There’s a bright future ahead of Angel Ayora. Many believe he’s a potential future world number 1. We follow his progress at the Challenge de España. Brandon Robinson-Thompson visits Sevilla FC’s home ground, the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium.
Local favourite Joel Moscatel wins his first challenge tour event.
this is one of sports great Proving Grounds a gateway to Glory brilli 29 tournaments spanning 19 countries along the way a chance to expand Horizons and Sample life on tour how beautiful is that magic finish the season in the top 20 on the road to mayorca rankings and secure a golden ticket to the DB World Tour this is the challenge tour it’s been just over 3 months since the challenge tour season teed off and after eight events across South Africa India and the UAE we finally arrived in Europe what better way to kick things off than by celebrating the 25th edition of the challenge day of spion it’s an event that shown remarkable longevity thanks to the relationship between the Royal Spanish golf Federation and the challenge tour from humble beginnings in 1999 the event has gone from strength to strength and shows no signs of slowing down congratulations on 25 years of the challenge to espania was a really important win in my career uh it was the first time I won on the challenge tour and it helped me get my card so it’s uh yeah it’s a special place the challenge espa is like one of the great venue for us it’s always a an iconic one it’s uh it’s got a name and uh it’s got some uh good past champions and uh yeah I wish good luck to all the players this week just wanted to wish you all the best of luck uh for me it was a great week and I hope you uh will’ll enjoy as well thanks Jens I’m sure we will this year we’re at ra Club severe golf designed by Jose Maria alabel it opened for play in 1992 the property boasts over 10,000 trees 90 bunkers and nine lakes and up for the challenge is one of the rising stars in Spanish golf anel aora hello guys what’s up I live in front of a golf course and I am very curious to what is Golf and my dad say no golf is for old people only you don’t need to play golf play tennis better and one day H we go I like it and then I continue to play it’s very different here the people go 100% to to win the tournament you know when you’re matter you’re having most fun in the course with your friends and but yeah when you’re are professional yeah it’s your job you need to sacrifice everything and and get 100% on the [Music] course it’s very important to put the the hard work you know because if if you don’t are work harder I think you don’t have any chance to to to be excellent that’s pursuit of Excellence is what drives aora it’s not often that you’re able to achieve that on your own which is why he surrounded himself with like-minded people like Cad and Coach won a choer it was sort of planned since he was an amateur that um I wanted to help him the most possible so I started cutting last year on all the amateur events that I could I could could have gone so when he would turn pro he wouldn’t have this uh something that I need I need a carry and but I don’t really trust anyone I don’t know [Music] anyone working with h is very well because he is with me all the time car coaching and anything is it’s not easy to find people like like ju to to sacrifice his life to to be with you all the time all the competitions and I think that’s that’s the most important thing he has this world number one flow that you see in Nadal you might see in Alara you might see with this if you you’re lucky enough to go by Tiger R it’s it’s the little something that you don’t know what it is now the question was at the time would he put the work needed behind because you can have a talent if you don’t you know work hard enough you’d be good but not great so that was a question I had and the work ethic he has is just from a different world it’s just not not not normal and it’s it’s not very common on on athletes but when you say it’s 19 I mean it’s even even more strange even more special with a little bit of like I believe he keep could eventually be definitely worldall number one and I think he’s charismatic enough to like they say to move the needle a little bit so now it’s just keep up day by day keep working um as I say stay humble no matter what comes it’s just a step forward to a Never Ending Story to be to be honest cuz I mean if tiger hasn’t you know ended yet I mean we have a long road to go it’s not just a Cher who beli Leeves the sky is the limit for aora the Royal Spanish golf Federation also sees plenty of potential enough to include him in the Pro Spain golf team started in 2010 the program was designed to help young golfers transition from amateur to professionals they’ve assisted the likes of Adrian oi adrianas and recent challenge tour graduate Manuel Ela [Music] well for us it’s a very good Prospect one one of the best ones and and he’s so focused on the game he he loves the game he’s focused he works properly uh sometimes he’s been shy but he’s uh he’s so happy playing playing golf is a it’s it’s his mission so we we think he will he will he will become a very good player okay High Praise indeed there was a late tea time for round one alongside the defending Champion Martin CRA and current rankings leader Rasmus nard Peterson a true test of nerve for aora from Spain anel [Music] [Applause] aora the 19-year-old was out of the blocks quickly he couldn’t have asked for a better a start making a lengthy birdie putt on his very first [Music] hole another birdie followed on the fourth but he wasn’t the only one finding his Groove near guard Peterson showing just why he’s won two of the last three events with a birdie of his own he’d finished the day just one shot off the lead with a 69 the bird is dried up for aora though as he reeled off five consecutive pars turning in two under he was unable to keep the Bogies off his card mixing two more birdies with two Drop shots unfortunately a mistake on the last cost [Music] him despite the bogey finish Aur carded a solid one under pass 71 plenty to be pleased about especially his response to adversity your main when you make a bogy is like you need to to keep going to make a birdie in the next one and yeah I I tried to do that today it was a congested leaderboard following the first day with eight golfers sharing the lead after rounds of 68 Aur was just three off the pace but would need more of the same in round two to ensure he’d be around for the weekend it wasn’t the best of starts though to his second round as he Bogi his first hole of the day the [Music] 10th despite erasing that era with a birdon 13 there was more drama to come after bogis on 15 and 17 aora needed three shots to escape the Fairway bunker on 18 a triple bogey the result and an outward nine of 41 5 over for the day seizing control of the tournament meanwhile Sebastian grow as centilating 8 under power 64 vaulting the Frenchmen to the top of the leaderboard the high light this Eagle on the 16th Aur tried to turn things around but further Bogies followed at the third and eighth holes he did produce a grand stand finish though with a birdie on the ninth but not enough to prevent a second round 78 for a 36hole tally of five over par yeah today is not the the best day but it’s it’s go you need to keep going and yeah yeah I think the the attitude was very very good and I don’t know you can finish 80 plus and now today I finished plus five and it’s a bad round but you know can be worse a Mist cut never easy to deal with but there were plenty of positives to take from the week for aora onwards and upwards then with surely plenty of better days ahead for the young Spaniard his two playing Partners meanwhile had fared rather better the duo is hitting Two Shots off the pace set by grow heading into the weekend there’s more to come after the break as we enjoy a guided tour of a cevil landmark it’s such an iconic place and being pitch level is amazing and we Crown a champion at the 25th edition of the challenge day ofia see you soon [Music] welcome back to our coverage of the challenge tour we’re in Seville this week celebrating the 25th edition of the challenge day espia the stored past of this event and indeed the challenge tour is well documented but what of the future well that’s in good hands now with guy Kennings taking over the Reigns as the European tour group’s CEO we are a members organization we work for the players are members so it’s it’s critical for for me to get out and listen to them um and to hear their thoughts and to share some some of the details of what’s going on the challenge tour is so important to us it’s it’s the future of the tour and of the game I found it fascinating they had a very good player meeting uh a lot of thoughts shared and discuss with the players afterwards and it’s really important to get the chance to do that to listen to them um everything we do is about improving what we do on this tour and in in every other aspect of the tour and we can only really get that with the feedback but they were they were very very thoughtful this is ninth event of the year on the uh on the challenge tour and great to be here in Spain uh players very positive about that so it’s uh yeah it’s been very useful yes the Outlook is indeed bright but what of the here and now well after two rounds it was Sebastian Gro leading the way a two- shot cushion for the Frenchmen but plenty of players queuing up behind him with six tied for second on seven underp to see how it all played out on moving day let’s join our commentator Dom Holier Englishman Jamie Rutherford at the par 48 he’s not won yet on the challenge tour could this be his weekend well maybe it will be beautiful shot into eight Rutherford would hold that and shoot around a 68 to Li at 10 underpath through 54 holes two off the lead with a round to go Rasmus near guard Peterson the rankings leader at the 12th he’s been hitting an awful lot of shots like that over the last few weeks and he would have to settle for a round of 70 on Saturday to I three back with a round to go but in the mix again here’s Sebastian Gro the 36 hole leader rolling one in at the 13th slightly mixed day for him few Drop shots a double as well at the opening hole but to grow round in 72 playing with Rutherford and tapio panan and here is panan for birdie at 13 from much closer range than grow and that would take him to 10 under and a share of the lead One Challenge tour Victory to his name back in 2017 two good shots to the last setting up a close in birdie for penan and a round of 676 birdies just the one drop shot and the Finn with a twoos shot lead in [Music] Seville yes three rounds in it was pulan and flying high at the top of the leaderboard two clear of Jamie Rutherford in second place with Rasmus near guard Peterson a further shot a drift in a five-way share for third spot now Seville is best known for its oranges incredible architecture and thriving tap pass scene but it’s also home to Spain’s oldest football club no surprise then that football fanatic Brandon Robinson Thompson was up for a guided tour of Seva FC’s home ground Stadium’s official uh store be rude not to buy something would it come on all right here we are getting into the uh football spirit Sevilla football club let’s go to the [Music] stadium wow incredible what time what time’s [Music] kickoff game one shirt from Aron played one season here ‘ 92 93 history in this club it’s crazy now here’s some of the previous shirts check out this Night Fever I’ve coined that Night Fever shirt you could have worn that in the 1980s [Music] dancing great souvenir also very practical I’m going to use this coin for my ball marker this week week there it is bull marker for this week I didn’t realize how successful a club Sev was um so it was you know really really cool to see all the trophies you know the seven Europa League Trophies the five Spanish Cup trophies um yeah amazing experience we are very um similar to my trophy cabinet at home just a lot more trophies and a lot bigger trophies you know more or less this is epic first time in a uh dressing room like this where’s my mate surge hey there he is guess I’ll keep his seat warm this is so cool how long directon I have to wait before I can get a rub down yes boys pulled me hamy yes [Music] please how cool is [Music] this imagine 43,000 people favorite part of the tour so far I think is being down here on the pitch pitching 40 plus thousand people cheering you on I mean the pitch is impeccable it’s such an iconic place and being pitch pitch level is amazing gaffa put me on I’m ready I’m yeah I’m ready gone yeah being a part of the challenge tour is awesome you know not only for the venues and the golf courses we go and see but to about to come and experience things like this I’m very privileged and uh yeah fortunate to be able to experience these [Applause] things the experience of a lifetime indeed back now though to more familiar Turf and the final round of the challenge day of spania it was tapio pulen and remember with a handy two-shot Advantage at the top of the leaderboard so all eyes on the finale watched for us by Dom Holier good to have a Spaniard in the mix heading into the final route this is Joel moscatel starting day four three shots back looking to get off to a fast start and doing just that put a little bit of check out of the light rough and moscatel will go ahead and ha that one so the perfect start for the Spaniard tavio panan our overnight leader started with seven straight pars so this a much needed Birdy at the eighth getting into 13 under par and just keeping the power attack at Bay at that stage although he did make a horrid double bogey at the ninth and among those giving Chase Rasmus near guard Peterson this at the par five 13th his second shot remember just the one more victory for him to earn his instant promotion to the DP World Tour could this be the day an absolute Beauty he hold that for an eagle three to get to 13 onal panan to that double bogy at nine this at 13 as well from the sand and he makes an eagle brilliant stuff from pulen trying to win for the first time since 2017 remember moscatel certainly not out of it this for birdie at 16 he moves to 14 under par he almost picked it out of the hole before it hit it there and he’s alongside near guard Peterson in a share of the lead two holes to go some excitement for the home fans hands there to the 18th and this was for a closing par for near guard Peterson and that will hurt a bogy at the last but he set the target at 13 under par could anyone catch him how about moscatel this at the 18th second hardest hole on the course the closing par 4 today and don’t the fans just love this one what a shot from Joel moscatel better and better down to five or six feet for birdie now pman could only manage par at the last so it meant that that part for birdie was also for the victory for [Music] moscatel and it was a first challenge tour victory for Joel moscatel and a Spanish winner in Seville [Music] yes a slender one-stroke Triumph for the Spaniard on home soil moscatel managed to hold off the challenges of neard Peterson and penan who had to settle for a share of second Jamie Rutherford finished a further shot back in Solo fourth but there could only be one [Music] winner I don’t have boards to be honest I just um played really really well really good we we stayed focused because uh at the beginning uh the parts were were not dropping but we were patient uh yesterday was the same and at the back nine uh we played really good with Alberto so really happy and also with the home crowd obviously the the the crowds were amazing they were really supportive and and I and I was feeling really really good [Music] yeah well that Victory propelled moscatel 26 places up to third spot in our rankings there seems to be no stopping Rasmus near guard Peterson at the moment though as he strengthened his grip on top spot after that tie for second in Seville with tapio panan up to 10th spot now Robin Williams moved up 11 places and back into the top 20 for the first time since late March and currently it’s Connor pel clinging to that all important 20th position [Music] and so our first event in Europe this season comes to an end there’s a week off now for the players before the tour resumes with the Danish gol challenge so join us next time as the pursuit of promotion to the DP World Tour continues [Music]
