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**truebluefan** · 05-26-2008, 03:37 AM

Wylihof GC, Luterbach, Switzerland

**truebluefan** · 07-13-2008, 10:32 PM

Raphael De Sousa will hope home advantage can help him finally secure his maiden European Challenge Tour victory at the Credit Suisse Challenge this week after a series of narrow misses so far this season.

De Sousa has enjoyed his best season to date in three years on the Challenge Tour, finishing runner up on two occasions and was in tied second place going into the final round of the AGF-Allianz EurOpen de Lyon last week before eventually finishing tied fifth behind winner David Horsey.

The 25 year old is one of 17 Swiss players in a strong field and he knows he is capable of shooting a low score at the Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach, where he once held the course record.

He said: “It would be nice to get for my win in my home country, definitely. It is a course that I know well. I have got good memories there. I set a course record of eight under par when I was an amateur in 2003. I know I can shoot low there.

“It’s going to be a tough week. You still have to hit fairways as there is high rough but it also a course where you can make a lot of birdies on the par fives. I am going to go out there and try to give myself a chance of the win.

“I know the course very well and I will have my game plan suited for it. If I can play the way I have been I will have a chance. It would mean a lot for me to win in my home country.

“I haven’t really done anything in the last three years and this year I am playing better. It would mean a lot to win. I haven’t won other than on the Swiss Tour. So it would mean a lot because it’s the Challenge Tour and if I could get my first win in my own country it would be a special occasion.”

Like de Sousa, Scotland’s Andrew McArthur will head to Luterbach with some previous form at Wylihof Golf Club, having lost by one stroke to former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker at last year’s tournament.

McArthur, who will be chasing his second victory of the season following his maiden win at the Reale Challenge de España in Madrid, shot an astonishing eight birdies on his final round front nine last year to reach the turn in 28 strokes.

Former Challenge Tour Rankings leader Seve Benson, of England, also returns to action looking to return to the summit having seen Horsey overtake him with victory in France.

Another Englishman, Gary Clark, heads to Switzerland looking for his second victory of the season after tying for seventh behind Horsey in France last week.

It is the Challenge Tour’s first of two visits to Switzerland in two months, with the Trophée du Golf Club de Genéve to follow in August at the Golf Club de Genéve.

**truebluefan** · 07-13-2008, 10:33 PM

Chilean-born Swede Joel Sjoholm, who counts next door neighbour Thomas Björn as a mentor and friend, grabbed the lead on the opening day of the Credit Suisse Challenge with a scintillating eight under par 65.

Playing in only his second Challenge event, Sjoholm took time out from his studies at Georgia State University to post eight birdies at Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach, Switzerland, and so establish a one-shot lead over the field.

The 23 year old, who at three months old was adopted by a Swedish family after leaving his native Chile, leads by one stroke from Germany’s Benjamin Miarka and Italian Marco Crespi.

Sjoholm, who recently picked up a cheque for €19,900 after finishing 24th at the BMW International Open on The European Tour, now has his sights set on securing his maiden Challenge Tour title and gaining exemption for the remainder of the season.

He said: “I’m just sitting at home waiting for invites, so hopefully I can win this week and not have to worry about relying on them. It seems far away at the moment, but hopefully soon I can gain a card onto the Challenge Tour and then get onto The European Tour. I had a taste of life was like there at the BMW International Open, after Thomas Björn helped get me an invite, and I loved every minute of it.

Source

**truebluefan** · 07-13-2008, 10:34 PM

Some sizzling strokeplay from Rafael Cabrera Bello saw the young Spaniard equal the course record and establish a three-shot lead on day two of the Credit Suisse Challenge.

It was a day of two halves at Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach, Switzerland, with the morning starters able to take advantage of perfect playing conditions, whilst the afternoon groups were forced to contend with heavy showers and thunderstorms, which caused play to be suspended for an hour.

Yet despite the adverse weather, Cabrera Bello’s compatriot Santiago Luna still managed to card seven birdies to finish on 12 under par. The seasoned campaigner will hope to bring his experience to bear when attempting to chase down his young countryman, who plundered nine birdies to finish on 15 under par.

Cabrera Bello enjoyed a productive amateur career, winning the Spanish National Championship in his age group every year from Under seven to Under 18 level.

The 24 year old, who is close to completing a business and economics degree at university, said: “My start was good, the middle part was pretty good also – and the finish wasn’t bad either! Coming from Gran Canaria, I like playing with the sun on my back, so the conditions were perfect for me. And playing golf sure beats studying!”

England’s Richard Bland marched to a share of third place, and promptly admitted he got out of jail. The man from Southampton branded himself “a lucky boy” after posting seven birdies in a round of 67.

Source

**truebluefan** · 07-13-2008, 10:35 PM

Rafael Cabrera Bello still tops the leaderboard at the Credit Suisse Challenge, but the young Spaniard’s advantage has been cut to two strokes after England’s Gary Lockerbie carded a round of 65.

Cabrera Bello is on course to capture his second Challenge Tour title after adding a 68 to rounds of 67 and 64 at Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach, Switzerland, to finish on 20 under par.

The young Spaniard is keen to continue his country’s remarkable sporting summer, and is also eager to make it a family double with his sister Emma well placed at the Ladies Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour.

He said: “I enjoy being in the last group and playing with pressure – it’s the reason we play golf. It would be great if I could finish the job, and hopefully my sister also does well. I will be phoning her later to wish her luck.”

Lockerbie has his sights set on the leader and a maiden Challenge Tour success after playing himself firmly into contention with the joint lowest round of the day.

Source

**truebluefan** · 07-13-2008, 10:35 PM

Rafael Cabrera Bello continued his native Spain’s dominance of the sporting summer with a two-shot triumph over England’s Gary Lockerbie at the Credit Suisse Challenge.

Following victories for the Spanish national side at the European championships, his compatriot and namesake Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, and close friend Pablo Larrazabal at the Open de France ALSTOM, Cabrera Bello ensured a return to the winner’s enclosure with a final round of 68 for a 25 under par total.

Cabrera Bello, who claimed his maiden European Challenge Tour title two years ago at the Man NÖ Open in Austria, dropped just one shot and posted six birdies in a nerveless display of golf in testing conditions at Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach, Switzerland.

The young Spaniard, whose winner’s cheque for €22,400 moved up to 13th place in the Challenge Tour Rankings, has now targeted a swift return to The European Tour, which he graced last season.

He said: “It was a tough in the rain, but I felt I played very steadily all day. My score could’ve been even lower, but maybe that’s being greedy! I knew I’d have to play well to beat Gary, because he’s a great player. Now my focus is getting back onto The European Tour, because I love competing against some of the best players in the world.”

Lockerbie’s runner-up finish was the third of his Challenge Tour career, but the 25 year old could console himself with a cheque for €15,400. Spain’s Santiago Luna and Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli were tied for third on 19 under par.

Earlier in the day, Sweden’s Johan Axgren provided another highlight when at the fifth hole he struck a six iron 187 yards into the cup for the first hole in one of the tournament – and the first of his career.

He said: “It landed about six feet short and just released into the hole. There were a couple of guys standing behind the green who started cheering, so I knew straight away that it was in. It was a great feeling – it’s just annoying that it was two holes too late, because I would’ve won a Jaguar car if it had been on the third hole!”