Rosa Golf Club, Konopiska, Poland will host the Challenge Tour for the first time in 15 years as the Rosa Challenge kicks off from tomorrow over four exciting days. Mateusz Gradecki will be hoping for home turf advantage as he is joined by a clutch of Irish players.
Conor Purcell comes into the week in 10th spot in the Road to Mallorca standings having spent most of the season within the top 50. After a great win at the Tom McKibbin-hosted Black Desert NI Open, Purcell sits at the sharp end of the rankings on the Challenge Tour.
This will be an exciting week for Liam Nolan as he makes his professional debut and will have the pleasure of a walk around Rosa with a healthy Irish contingent. The 24-year-old Galway native is used to having a knock about with major winners. This year’s Irish Amateur Open runner up has spoken of tapping up knowledge from Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington to help his game this year.
Mark Power comes into the tournament with a better showing of consistency over the last few weeks. An 11th place at the Irish Challenge means he will tee it up at the Irish Open in a couple of weeks for his good showing. Oihan Guillamoundeguy is one of the form players on the Challenge Tour having racked up four top-12 finishes in his last five starts, while Matt Oshrine, having triumphed in the Rosa Challenge Tour Qualifier in July, has also earned his place in the field this week in Konopiska.
Rosa GC makes its Challenge Tour debut this week, as do many of the field heading to this beautiful country. Situated in the city of Czestochowa, it was designed by architect Hans-Georg Erhardt and opened its doors in 2005. Water hazards are a feature throughout the golf course, with interconnected lakes creating several intimidating approach shots. The 192-metre 14th and short tempting 17th are two testing par threes on the back nine, both protected by water.
Ronan Mullarney is the first of the nine Irish to get underway when he tees off at 07:40 am, with Gary Hurley, Jonathan Caldwell, Dermot McElroy, Conor O’Rourke, Conor Purcell, John Murphy, Mark Power and Liam Nolan all following at various intervals.
Mateusz Gradecki, the most decorated Polish Challenge Tour player, has also returned to play after a recent knee surgery. He will be joined by other representatives of PGA Poland: Alejandro Pedryc, Michał Bargenda, Kamil Tatarczuk, Grzegorz Zieliński and Oskar Zaborowski.
“This week is a big deal for sure for the golfing community in Poland, so it’s great that I’m back for it,” Gradecki said.
The field aso includes multiple DP World Tour winners Alvaro Quiros from Spain and Frenchman Alexander Levy, as well as Road to Mallorca Number Four Hamish Brown.