Swiss Challenge

Wikipedia

Swiss Challenge
Tournament information
LocationLucerne, Switzerland
Established2000
CourseGolf Sempach
Par71
Length7,161 yards (6,548 m)
TourChallenge Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund300,000
Month playedJune
Tournament record score
Aggregate262 Marcel Schneider (2018)
To par−25 Rafa Cabrera-Bello (2008)
−25 Marcus Helligkilde (2021)
Current champion
France Félix Mory
Location map
Golf Sempach is located in Switzerland
Golf Sempach
Golf Sempach
Location in Switzerland

The Swiss Challenge is a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour, which was held in Switzerland until 2021. Since then it has since been held in France.

History

It was first played as the Credit Suisse Private Banking Open in 2000 and 2001 at the Golf Club Patriziale Ascona in Ascona. It replaced the Interlaken Open which ended after financial issues.[1] During the course of the 2002 edition, the heavy rain led to the overflow of the Lake Maggiore and to the cancellation of the event.[2][3]

Following a four-year hiatus, the tournament returned in 2006 and was held at the Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach through 2009. Since 2010 the event has been played at Golf Sempachersee in Hildisrieden.

Between 2021 and 2024, the event has uniquely been held in France and been played at Golf Saint Apollinaire in Folgensbourg, close to the Swiss border.[4] In round 2 of the 2021 event, Alejandro del Rey shot the first ever round of 58 on any tour in Europe. It was also the lowest round to-par (−14) on any major tour in world golf.[5]

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upVenue
Swiss Challenge
2025France Félix Mory272−12PlayoffSpain Santiago TarríoSempach
2024Scotland Euan Walker135[a]−93 strokesEngland Bradley Bawden
Norway Kristoffer Reitan
Saint Apollinaire
2023Sweden Adam Blommé271−17PlayoffSweden Jesper SvenssonSaint Apollinaire
2022New Zealand Daniel Hillier274−142 strokesFrance Jeong-Weon KoSaint Apollinaire
2021Denmark Marcus Helligkilde263−251 strokeDenmark Nicolai Kristensen
England Jonathan Thomson
Saint Apollinaire
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019Portugal Ricardo Santos269−151 strokeEngland Richard Bland
Germany Moritz Lampert
Sempachersee
2018Germany Marcel Schneider262−226 strokesNorway Kristian Krogh JohannessenSempachersee
2017Switzerland Joel Girrbach267−172 strokesScotland Craig LeeSempachersee
2016Germany Alexander Knappe272−121 strokeEngland Paul Howard
Norway Espen Kofstad
Sempachersee
2015United States Daniel Im273−11PlayoffEngland Gary BoydSempachersee
2014Belgium Pierre Relecom269−151 strokeItaly Niccolo QuintarelliSempachersee
2013France Victor Riu265−193 strokesEngland Adam Gee
United States Brinson Paolini
Sempachersee
Credit Suisse Challenge
2012France Gary Stal273−11PlayoffFrance Alexandre KalekaSempachersee
2011France Benjamin Hébert272−124 strokesEngland Jamie MoulSempachersee
2010Italy Alessandro Tadini266−221 strokeWales Stuart Manley
Norway Marius Thorp
Sempachersee
2009England Peter Baker (2)274−181 strokeAustria Florian PraegantWylihof
2008Spain Rafa Cabrera-Bello267−252 strokesEngland Gary LockerbieWylihof
2007England Peter Baker272−201 strokeScotland Andrew McArthurWylihof
2006Spain Francisco Cea276−16PlayoffEngland Tim MilfordWylihof
Credit Suisse Private Banking Open
2003–2005: No tournament
2002Tournament abandoned due to severe weather
2001Scotland Greig Hutcheon266−181 strokeSpain Jesús María Arruti
Germany Kariem Baraka
Patriziale
2000Spain Álvaro Salto268−161 strokeItaly Michele RealePatriziale

Notes

  1. Shortened to 36 holes due to weather.

References

  1. "Golfing young guns tee off in Ticino". swissinfo.ch. 3 May 2000. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  2. Kissane, Sinéad (14 June 2007). "Swiss event cancelled". RTÉ. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  3. "Credit Suisse Private Banking Open abandoned". European Tour. 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  4. "The Crib Sheet: Swiss Challenge". European Tour. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. "Del Rey in the record books after posting an incredible 58 on the Challenge Tour". Irish Times. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2024.