The Challenge Tour does not stop. After the second victory of the season for John Parry in Brittany, the circuit continues for another week in French lands. The Le Vaudreil Golf Challenge is held for the eleventh consecutive year, only in 2020 it could not be played due to the pandemic.
Over these years, great players such as Aaron Rai, Ryan Fox or Alexander Björk have prevailed at Golf PGA France du Vaudreil, a venue that is over 60 years old and has been a regular in international tournaments.
In these years no Spaniard has been able to assault the course and take the tournament back home. In fact, in the last two years none of our players have even made it into the top 15. We have to go back to 2021 to find one of our own in the top 10. That edition three Spaniards finished among the top ten, Iván Cantero, Alfredo García Heredia and Santiago Tarrio. Anyone would sign at this moment to repeat the result of 2021, but the time has come to assault Le Vaudreil Golf Challenge once and for all.
The players face a narrow course with dynamics similar to last week, that is, the tee shot is fundamental to have real birdie options. However, there is an extra incentive. It is very hot this week and the course is very hard. It is complicated to stay on the fairway as the bounces are very strong. It is a determining factor since the bushes in the rough swallow the ball and you may not even find it. Temperatures are expected to give some respite from Thursday itself, but if you want to be successful this week it is vital to be very sharp from the tee.
With this test we are practically at the halfway point of the season (14 of 19). Good opportunity to review how our players arrive at this tournament. At this moment a Spaniard, Joel Moscatel, is fourth in the Road to Mallorca and is therefore within the top twenty players of the year who would take one of the DP World Tour cards. His victory in the Challenge of Spain has been key in this rise.
In addition, after the results of the last few weeks there would be four other Spaniards who would qualify at this moment for the final in Mallorca: Angel Ayora (31st), Victor Pastor (43rd) Borja Virto (44th), Lucas Vacarisas (45th). It is true that these last three are just on the limit of 45 players who play in Alcudia, but right now they are in the Final and have more than enough margin to continue climbing the table. We must not forget that the last event of the year awards almost double the points of any other tournament and, therefore, with a great result in Mallorca anyone can make the big leap.
The case of Ángel Ayora is particular since he does not have a category in the Challenge and depends on invitations. The Andalusian is only 0.15 tenths away from reaching the 255.85 points that marked the limit last year to keep the card. That figure is vital for Ángel since when he reaches it he will be able to receive unlimited invitations in the Challenge and play the rest of the season. This week he can reach those points as he does not play in France, but he does play the Open of Italy of the DP World Tour and by making the cut he would achieve the desired figure.
Lucas Vacarisas and Borja Virto arrive at Vaudreuil in great form. Last week they were fourth and fifth respectively and seek to maintain the sensations obtained in the Open de Bretagne. The case of Víctor Pastor is the opposite. He started the season well, but now he is suffering more. Any week is good to turn the dynamics around and no one is fighting it more than Víctor. Who knows if from this Thursday he will make that ‘click’ that he is currently lacking.
Five players are therefore within the hot spots of the table, but they are not the only Spaniards who aspire to fight for the cards. Without going too far, Javi Sainz (75th), David Borda (84th) and Quim Vidal (85th) are within reach of a great result. Lucas Vacarisas who just seven days ago was the 94th of the year and now is in the Grand Final is the best example that there is more than enough time to place. David has it more complicated since he does not have the complete card and will depend on the invitations he receives. This week for example he is not part of the game in France.
Alejandro Cañizares (179th) is having a tough year, but a good week can change everything. Other players like Alejandro Aguilera, Jorge Maicas or Pep Anglés who have played some weeks, will have to hit the big time when they have the opportunity to play. Alejandro does play in France this week and will try to assault Golf PGA France du Vaudreil and hit the big time.
This tournament will also be the last of a tour of four consecutive tournaments. After the Le Vaudreil Golf Challenge there will be almost three weeks of break and the circuit will return in Austria on July 18 to face a marathon that will not stop until October 20. Three uninterrupted months of Challenge Tour. Take a breath.
