The European Challenge Tour season resumes in Central America this week at the Costa Rica Open, where once again the Challenge Tour Members will go head to head with their fellow professionals from the Tour de las Americas (TLA) as they embark on the second three-legged tour of Central and South America of season 2005.
The magnificent Cariari Country Club in San Jose, Costa Rica, will play host to the Costa Rica Open for the second time this week, having staged the tournament in 2003 when Argentina's Sebastian Fernandez took the title.
Alessandro Tadini of Italy won the Costa Rica Open last season, and like Fernandez the year before him, used that victory as the foundation for a successful Challenge Tour campaign that saw him secure his place on The European Tour as one of the top 15 Challenge Tour players from 2004.
The victories of both Fernandez and Tadini in Costa Rica over the past two seasons highlight how important the Challenge Tour's joint sanctioned events with the TLA have become, and with three events already played on the 2005 Schedule, every player in the Costa Rica Open field will be hoping to make a significant climb on the Rankings to stay in touch with current Number One, Rafael Gomez of Argentina.
Gomez is at the top of the tree due to his excellent performances in the opening three events of the 2005 season. He won in outstanding fashion at the 47th Abierto Mexicano de Golf, as well as taking sixth place in the Panasonic Panama Open before his 14th place finish at the TIM Peru Open ensured he went to the top of the Rankings with earnings of €47,847.
Gomez, who also won the 2004 TLA Order of Merit, will be in Costa Rica as he attempts to extend his lead at the top of the Rankings and he will be joined by the other two champions of 2005, Richard McEvoy of England (winner of the Panasonic Panama Open) and Brad Sutterfield of the USA (who took the TIM Peru Open title).
Welshman Mark Pilkington is one Challenge Tour player who is relishing a return to the sunny climes of Costa Rica, to be followed by a return trip to Panama for the Panama Masters and then onto Guatemala for the Abierto Telefonica de Guatemala Open.
Pilkington, who lost out in a play-off at the 2004 Panama Masters, believes the growing expansion of the Challenge Tour into what now must be considered a global Tour can only benefit himself and his fellow Members.
"Cariari is a great course in Costa Rica. We didn't play there last season but I have actually played there before because I have a friend out in Costa Rica and we had a friendly game there a few years ago," said Pilkington.
"It is a very good test, but then I think that all three courses are good enough.
"Obviously I know Summit very well after last year and the Hacienda Neuva in Guatemala is excellent so we are in for three good weeks to get the season going again.”
