The second week of the European Challenge Tour’s Chinese Swing is set to get under way at the Foshan Open and we’ve sieved through the numbers to pick out the key facts and figures.
5 – past winners of the Foshan Open. Spaniard Nacho Elvira won the inaugural event in 2013 before England’s Jason Palmer triumphed the following year. Another Spaniard, Borja Virto, tasted success in 2015 while Marcus Armitage, of England, won in 2016. Last year’s winner was Oliver Farr, who is now plying his trade on the European Tour.
-19 – is the record winning total at the Foshan Open, attained by Marcus Armitage. The Englishman posted rounds of 69-68-65-67 to win his maiden Challenge Tour title.
3 – Chinese tournaments on the Challenge Tour’s International Schedule. The Belt & Road Colorful Yunnan Open is the first event of the calendar year to be played on Asian soil before the end-of-season Chinese Swing incorporating the Hainan Open and the Foshan Open.
500,000 – dollar prize fund for the Foshan Open. It offers an enormous opportunity for players on the bubble of the Road to Ras Al Khaimah’s top 15 to break into the graduation spots.
7,117 – the length, in yards, of the course at Foshan Golf Club.
4.45 - the average number of shots taken on the par four 17th, the hardest hole on the course, at last year’s tournament. There were 13 birdies, 211 pars, 120 bogeys and 28 double bogeys or worse during the four rounds.
4.5 – the average amount of shots taken on the par five fifth last year, statistically the easiest hole on the course. Challenge Tour players carded nine eagles, 194 birdies and 142 pars across the four days. There were only 24 bogeys and three double bogeys or worse.
200 – feet is the distance of the Foshan Long Putt Challenge. Martin Ovesen and his team from New World China Land won the inaugural event last year, which takes place on the ninth green after play finishes on Saturday.
404 – miles between Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club, the venue for last week’s Hainan Open, and Foshan Golf Club.
-82 – the accumulative low score from past winners. Armitage’s -19 is the lowest winning score, while Nacho Elvira’s winning tally of -14 is the highest triumphant total.
