Following the European Challenge Tour’s biggest money event, the Kazakhstan Open, there have been significant changes tothe Road to Oman Rankings.
The top 15 earn graduation to The European Tour for next season, though Spaniard Nacho Elvira has already claimed immediate promotion after taking his third win of the season at last month’s ROLEX Trophy.
Here’s a brief run-down of how things stand, with just three events remaining before the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Oman.
Gros v Gouveia for top spot
Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia has enjoyed an incredible season, winning the AEGEAN Airlines Challenge Tour by Hartl Resort and securing nine other top ten finishes.
The 24 year old’s remarkable consistency looked to have all but secured him the number one spot in the Rankings until Sebastien Gros claimed his second win of the season in Kazakhstan.
The Frenchman took the €72,000 cheque to leapfrog Gouveia at the top and, with third placed Elvira already on The European Tour and likely to only play twice more on the Challenge Tour this season, it looks to be a two-horse race for the title of Rankings Winner.
Gros’ lead is a little more than €22,000, a significant margin, with fourth placed Jens Fahrbring almost €70,000 further back, probably too large a gap to make up at this stage.
Gros, of course, will now be targeting a third win of the season at one of the remaining events to secure immediate promotion to The European Tour, and any such result would probably guarantee him top spot in the Rankings as well.
Movers and shakers: Mads is in the mix
The immediate emotion after the Kazakhstan Open was disappointment for Mads Søgaard after a missed par putt on the last green denied him a place in a play-off and a potential victory.
However, the Dane’s runner-up finish was worth €49,500, almost trebling his earnings for the season and catapulting him 55 places up into tenth spot in the Rankings.
Sweden’s Fahrbring also climbed 11 places from 15th, while American Daniel Im’s final round of 66, securing him a tie for third place, has moved him up to ninth from his previous spot of 22nd.
Everything to play for
The 15thand final European Tour spot in the Rankings is currently held by Borja Virto Astudillo, though there is likely to be considerable movement in the coming weeks.
The Spaniard has earned almost €60,000 so far this season but the gap between him and Sweden’s Pontus Widegren, 20 places below in 25th, is slightly more than €20,000.
The nature of the Road to Oman Rankings means that a victory for any player on the Challenge Tour will see them jump up the table, so everyone will still feel that there is everything to play for as we move on to the EMC Challenge Open and closer to our finale in Oman in November.
