The HotelPlanner Tour continues at its frenetic pace. The competition enters its seventh consecutive week without rest and makes its stop in the Czech Republic where this Thursday the D+D REAL Czech Challenge kicks off at Royal Beroun Golf Club.
The tournament has been held since 2012 with only the interruption due to the COVID year, and since last year the tournament takes place in Beroun, a charming town located thirty kilometres from Prague.
Twelve editions as we say and ‘only’ one Spanish champion: Santiago Tarrío claimed victory in 2021 in the Czech Republic. It was his first professional win on the international stage. Just two weeks later, he would win the Challenge de España and secure his promotion to the first division.
Undoubtedly, that spirit will guide the seven Spaniards present this week in Beroun. Among them is not Santi Tarrío. The circuit’s demands and pace are extremely high, and he has decided to take a break this week. It must be said that it is not held on the same course where he won. The two winners of this season, Quim Vidal and Rocco Repetto, will indeed be part of the line-up, along with Albert Boneta, Adri Arnaus, Sebas García, Lucas Vacarisas, and Víctor Pastor.
The reality is that six of the seven players competing from this Thursday are among the top 45 of the year who play the Final of the Road to Mallorca. The absent Tarrío is in 22nd place on the Road and on the verge of one of the cards, so he would also play the Final. An incredible feat. Of the golfers competing this week, only Adri Arnaus would not currently play in Alcanada, but he is just fifteen points away from that first goal of the year. All will seek to make a mark in the race to be one of the top twenty.
With a good performance, Quim Vidal could take a giant step in the fight for promotion, and with a victory, Rocco Repetto would make the big splash of the year. It was hard to imagine a few months ago that the Andalusian would secure one of the cards, and now it is within his grasp. Albert Boneta achieved his first top ten on the circuit on this very course, so he will be a name to watch in the predictions.
Interestingly, the D+D REAL Czech Challenge takes place a week before the 153rd Open Championship, and four players from the tournament will also be present at Royal Portrush. The English duo of George Bloor and Curtis Knipes, the Dane John Axelsen, and the Swede Jesper Sandborg secured their qualification through the Final Qualifying Stage, held at various courses in England and Scotland.
This week’s event at Royal Beroun will be the last opportunity for this quartet to fine-tune their game before facing the world’s best golfers in the final Major of the year 2025.
