Dane Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen has won the Challenge de Cádiz held at the Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri, recalling the victory his father achieved 31 years ago in Andalusia, while David Borda was the best Spaniard, finishing in fifth position, four strokes behind the winner.
The final day was fiercely contested, with many players within a few strokes of each other and the leaderboard constantly shifting, a situation the Dane skillfully navigated. The most dangerous player was Irishman Gary Hurley, who did everything he could to win again in Andalusia (he won the Alps last year, which earned him a spot on the Challenge Tour) and finished with a birdie to force a playoff. However, Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen wasn't about to let his first Challenge Tour victory slip away, not only because of the opportunities this win opens up for him in the future, but also because of the emotional connection to the past, as it was his father who won the Challenge Tour event held in Seville in 1993.
Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen, despite starting with a bogey, recovered with a birdie on the 2nd hole and two more on the front nine. On the back nine, where he faced the most challenges, he played conservatively, birdie on the 11th and pars through the 18th, knowing that Hurley was close behind and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes. The 26-year-old remained very confident throughout his round and, with pars through the hole, carded a 69 to win with a total of 273 strokes (-15).
«I feel great right now. It’s been a very long day and I was very nervous, so I’m happy I did my job well. I felt the pressure on the last three holes because they were very tough and the greens were firm, and I knew Gary Hurley was just one stroke behind. I played aggressively off the tee all day, but I had to rely on my short game to get out of trouble a few times. I was suffering until I saw that last putt go in, and it was very exciting. I’m proud to get my first Challenge Tour win. It’s great to have done the same as my dad; it’s incredible, now there are two Challenge Tour winners in the family. I’ve been coming to southern Spain on holiday with my family my whole life, and I love it. I like the courses, and it’s very nice to win here. This is definitely the best achievement of my career so far. Getting my DP World Tour card at Qualifying School was very special, but this definitely tops it,” said the new champion.
With this victory, Goth-Rasmussen, who although he has a card for the DP World Tour, rises to 16th place in the Challenge Tour and increases his chances of continuing with more solidity in the Tour.
As for the Spanish representation, David Borda has been the most outstanding after rhyming a final card of 66 strokes to climb to the fifth final position with a total of 277 strokes (-11).
“I’m very happy, it’s been a great week and a really good last day. I played very well from start to finish. I came here with low expectations; this year I don’t have a Challenge Tour rating and I wasn’t competing much. I was playing better, with better feelings, but this sport is very difficult and now, on to the Challenge Tour next week,” confessed David Borda.
Also very commendable was the ninth place of Ángel Ayora, member of the ProSpain Team of the RFEG, withstanding the pressure despite his short experience with a final round of 70 strokes (-2) for a total of 278 strokes (-10), with which he signed his second top 10 of the year in the Challenge Tour.
The Challenge de Cádiz is sponsored by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, the Cádiz Provincial Council, the Challenge Tour and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, as well as the Higher Sports Council, the Andalusian Regional Government, the two Iberostar Beachfront Resorts hotels, Kyocera (official printing services), Allianz, Mahou San Miguel, Solán de Cabras, AON, Halcón Viajes, Volvo, Titleist, Tag Heuer, Iberdrola, TOA Shoes, Farma Dorsch, Marqués de Arviza, Licor Mediterráneo and Viamed under the organization of JGolf.
SOURCE: Tournament Organization
