Thursday 25 / April / 2024
Muscat: Adrien Saddier clinched his maiden European Challenge Tour title in the Fred Olsen Challenge de España to put himself within touching distance of a spot in the European Challenge Tour’s season-ending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final which takes place in Oman at the spectacular Almouj Golf, Muscat, from Wednesday, November 2 to Saturday, November 5.
This victory has helped the Frenchman climb up from 34th to 10th in the Road to Oman Rankings after winning €27,200. The 25 year old now has a season total of 49,748 points (one euro is equal to one point) which puts him on course to qualify for the prestigious NBO Golf Classic Grand Final that takes place in Muscat, and is only eligible for the top 45 players on the Challenge Tour, with some big events still to come.
“It is an awesome feeling to get my first win as a professional,” Saddier said. “This gives me so much confidence for the rest of the season, and I really believe now that I can go on and get a spot in the top 15 on the Road to Oman at the end of the season.”
Nicolo Ravana took the runner up spot to shoot all the way from 171st into the top 45 of the Road to Oman Rankings after winning a cheque for €18,700 which gives the Italian a fantastic opportunity of also featuring in the season-ending tournament at the start of November.
Ross Kellett, Dylan Frittelli, Christofer Blomstrand and Carlos Del Moral all tied for third, four strokes behind the leader, which has helped them rise up the Road to Oman and puts them in good stead with 14 events to play before the Grand Final.
As well as a share of a €400,000 prize fund on offer for victory in the prestigious 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. In addition, the top three players will also win a share of the lucrative €60,000 Bonus Pool.
England’s Jordan L Smith is currently out in front in the Road to Oman with 75,694 points from 10 events played having claimed his maiden Challenge Tour title at the Red Sea Egyptian Challenge Presented by Hassan Allam Properties in April. The next three places are occupied by a trio of Frenchman. Romain Langasque is in second place with 68,336 points, while Matthieu Pavon is in third with 63,392 points and Damien Perrier, winner of the D+D REAL Czech Challenge in May, is in fourth with 62,439.
