Swiss Challenge

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Swiss Challenge
Tournament information
LocationFolgensbourg, France
Established2000
Course(s)Golf Saint Apollinaire
Par72
Length7,434 yards (6,798 m)
Tour(s)Challenge Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund250,000
Month playedSeptember
Tournament record score
Aggregate262 Marcel Schneider (2018)
To par−25 Rafa Cabrera-Bello (2008)
−25 Marcus Helligkilde (2021)
Current champion
Sweden Adam Blommé
Location Map
Golf Saint Apollinaire is located in France
Golf Saint Apollinaire
Golf Saint Apollinaire
Location in France
Golf Saint Apollinaire is located in Grand Est
Golf Saint Apollinaire
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.

History[edit]

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.

In 2021, the event was uniquely held in France. It was 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[edit]

Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Venue
Swiss Challenge
2023 Sweden Adam Blommé 271 −17 Playoff Sweden Jesper Svensson Saint Apollinaire
2022 New Zealand Daniel Hillier 274 −14 2 strokes France Jeong-Weon Ko Saint Apollinaire
2021 Denmark Marcus Helligkilde 263 −25 1 stroke Denmark Nicolai Kristensen
England Jonathan Thomson
Saint Apollinaire
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Portugal Ricardo Santos 269 −15 1 stroke England Richard Bland
Germany Moritz Lampert
Sempachersee
2018 Germany Marcel Schneider 262 −22 6 strokes Norway Kristian Krogh Johannessen Sempachersee
2017 Switzerland Joel Girrbach 267 −17 2 strokes Scotland Craig Lee Sempachersee
2016 Germany Alexander Knappe 272 −12 1 stroke England Paul Howard
Norway Espen Kofstad
Sempachersee
2015 United States Daniel Im 273 −11 Playoff England Gary Boyd Sempachersee
2014 Belgium Pierre Relecom 269 −15 1 stroke Italy Niccolo Quintarelli Sempachersee
2013 France Victor Riu 265 −19 3 strokes England Adam Gee
United States Brinson Paolini
Sempachersee
Credit Suisse Challenge
2012 France Gary Stal 273 −11 Playoff France Alexandre Kaleka Sempachersee
2011 France Benjamin Hébert 272 −12 4 strokes England Jamie Moul Sempachersee
2010 Italy Alessandro Tadini 266 −22 1 stroke Wales Stuart Manley
Norway Marius Thorp
Sempachersee
2009 England Peter Baker (2) 274 −18 1 stroke Austria Florian Praegant Wylihof
2008 Spain Rafa Cabrera-Bello 267 −25 2 strokes England Gary Lockerbie Wylihof
2007 England Peter Baker 272 −20 1 stroke Scotland Andrew McArthur Wylihof
2006 Spain Francisco Cea 276 −16 Playoff England Tim Milford Wylihof
Credit Suisse Private Banking Open
2003–2005: No tournament
2002 Tournament abandoned due to severe weather[4]
2001 Scotland Greig Hutcheon 266 −18 1 stroke Spain Jesús María Arruti
Germany Kariem Baraka
Patriziale
2000 Spain Álvaro Salto 268 −16 1 stroke Italy Michele Reale Patriziale

References[edit]

  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

External links[edit]