Pep Angles is hoping to follow up a promising performance at the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation with a strong showing in his first event on the European Challenge Tour at the Challenge de Madrid this week.
The Spaniard won a qualifier to gain his playing rights for Valderrama and went on to put on a stellar display, battling difficult conditions to break into the top 20.
The 23 year old, who only turned professional last year, was in sixth place after the first round at Valderrama and was fighting for the lead going into the back nine on Sunday.
Now Barcelona-born Angles is hoping to continue his good form in the Spanish capital this week at the picturesque Real Club de Golf La Herrería.
“This is my first Challenge Tour event this season and after coming from a European Tour event and fighting for the win, it gives me a little edge,” said Angles who finished the week tied for 19th place at Valderrama.
“Before that event I didn’t really know what level to expect and how the play was going to be, but after Valderrama now I am able to see that I can compete and I can win at the highest level. It gave me a lot of confidence for sure.
“The week was amazing. I was on the front nine on Sunday when I birdied number eight and I was one shot back I felt like I was really close to something special. I was then unlucky on 11 where I just lost a couple of balls. But this is golf so this happens and it is part of the learning experience in trying to overcome those little mistakes.
“The bottom line from that tournament was that in a solid field and on a tough course I was able to fight for the win on the back nine on Sunday.”
Before plying his trade on the European Tour Angles studied at the University of Central Arkansas where he broke the record for the lowest round score after carding a 64.
“Studying in America was an amazing experience,” he said. “Being a student there for four years really helped me grow up as a player but also as a person. It was definitely a maturing process through doing everything for yourself.
“To be honest I feel like every part of my game is in its place. I am feeling very good. Mentally I am fine, I felt very relaxed at Valderrama and it surprised me to feel like that at such a huge event. With golf you never know how it is going to be but overall I am feeling great.
“I love playing here at Real Club de Golf La Herrería. It is my kind of course in that it is very tight with all of the trees and slopes.
“Going forward I hope to play regularly on the Challenge Tour and I will keep grinding and be patient and see where it takes me.”
Coming back to Madrid with unfinished business are Sweden’s Jens Dantorp, England’s Sam Walker and Irishman Ruaidhri McGee. While McGee finished joint runner-up at the 2015 Challenge de Madrid, Walker has been in the top five twice in Madrid with Dantorp finishing fourth at the tournament’s inaugural staging in 2013.
Jordan Smith won his maiden event on the Challenge Tour at the Red Sea Egyptian Challenge Presented by Hassan Allam Properties and comes into the tournament in red hot form.
Amateur Champion Romain Langaqsque made a promising start to life as a professional golfer with a tied third place finish in the Egyptian desert last week, and the Frenchman will be targeting a first Challenge Tour win this week in Madrid.
