainan Open following his last three results of tied 17^th, tied fifth and tied seventh, which earned him a place in the limited field.

“This course is pretty demanding off the tee, and I hadn’t played a practice round because I’ve been trying to figure out my visa, but maybe that was a good thing because there were fewer things to think about,” said Cockerill.

It can often be a fine line between success and failure in professional golf, and the 27-year-old believes the key to his current form comes from being on the good side of those narrow margins.

“I’ve made a lot of cuts, but I just hadn’t had a lot of high finishes,” Cockerill added. “It’s not that big of a difference between finishing 40^th and finishing 15^th.

“It’s a couple things here or there, maybe one less bad drive or making the odd putt, just very minor stuff.

“I’ve kind of been around the lead for the last month it feels like so I’m getting a bit more comfortable and my game is feeling good.”

Asked if he puts much stock into his position on the leaderboard after one round, the Winnipeg native said he has learned his lesson over the years.

“I used to, and that’s when I would shoot 75 in round two or three and be out of it, but not anymore.

‘Now I just take it shot by shot, as simple as that sounds, that’s what has been working for me, just worry about the next one.”

With only the top 45 players qualifying for the season-ending Challenge Tour Grand Final, Cockerill has sprung to life at the perfect time.

But he will have to hold off his peers who he shares the lead with and a host of players within striking distance.

Dublin resident Cormac Sharvin, who occupies the eighth position on the Road to Mallorca, sits only two shots back of the leaders after carding a three-under par 69.

And he is joined by former European Tour winner Michael Hoey, from Northern Ireland, who also carded an opening round 69 of his own to take a share of tenth place.

The opening round of the Stone Irish Challenge was suspended due to darkness, however with only one group left to finish, the final group will complete play on Friday morning at 8.45am.

Tee times for round two will remain unaffected. Follow live scoring here.

The post Why Canadian Cockerill won’t be crowing despite leading Stone Irish Challenge appeared first on Golf North.