The European Challenge Tour returns to Central America this week for the first event of the New Year, the Abierto Moviles Guatemala 2006 at the now familiar Hacienda Nueva, where Argentina’s Cesar Monasterio triumphed last season. Monasterio did it the hard way 12 months ago – taking the tournament into extra holes before scoring a play-off victory over Irishman David Higgins. The Argentine was then presented with the first prize by the President of Guatemala, Oscar Berger.
Monasterio and Higgins finished the regulation 72 holes at the Hacienda Nueva Country Club on 19 under par 269, with defending champion Daniel Vancsik of Argentina just missing out on the play-off after a bogey five at the 18th saw him finish on 18 under par.
England’s Richard McEvoy took fourth place after a second consecutive round of six under par 66, while his fellow countryman, James Hepworth, who led the tournment for the first two rounds, carded a final day 70 to share fifth place with the Argentine duo of Pablo Del Grosso and Miguel Rodriguez.
McEvoy and Higgins both went on to secure their places in the Challenge Tour’ season ending top 20 in 2005 and there can be little doubt that their outstanding early season performances in the TLA co-sanctioned events played a huge role in them making the step up to The European Tour.
The Challenge Tour will leave Guatemala and take a short hop to Costa Rica, stopping off at another now familiar venue at the Cariari Country Club in San Jose for the Kai Feiberg Costa Rica Open 2006 from February 9-12.
The Challenge Tour players touch down in Europe for the first ‘home’ event of the new season from February 23-26 with a welcome return to Portugal for the Estoril Challenge at Penha Longa in Estoril – home of The European Tour’s Portuguese Open in 1994 and 1995.
The Challenge Tour season would not feel the same without its annual visit to the Karen Golf Club in Nairobi, which will take place between March 9-12, 2006, for the Kenya Open – an event that has been associated with The PGA European Tour since the first Kenya Open in 1967.
From Kenya, the tour will return to Europe and to one of the toughest courses to feature on the Challenge Tour last season – the Greg Norman designed Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona for the Peugeot Challenge.
Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour, said: “Once again, the beginning of the European Challenge Tour gives our Members the opportunity to play golf at a time when the harsh European winter denies us the chance to play on home soil.
“Our partnership with the Tour de las Americas, now in its fourth year, is as strong as ever, and we are sure that our Members welcome the chance to compete against some of the best players from Central and South America.
“We also welcome a return to Portugal and Spain – two countries that boast some of Europe’s finest golf courses – while the Kenya Open is one of our most established and respected events on our Schedule.”
