This week we’re back in Finland for the GANT Open at Turku’s Aura GC, a stunning new venue for this event, though one which throws any previous form out of the window.
Last week’s picks did us proud in the Northern Ireland Open in Association with Sphere Global and Ulster Bank, with Daan Huizing, Jamie McLeary and Haydn Porteous all finishing in the top five.
Here’s who we think might enjoy Finnish conditions this week:
Rhys Davies
Davies is the highest ranked played in the field this week, currently sitting in third place in the Road to Oman Rankings.
The Welshman has already won twice on the Challenge Tour this season, claiming victory at the Turkish Airlines Challenge and the Fred Olsen Challenge de España, and one more win would see him automatically graduate to The European Tour.
The 30 year old missed the cut in Northern Ireland but was tied for 16thin the Madeira Open – Portugal – BPI and, with one of the most dependable putting strokes in the game, he always looks likely to contend.
Jens Fahrbring
Another winner already this season, with victory in the D+D REAL Czech Challenge, Fahrbring will be eager to excel in Finland this week.
The Swede tied for sixth in The Barclays Kenya Open at the start of the season and recently tied for 12thplace in Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge to lie 12thin the Road to Oman Rankings – from which the top 15 graduate to The European Tour.
The 31 year old has good previous form in this event, albeit at a different course, finishing third in 2013, and he will be hoping for similar success here at Aura GC.
Clément Sordet
Could the Challenge Tour have discovered a new golfing superstar? Sordet only turned professional last month and already has a win to his name after his sensational victory in the Northern Ireland Open – just his fourth start in the paid ranks.
The French youngster won six times as an amateur playing college golf at Texas Tech University in the United States of America and tied for second in Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in 2013, long before he turned professional.
This week the 22 year old will seek to become the first back-to-back winner on the Challenge Tour since Kristoffer Broberg in 2012 – the first of which was this same event – and, with his form and remarkable composure, it would be no surprise to see him succeed again here.
Niall Turner
Turner also comes to Turku after a fine week in Northern Ireland, where he shared the lead going into the final round.
The Irishman suffered a serious back injury in January that disrupted the majority of his season, but since returning he has immediately rediscovered his form, currently enjoying the best stroke average on the Challenge Tour.
The 32 year old enjoyed being in contention last week and that belief, allied with a strong game from tee to green, could well see him near the top of the leaderboard again this week.
