The sixth edition of the Kazakhstan Open, the richest event on the 2010 Challenge Tour Schedule, will unfold from September 9-12 when the event returns to Zhailjau Golf Resort in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
After four years at Nurtau Golf Club the €400,000 event moved to the Arnold Palmer-designed layout in 2009, when in-form Italian Edoardo Molinari captured the second of his three titles in a record-breaking season which culminated in him lifting the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in partnership with younger brother Francesco.
Having dropped just three shots over the first two rain-affected days, Molinari closed with flawless rounds of 66 and 68 at the weekend to finish on 20 under par and collect the €64,000 winner’s cheque – which at the time was the biggest payday of his career.
That saw Molinari surpass the earnings record set the previous season by England’s David Horsey, and he would later add a third title to end the campaign with €242,979.
Molinari said: “To win the biggest tournament of the year in Kazakhstan was very special. It was definitely the biggest win of my professional career at the time, because it opened up a lot of doors for me. I was very confident going into the tournament because I knew I’d been playing well, and on the last day especially I hardly missed a shot. Before that event I’d never played the weekend of a tournament without making a bogey, so it felt great to achieve that.
“The event was probably the best on last season’s Challenge Tour, not only in terms of the prize money, but also in terms of the organisation and the golf course. All the players enjoyed playing the course and staying in the city – it was just a fantastic week, and I was so happy to have won.
“Like a lot of the courses on the Challenge Tour last season, Zhailjau was set up like a European Tour course, with very thick rough in places. So to shoot 20 under par was very pleasing – at the start of the week, I never would’ve thought that was possible. I thought 15 under would’ve won, so to go five shots lower was fantastic, and gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season, which I carried into the new season.”
Alain de Soultrait, Director of the Challenge Tour, said: “Edoardo’s victory at the Kazakhstan Open was one of the highlights of the 2009 season, so we are delighted to return to Zhailjau Golf Resort this year. We received a very warm welcome on our first visit last year, and the magnificent course was praised by all the players. As has been the case since the first edition in 2005, the Kazakhstan Open remains the strongest regular event on the Challenge Tour Schedule. We must thank the Kazakhstan Golf Federation and their President Mr Abykayev for their continued support, and also Zhailjau Golf Resort for allowing us use of their course.”
Nurtay Abykayev, President of the Kazakhstan Golf Federation, said: “I’m delighted to announce that the sixth edition of the Kazakhstan Open will be staged for the second time at Zhailjau Golf Resort this year. Everyone at Zhailjau did a fantastic job last year in providing a superb course, and I am sure that all the players enjoyed their week there immensely. I’m confident that this year we will see another excellent Kazakhstan Open.”
Set against the backdrop of the vast snowcapped Tien Shan mountain range, the 7,197 yards (6,580 metres), par 72 course at Zhailjau Golf Resort presents a visually arresting spectacle.
