Frilford Heath Golf Club provides the setting for this week’s English Trophy presented by Rocket Yard Sports Marketing, the last event before the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A. Here’s what you need to know before the action gets under way…
One last chance
The English Trophy provides players with one final opportunity to book their spots in the limited field Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final. The season finale, held at Club de Golf Alcanada in Mallorca next month, will see the top 45 players on the Road to Mallorca Rankings compete for one of 20 DP World Tour cards for the 2023 season. Many of the top 20 already have their playing privileges locked in and cannot be usurped, but there is still a lot to play for with tensions undoubtedly high going into this week.
Bubble boys
At this stage of the season, the pressure is on everyone to perform. Whether you are fighting to keep your card, tussling for the Road to Mallorca Rankings title, or trying to break into the top 20, it’s never easy. However, those hovering around the 45th position mark are arguably feeling it more than most as they look to either hold on – or grasp – a spot in the Grand Final. Switzerland’s Benjamin Rusch is the current incumbent of position No. 45 on the Rankings and is 1,469 points ahead of Ireland’s Ruaidhri McGee, who is the first man out in 46th. Anything, however, can happen, with Jesper Kennegard of Sweden the lowest ranked player in the field capable of catching Rusch as he currently sits 171st on the Rankings.
*Fabulous Frilford *
Frilford Heath is a 54-hole setting in Oxfordshire, England, with a rich history of hosting mainly prestigious amateur events. The venue has hosted, among others, the English Amateur Championship, Ladies Amateur and, most recently, the 2018 Brabazon Trophy which was won by England’s Nick Poppleton in a play-off against Wilco Nienaber. The English club has also hosted DP World Tour Qualifying School First Stage in 2014.
