Germany’s Bernd Ritthammer stormed to the top of the Road to Oman Rankings with an emphatic five-stroke victory in the Volopa Irish Challenge hosted by Mount Wolseley Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, to put himself in with a fantastic chance of winning a share of the lucrative €60,000 Bonus Pool that the top three ranked players will share after the conclusion of the season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, taking place at Almouj Golf, Muscat from Wednesday November 2 to Saturday November 5.
“I am happy that I managed to follow my game plan and stay relaxed,” said Ritthammer after securing his second European Challenge Tour title of the season with a 10-under-par total of 278 to take his season tally to 105,092 points (one point is awarded for every euro in prize money earned). “My caddie Steve really helped me as he kept talking to me and that reassured me while I was out there.
“I am not sure where I am going to end up in the Rankings. I think I have earned over €100,000, which should be enough to get my European Tour card for next year. I am in a very good position now and am very happy!”
The 29 year old earned a European Tour card in 2012 and 2015 and is confident of repeating the feat this season after his winner’s cheque of €28,800 saw him move from ninth place to the summit of the rankings. Englishman Jordan L Smith, who had been leading the Road to Oman for large parts of the season, dropped into second place, just 693 points behind Ritthammer, after achieving a 15th place finish in Ireland.
Two other Englishmen, Sam Walker and Marcus Armitage, were tied for the runner-up spot five shots behind Ritthammer on five-under which helped them gain 16,200 points each. This result secures a spot for Walker in the season finale in Muscat as he has risen from 23rd to 15th in the Road to Oman and gives Armitage a fantastic chance of also appearing in the prestigious tournament, which is open only to the top 45 players, as he catapulted up from 90th to 48th.
As well as a share of a €400,000 prize fund on offer for victory in the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, the top 15 players on the Road to Oman Rankings following the conclusion of the tournament will earn their playing cards for next season’s European Tour International Schedule.
Ritthammer’s dominant victory has caused the rest of the top 10 to drop one place in the Road to Oman Rankings with six tournaments remaining in the season.
