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Girrbach looking to replicate previous success at the Swiss Challenge
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Girrbach looking to replicate previous success at the Swiss Challenge

Joel Girrbach reflects on special memories at the Swiss Challenge as he prepares to tee it up in the event at the new venue at Golf Saint Apollinaire this week.

Joel Girrbach (2)

Girrbach became the first Swiss winner of the Swiss Challenge in 2017 as he secured his maiden European Challenge Tour title at Golf Sempachersee.

The 28-year-old recounts the memorable moments from his win four years ago and looks forward to the week ahead and new challenge in front of him at Golf Saint Apollinaire in France which is located close to the Swiss and German borders in the vicinity of Basel.

“I have great memories of course,” he said. “It was my first professional win and first win on the Challenge Tour and so far the only win on the Challenge Tour, so it was great memories, and it was great week for me.

“Obviously we are not in my country but we’re really close and I’m staying on the Swiss side this week. The Swiss Challenge is always what I remember as an amateur as the first chance to play with the pros and get this experience so really a lot of memories at this tournament even if it’s a new venue now, so yeah I am always looking forward to it and I enjoy it.”

With four events of the season remaining, Girrbach is hoping to have a strong finish as he searches for his second Challenge Tour title. His best finish thus far on the 2021 Road to Mallorca is a share of tenth, at both the Made in Esbjerg Challenge – Presented by FREJA & Total and the Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge.

“It was a bit of a up and down the last few weeks for me,” Girrbach said. “I played good in Denmark I had a good couple of weeks there and my game feels alright I just need to put everything together for four days.

“This year there has always been a round where I’ve lost it and I hope to have a strong finish in the last four events this time round. Anything is possible, we all know how quick it can go in golf.

“Travelling the whole year and even if you are not playing in a tournament, you still go somewhere to practice, so yeah the past few years it was all about golf and there wasn’t that much spare time to spend at home but it’s nice to be at home and I try to be at home as much as I can.”

Road to Mallorca Number Two Ricardo Gouveia joins Girrbach in the field this week as he looks to cement his European Tour card for the 2022 season after recording two wins this year, while Marcel Schneider of Germany and Englishman Alfie Plant will also tee it up at the Swiss Challenge following their recent victories.

The 2021 Swiss Challenge gets under way at 8:00am local time on Thursday September 30, with Girrbach teeing it up at 8:33am alongside Ricardo Gouveia and Sweden’s Henric Sturehed.

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