The Road to Mallorca heads to Germany for the Big Green Egg German Challenge powered by VcG. Here are three players to keep an eye on this week…
Form horse: Dermot McElroy
Dermot McElroy has been in red-hot form on the Road to Mallorca with three top tens in his last three starts, including a runner up finish at last week’s Rosa Challenge Tour in Poland. The 31-year-old carded round of 66-69-66-69 to finish on ten under par, just three shots behind Spaniard Angel Ayora who secured his maiden Challenge Tour title. The Northern Irishman’s impressive recent results have seen him catapult to 26th on the Rankings and he will now be targeting a strong end to the campaign to break into the top 20.
Local boy: Marc Hammer
Marc Hammer will be hoping a return to home soil this week can trigger an upturn in his form. The German has struggled for consistency this season and is currently 72nd on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, however he has proven his ability to win on the Challenge Tour. The 25-year-old made history in 2022 when he claimed his maiden Challenge Tour title at the Euram Bank Open, just five days after securing his first victory as a professional at the Weihenstephan Open on the Pro Golf Tour. Hammer’s back-to-back victories meant he became the first player to win two Official World Golf Ranking tournaments in the same week, and in different countries.
The outsider: James Ashfield
James Ashfield will be hoping to impress on his first Challenge Tour start of the season this week. The Welsh amateur has been in strong form in the unpaid ranks, including victory at the European Nations Cup - Copa Sotogrande earlier this year. The 2023 Walker Cup player currently sits in fifth position on the Global Amateur Pathway Rankings, a new initiative launched by the DP World Tour, The R&A and the PGA TOUR to help the very best male amateur players take the next step in their careers. The leading player on the Rankings will receive a DP World Tour card for the following season, while players in positions two, three and four will earn a full Challenge Tour card.
