Special tournament report by Suzanne Kemper.
The recent 2016 Rolex Trophy has again proved a stunning success in showcasing golf’s future generation of stars.
This year 43 of the Challenge Tour’s best teed-up in the 37th edition of the prestigious event at the Geneva Golf Club (August 17- 20)
In a unique professional golf format, the pros played opening day with top ranked Junior teams of three from the Swiss Romand offering tips, advice, coaching help to grow and develop skills.
Then over the final three days the tournament was graced with 42 amateur teams playing alongside the professionals who were battling for the Rolex Trophy and the all-imporant ranking points in the Race to Oman.
A place on an Amateur team is very selective, highly sought after and involves being a member of Geneva Golf Club with a low handicap or gain an invitation by Rolex as was the scenario with R&A CEO Martin Slumbers, tennis legend Guy Forget.
South African Dylan Frittelli captures the 46th Rolex Trophy.
Indeed it was Britain’s Sam Walker who got off to a sizzling start in the hot and sunny conditions Wednesday with a superb 62 over the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course that recently was recently retouched to measure 6250 metres and playing to a par-72 layout.
Still on the high from his win in Finland the week before, Walker’s play was spectacular keeping him in contention till the 72nd hole.
Challenge Tour No 1, France’s Romain Langasque, and the 2015 British Amateur champion, had been competing on the Tour for only four months and also delighted to be contesting his inaugural Rolex Trophy, quickly caught everyone’s eye when he opened with 66 that was matched by young Spanish talent, Per Angles.
Joining this year’s Rolex field was New Zealand’s Ryan Palmer and Portugal’s Jose-Felipe Lima who had represented their countries the week before in the Rio Olympic Games.
The glorious weather on day one gave way to overcast and rainy conditions on Thursday but it hardly dampened the scoring.
Langasque added a 67 whil Germany’s Ritthammer signed for a 66 to join Walker (71) atop of the 36-hole leader board at to crown the leader board at 133.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and fresh from competing in the Rio Olympic Games
Fox, who had made the cut weeks early in the 145th Open Championship and then won the Challenge Tour’s Tayto Northern Ireland Open a fortnight later, shot the equal best round of the day with a seven-under par 65 as did South Africa’s ultra-talented Dylan Frittelli.
In the amateur divisions, Forget’s showed the way at 15-under par.
Day three dawned breezy but sunny and it was the 26-year Frittelli, a former University of Texas graduate who won his maiden pro event three years ago on the Challenge Tour, adding a 66 to move into second place tie with Walker (69).
Spain’s Pep Angles posted a 67 to move to a one shot lead on 15-under par.
Fox remained in the hunt with a 69 to be tied in fourth place with Langasque adding a 70 for the pair to be at 13-under par.
In fact, there was now nine players within five shots of the lead.
The stunning Geneva Golf Club and host venue for the 2016 Rolex Trophy.
Interest also grew in the amateur honours with the American Junior Golf Association Team making their presence felt and rocketing into the lead with a combine 29-under par total.
The final round of the Rolex Trophy dawned with competitors facing wet and cool conditions that clearly softened the greens but did make the host Geneva course play longer.
Angles was in front for much of the day before Frittelli swooped and ripping his drive at the par five, 16th into the green astonishing fans, plus inspiring them with his bravura. He was soon rewarded for his daring in holing the eagle putt on route to a second straight score of 66 and a 20-under par tally.
Angles had birdied four holes from the eighth to the 13th holes to be tied with Frittelli on the 17th tee at 20-under but with Frittelli watching-on from the clubhouse terraces, the young Spaniard bogeyed the closing two holes in a round of 69 to share second place with Fox (67) at 18-under par.
The win ended a three-year victory drought for Frittelli and with his 2016 Rolex Trophy triumph earning him the reward of Euro 30,000 and sending him to third in the Race to Oman.
“I had a bizarre day with a bogey on the first, I never imagined I would win the tournament,” said Frittelli.
“I’m extremely proud of what I did today and how I handled myself – there were a lot of ups, a lot of downs, all in one round, which is not something I’m used to.
“It was also wonderful playing with the amateurs this week. A lot of pros find it more difficult but for me it’s great – you get to play with different people, a bunch of locals giving insight into the club and the city, and that camaraderie helps everyone I think.
“This win will get me right up there in the Road to Oman Rankings and then if I can do well in the final swing of the season I should hopefully be able to cement my place in the top 15.”
Proudly, once again The Rolex Trophy not only showcases future talent but is the “in” golfing event with fun-filled golf memories, memorable evenings with exotic themes, music, entertainment, and long drive contests for pros and amateur from the terrace. Le Nec plus ultra on everyone’s calendar. Sublime Geneva Golf Club’s magnificent amenities are the perfect host from practice facilities to terrace dining, haute cuisine, plus the popular Rolex Lounge overlooking the 9th and 18th greens catering to every wish from champagne to chocolate truffles.
A major sponsor, developer of golf like other sports, Rolex is not only the gleaming crown in watch making but continues to excelt in an immense sphere of constructive unique activities like the Rolex Trophy.
FINAL – 37th ROLEX TROPHY LEADER BOARD.
Dylan Frittelli (RSA) 268
Pep Angles (ESP) and Ryan Fox (NZL) 270.
Romain Langasque (FRA) 271
Sam Walker (ANG) 272
