We are down to the business end of the season with just five events remaining on the Road to Mallorca. Here are three men to keep an eye on at this week’s Swiss Challenge…
Form horse: Alexander Knappe
Road to Mallorca Number One Alexander Knappe is looking to secure automatic promotion to the DP World Tour with his third European Challenge Tour victory of the season this week. The German has been in scintillating form with four top-ten finishes in his last six starts on the Road to Mallorca, including victory at the B-NL Challenge Trophy by Hulencourt – adding to his triumph at the season opening Dimension Data Pro-Am.
Knappe picked up his first Challenge Tour victory at the 2016 Swiss Challenge and is now hoping to follow in the footsteps of Englishman Peter Baker and become only the second man to win the event twice.
Local boy: Joel Girrbach
Joel Girrbach is another man looking to win the Swiss Challenge for the second time. The 29-year-old triumphed on home soil in 2017 to secure his maiden Challenge Tour title and become the first Swiss winner of the event.
Girrbach has performed consistently on the 2022 Road to Mallorca, missing just two cuts in 13 starts, however he has finished in the top ten just once at the Irish Challenge. The Swiss will be hoping a return to familiar surroundings this week can provide the catalyst for a second Challenge Tour triumph as he looks to climb into the top 45 on the Rankings and secure his place at the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A.
The outsider: David Ravetto
David Ravetto has been in impressive form with three top 15 finishes in his last three starts on the Road to Mallorca and narrowly missed out on a maiden Challenge Tour title at last week’s Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos, after losing out to countryman Pierre Pineau in a dramatic play-off. The Frenchman’s tie for second, alongside compatriot Félix Mory, catapulted him inside the top 45 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and he is now looking to build on his best Challenge Tour finish.
