Swiss PGA Playing Professionals on Tour
29.07.2019

At the Italian Challenge Open, played at the end of June in the Terre Dei Consoli GC in Central Italy, Raphaël de Sousa survived the cut as the only Swiss. With an impressive third round, de Sousa moved into the top spot on "Moving Day". Finally, de Sousa finished the tournament in fourth place. His score: - 273 (70/70/65/68), 15 under par. Winner Matthew Jordan and runner-up Lorenzo Scalisi (loser in the play-off) needed only two strokes less for the four rounds.

Also at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in mid-July, de Sousa was the only Swiss PGA representative, who made it to the weekend. Raphaël de Sousa scored (+2) 42 in France with a total score of 286.

At the Euram Bank Open at the GC Adamstal in Lower Austria, just three weeks ago, three Swiss PGA players made the cut. In the end, Benjamin Rusch finished in tenth place with a total score of 269 (-7), Raphaël de Sousa (276) finishing in 38th place, Marco Iten scoring 279 (+3) in 54th place.

At the Swiss Seniors Open in Bad Ragaz at the beginning of July, the two Swiss PGA professionals in the field did not achieve their personal goals. Tournament ambassador André Bossert remained under par only in the first round but had to settle for a total score of 213 (+3) placing in 40th position. Paul Wesselingh, who lives in Maienfeld near Bad Ragaz and teaches at GC Gams-Werdenberg, does not play full-time on the Staysure Tour anymore. Due to this lack of tournament practice, Wesselingh had to paid tribute. At the Swiss Seniors Open 2019 Wesselingh ranked 40th, tied with "Bossy". The Swiss Seniors Open 2019 title was taken by Argentine José Coceres. He was in top position right from the start with three rounds under par and with a total of 199, two strokes ahead of the field. It was Coceres' first win on the Seniors tour - and the first big win since his two victories on the PGA Tour back in 2001.

Two weeks later, at the Winston Golf Senior Open in Northern Germany, André Bossert finally returned to his own standards - placing 6th, seven strokes behind the winner Clark Dennis. It could also have become a podium place but at the final hole "Bossy" had to accept a quadrouple boggey. Paul Wesselingh had to settle for rank 51.

Good news later in the month: André Bossert finished the Monday qualifier for the Senior Open Championship in third place. 71 strokes on the St Annes Golf opened "Bossy" the door to the first major attendance of the year. The qualifying tournament on Monday had been won by former Swiss PGA member Robert Wiederkehr! The South African resident, who had turned 50 in April, played a 68 and distanced the competition by two or more strokes. On his major debut - "I finally made it into the field of a major with 50" - it was not the newcomer's desired performance - he missed the cut with rounds of 79 and 80 strokes. With scores of 74 and 75, Paul Wesselingh missed the cut by four strokes. André Bossert did well on the first two days of the Senior Open Championship. With rounds of 72 and 67 (-3), he moved up to 15 place after two days. Unfortunately, he did not performe as desired on the weekend falling back to 78th.

Co-sanctioned tournaments of various tours and both genders are booming this season. After the Challenge and Staysure Tour (together with the LET), the Alps Tour got together with the ladies of the LET Access Series in July. In France, the Saint-Malo Mixed Open was on the program, in which at least one Swiss showed great results: Arthur Ameil-Planchin finished with a score of 274 strokes (68/68/68/69) in fourth place, Marc Dobias with a total score of 287 in 39th place.

A week later at the Fred Olsen Alps de La Gomera, another Swiss showed a strong performance. After day 1 of the tournament, Mathias Eggenberger took the lead with 64 strokes and defended his lead position with a 66 on day two. In the final round, Eggenberger fell back with a par-round to 4th place. Arthur Ameil-Planchin with a score of 213 placed 44th.

Last week at the Nazionale Open in Rome Mathias Eggenberger got off to a good start day (-3), but then dropped back to 16th place with rounds of 75 and 72 strokes.

Benjamin Rusch proofed his good form at the end of June ranking 3rd in the Polish Open with a total score of 199 (-11) for the three rounds. With Jeremy Freiburghaus (206/ 16th) and Perry Cohen (210/32th), two other Swiss PGA members placed in the prize money.

A week later at the Leipzig Golf Open Rusch ranked 11th, once more best Swiss playing professional. Freiburghaus (15th) and Zeno Felder (24th) also made it to the final round.

Mid of July, the results in the Netherlands were different: At the Broekepolder International Open Jeremy Freiburghaus was best Swiss placing 12th. Benjamin Rusch finished 25th and Yann Pfeiffer 34th made the cut.

At the Raiffeisen Pro Golf Tour in St. Pölten (Lower Austria), five Swiss made it into the prize money: Benjamin Rusch and Jeremy Freiburghaus T16 (-10), Yann Pfeiffer and Zeno Felder T23rd, and Luca Galliano at 40th place.

At the Evain Championship 2019, an amateur held up the Swiss flag: Albane Valenzuela had received a wild card for the Ladies Master. The 21-year-old Swiss took advantage of the opportunity - placing 13th after two rounds. With a par-round on Saturday and a 75 on Sunday, Albane Valenzuela finally place in excellent 37th place. Congratulations from the Swiss PGA!

The experienced Caroline Rominger turns out to be the most consistent Swiss PGA Proette on the LET Access Series (LETAS). At the Belfius Ladies Open at the end of June in Aartselaar (Belgium), she was the only Swiss lady to make the cut, ultimately ranking 43rd with a total score of 222 (+6).

At the International Ladies Open in mid-July at the Augas Santas Balneario & Golf Resort in Lugo (Spain), two Swiss ladies made it into the prize money: Clara Pietri placed 16th with a total score of 209 (-1), Caroline Rominger followed with a score of 210 placing in 18th place.

In the second half of July, LETAS made a guest appearance in Valencia (Spain); three Swiss ladies - Caroline Rominger (41st + 9th), Christina Gloor (46th + 11th) and Clara Pietri (50th + 12th) - were classified in the prize money.