Final field confirmed for RAK Challenge Tour Grand Final
RAS AL KHAIMAH 22 October 2018: Victor Perez emphatically sealed his European Tour playing privileges for next season after rising from 16th to second on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah Rankings with a play-off win over Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre at the Foshan Open, China.
The 26 year old, who won his first European Challenge Tour title at the Challenge de España last year, started the final round with a two-shot lead over Englishman Callum Tarren and Italian Francesco Laporta but it was MacIntyre who posed the biggest threat after signing for a final round 65 and taking the clubhouse lead with Perez still out on course.
With one hole to play Perez was one behind MacIntyre but superbly birdied the last to take the tournament to extra holes. The Frenchman held his nerve once again as they replayed the 18th to notch another birdie and claim his first win of the season. With the win, Perez jumps from 16th to second on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah Rankings with a season tally of 137,235 points and has one eye on Joachim B.Hansen who currently sits at the summit of the Rankings on 184,259 points.
The Foshan Open was the last opportunity for the next generation of golfing stars to secure their place at Al Hamra Golf Club for the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final, which is only open to the top 45 golfers on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah. The season-ending event will take place from Wednesday October 31 to Saturday November 3 as the players bid to secure one of the 15 coveted European Tour cards available for next season which are awarded to the top 15 players in the Rankings following the conclusion of play.
The Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final, which is the 28th and final event on the season-long Road to Ras Al Khaimah, takes place at Al Hamra Golf Club from Wednesday October 31 to Saturday 3. Entry for spectators is free of charge.
Top 15 Road to Ras Al Khaimah Rankings after the Foshan Open
|
POSITION |
NAME |
COUNTRY |
POINTS |
|
1 |
Joachim B. HANSEN |
(DEN) |
184,259 |
|
2 |
Victor PEREZ |
(FRA) |
137,235 |
|
3 |
Kalle SAMOOJA |
(FIN) |
136,993 |
|
4 |
Sebastian SODERBERG |
(SWE) |
135,767 |
|
5 |
Jack SINGH BRAR |
(ENG) |
114,284 |
|
6 |
Kim KOIVU |
(FIN) |
123,169 |
|
7 |
Stuart MANLEY |
(WAL) |
121,260 |
|
8 |
Grant FORREST |
(SCO) |
117,608 |
|
9 |
Adri ARNAUS |
(ESP) |
113,836 |
|
10 |
Liam JOHNSTON |
(SCO) |
113,756 |
11 Lorenzo GAGLI (ITA) 110,483
12 David LAW (SCO) 104,269
13 Robert MACINTYRE (SCO) 99,243
14 Sean CROCKER (USA) 96,574
15 Tom MURRAY (ENG) 89,897
The 45 players confirmed for the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final:
Joachim B. HANSEN, Victor PEREZ, Kalle SAMOOJA, Sebastian SODERBERG, Jack SINGH BRAR, Kim KOIVU, Stuart MANLEY, Grant FORREST, Adri ARNAUS, Liam JOHNSTON, Lorenzo GAGLI, David LAW, Robert MACINTYRE, Sean CROCKER, Tom MURRAY, Max ORRIN, Pedro FIGUEIREDO, Oliver WILSON, Dimitrios PAPADATOS, Oscar LENGDEN, Michael HOEY, Marcel SCHNEIDER, Ben STOW, Joel GIRRBACH, Romain LANGASQUE, Anton KARLSSON, Nico GEYGER, Eirik Tage JOHANSEN, Minkyu KIM, Ewen FERGUSON, Calum HILL, Darius VAN DRIEL, José-Filipe LIMA, Jack SENIOR, Marco ITEN, Hugo LEON, Niklas LEMKE, Daan HUIZING, Kristian Krogh JOHANNESSEN, Philipp MEJOW, Borja VIRTO, Steven TILEY, Simon FORSSTRÖM, Ross McGOWAN, Antoine ROZNER