Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri will host the Challenge de España from May 19 – 22 for the third consecutive year.
The Cadiz venue first hosted the event in 2020 when Ondrej Lieser made history by becoming the first Challenge Tour winner from the Czech Republic, followed by home favourite Santiago Tarrío who triumphed in 2021, on his way to graduating to the DP World Tour.
It will be the 22nd edition of the Challenge de España, one of the oldest tournaments on the Road to Mallorca International Schedule, with this year’s event featuring an increase in prize money to €250,000.
Mayor and Deputy of Tourism and First Vice President of the Diputación de Cádiz, José Mª Román, said: “It is satisfying to welcome once again the Challenge Tour because the international media coverage received by these tournaments helps us as a tourist destination. Cadiz is synonymous with culture, leisure, enjoyment, employment, gastronomy, good weather and sport, and golf is a priority.”
Jamie Hodges, Head of Challenge Tour, said: "The Challenge de España has witnessed some memorable moments over the years, including record-breaking rounds of 59 and many firsts in the Challenge Tour’s history, including Ondrej Lieser’s incredible victory two years ago.
“A tournament of this level must be played on a great course, and the return to the Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri ensures that, once again, our members will enjoy a true test of golf.”
Jaime Salaverri, President of the Professionals Committee of the RFEG, said: "The Challenge de España has established itself not only as one of the oldest but also one of the most important tournaments on the Challenge Tour, which all the players are looking forward to.
“Practically all the winners of the Challenge de España made the jump to the DP World Tour where they have achieved victories, so it is an added challenge to the satisfaction of winning the title. It will also be an opportunity for the new promises of Spanish golf that will be able to measure themselves with the best players of the Challenge Tour.”
Rafael Hernández Alcalá, Director of the Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri: "Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri, Mar y Pinos course, will again be the venue for the Challenge de España, undoubtedly one of the best designs of Seve Ballesteros in Europe.
“It is an honour to have hosted these editions and we have been fortunate to witness victories of Spanish players like Santiago Tarrío or Pep Anglés, getting both DP World Tour cards, or an incredible course record of 65 that was achieved by the Belgian Kristof Ulenaers last year. The experience of these years and the responsibility of this event will help us to ensure that, once again this year, the courses are at the level of demand that a Challenge Tour event deserves".
Javier Gervás, General Manager of JGolf, said: "One more year, 156 professionals will travel from more than 30 countries around the world to Chiclana to play the Challenge de Espana. The players always seem to enjoy it, which ensures the level of competition will be experienced, one more year, in Cadiz. The images of the tournament will reach more than 166 million homes which ensures that the Challenge de Espana will not only be a great sporting event but a platform for the promotion of Cadiz as a tourist destination worldwide.”
The Challenge de Espana will be played from May 19 - 22 at Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri, thanks to the joint collaboration of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation and Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, the Diputación de Cádiz, the Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Cádiz, the City Council of Chiclana, the Challenge Tour, Real Federacion Andaluza de Golf and JGolf, as well as the Consejo Superior de Deportes, Allianz, AON, EDP Solar, BCD Sports, Kyocera (official printing services), Iberostar (Official Hotel), Mahou San Miguel and Solán de Cabras. Challenge de España supports the celebration of the Solheim Cup 2023.
