The Road to Mallorca visits Spain for the first time in 2023 as the Andalucía Challenge de Cádiz takes place at Iberostar Real Golf Novo Sancti Petri. Here are three players to watch out for this week…
Form horse
Ricardo Gouveia returned to the winner’s circle in dramatic fashion at the UAE Challenge in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. The Portuguese eagled the final hole at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to get to 19 under par for the week and secure a sixth Challenge Tour title, and his first since the 2021 Made in Esbjerg Challenge – Presented by FREJA & TotalEnergies.
The 31-year-old, who topped the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2015, has rediscovered his form this season and is currently placed 13th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings heading into the Andalucía Challenge de Cádiz. He arrives in Cádiz in buoyant mood after a tenth placed finish at last week’s Porsche European Open, where 2022 Challenge Tour graduate Tom McKibbin secured a memorable maiden DP World Tour victory.
Local boy
Pep Angles is looking to win the Andalucía Challenge de Cádiz for the second time in his career. The Spaniard triumphed at Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri in 2020 after he posted a closing three under par round of 69 for a 14 under par total, to finish one stroke clear of countryman Alfredo Garcia-Heredia and England’s Matthew Baldwin, who have both since graduated from the Challenge Tour to the DP World Tour.
Angles has struggled to find a level of consistency since his victory in 2020 but will be hoping a return to a happy hunting ground can provide the catalyst for an upturn in form and climb up the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
The outsider
Kiet van der Weele will tee it up in Cádiz this week after securing automatic promotion to the Challenge Tour through the Alps Tour. The 22-year-old triumphed at last week’s Open de la Mirabelle d'Or for his third Alps Tour victory in 2023 and subsequently earn his Challenge Tour playing privileges for the remainder of the 2023 season and the full 2024 campaign. The Dutchman will be full of confidence as he looks to make his mark on the Road to Mallorca Rankings this week.
