Two of the European Challenge Tour’s Danish stars took to the skies of Copenhagen to officially launch the Made in Denmark Challenge, as Andreas Hartø and JB Hansen scaled the roof bridge of the AC Hotel Bella Sky to hit balls towards the range of this week’s host venue, Royal Copenhagen Golf.
Despite driving wind and rain, Hartø and Hansen, climbed to the top of the tournament’s official hotel and scaled the bridge which links the hotel’s two towers, some 100 yards above ground, to smash drivers towards Royal Copenhagen Golf.
With on-coming traffic on both sides of the driving range, Hartø and Hansen had to be fairly accurate from the roof, but both men managed to keep the ball on the grass, with Hansen recording the longest drive of the day. The 24 year old’s monstrous 360 yard effort, out gunned Hartø’s best by ten yards.
“It’s always nice to hit the longest drive but it was a little bit extra special to win that one,” smiled Hansen. “It was cool experience to go up there and I have to say that once you were on that roof it felt a lot more than 80 metres!”
Hartø said: “It was a very cool thing to do and we enjoyed it despite the conditions. It’s a big week for me and all the Danish players and for me personally, to be up on that roof overlooking my home town was just so cool. When I started playing golf 13 years ago I would never have imagined doing something like that, so it was great fun – even though JB out drove me!
“It’s a really cool and fun week for me. I get to stay at home, I have my friends and family coming to watch and my girlfriend will be caddying for me so it’s a little different from the usual preparation but hopefully that will be a positive change and I can play well.”
My girlfriend will be caddying for me so it’s a little different from the usual preparation but hopefully that will be a positive change and I can play well.
Andreas Hartø
Hartø and Hansen are joined by a plethora of experienced Danish players including former European Tour winner Jeppe Huldahl and former Challenge Tour winner Mark F Haastrup, while the younger crop include Christian Gloet and Mads Søgaard, both members of the Challenge Tour this year.
Rhys Davies, meanwhile, travels to Copenhagen after sealing his first title in five years last week in Turkey, and he is joined by fellow former European Tour winners Michael Jonzon of Sweden and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber.
