Joel Moscatel, a member of the RFEG ProSpain, was the winner of the 25th edition of the Challenge de España, which was played at the Real Club Sevilla Golf in a close final, in which, withstanding the pressure, the Barcelona native resolved it on the last hole with a birdie to sign his first victory on the Challenge Tour.
There couldn't have been a better tournament for a member of ProSpain, and a better golf course than the Real Club de Sevilla to open his account. A dream ending to the 25th edition of the Challenge de España.
The final day promised to be a close one, as had been the case every day of the tournament, but the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla was spectacular in the final of the Challenge de España. It's a demanding course that doesn't forgive mistakes, and that was the general theme: reward for a job well done, punishment for the slightest error. And every mistake proved costly, as happened to the Challenge Tour number 1, Denmark's Rasmus Neergard-Petersen, on the 9th hole (a double bogey that cost him the lead) and on the 18th (a bogey that cost him the tournament), as well as to the defending champion, Martin Couvra, on the 10th hole, which ended his hopes. And today's winner was Joel Moscatel, for his impeccable play throughout the four days of the tournament.
Moscatel teed off for the final round in the leaders' group, nervous as always, because, as the Barcelona native says, "that's a good sign." But the nerves didn't stop him from making birdie on the first hole. Avoiding mistakes and recovering well, he parred the next seven holes until reaching the 9th, where he birdied to stay "in contention," while his playing partner, Pulkkanen, carded a double bogey, relinquishing the lead. Joel, assisted by Alberto Calvo, his friend and regular caddie for Italian Andrea Pavan on the Tour, calmed his nerves under the watchful eye of his coach, Larry (Alejandro Larrazábal), who followed at a safe distance, observing each of the shots they had been working on for five years.
Moscatel's second nine holes were worthy of a champion. On the 11th hole, he holed out from the bunker behind the green for birdie. On the 13th, he reached the green in two and made two putts. At that moment, it seemed a playoff would be needed to determine the winner, as the Spaniard, the Dane, and the Finn were tied. On the 16th, Joel hit a long drive to the left, landed it on the green from the rough, and finished the hole with a birdie, giving himself a chance despite a bogey on the 17th. Not losing hope and knowing that this course is unforgiving, while Rasmus finished with a bogey on the 18th, Joel had the opportunity to break the tie with a birdie. He hit a very good driver into the right rough and from there a very good shot to 1.5 meters, leaving himself a crucial putt which he sank to achieve his first victory on the Challenge Tour, with a total of 274 strokes (-14), after a round of 67 (-5), relegating Neergaard-Petersen and Pulkkanen to second place, tied with one stroke more.
With this victory, Joel climbs to third position in the Challenge Tour Ranking, which, if he maintains it until the end of the season, will give him access to the DP World Tour.
Moscatel is part of the RFEG's ProSpain team, "to whom I am very grateful. I turned professional during the Covid era, when there was no school or option to compete if it hadn't been for the Federation's help. And it's not just the financial support, it's the invitations to tournaments, the meetings with their technical team, everything we learn because thanks to this help I am here today," he stated.
“I’m happy. I played really well. The key was keeping my cool and focused, because at the beginning the putts weren’t coming in. I knew how to use them well on the course, and I’m happy with the patience we had. I was nervous but calm at the same time. There were a couple of tense tee shots, but I’m very happy with the work we did. Winning here is wonderful. I knew I liked this course and that I could do well here, but you still have to earn it. The people who were following us helped me a lot; they gave me a lot of energy on the course. On the 18th putt, I didn’t know what Rasmus had done. I preferred not to know. I just putted, trying for birdie, to see what would happen, to give myself a chance. I was so nervous I couldn’t even think. There’s still a long way to go in the season, but it’s wonderful: fourth in Abu Dhabi and a win in Seville. Now we just have to keep building,” he concluded.
Joel Moscatel's victory is the fifth Spanish triumph in the 25 years of the Challenge de España, which has in its list of winners Santiago Tarrío (2021), Eduardo de la Riva (2012), Álvaro Velasco (2010) and Carlos Suneson (1999).
The Royal Spanish Golf Federation has once again sponsored the Challenge de España, with the support of the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, and the Spanish National Sports Council, as well as AON, Allianz, Volvo, Mahou-Solán decCabras, Halcón Viajes, Kyocera, Tag Heuer, Iberdrola, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (Spanish National Lottery), Scalpers, Maximiliano Jabugo, Bodegas Marqués de Arviza, Grupo Ybarra, TOA Shoes, Titleist, Licor Mediterráneo, and Hotel Sevilla Green Suites. JGolf is the organizing company of the Challenge de España.
SOURCE: Tournament Organization
