Made in Denmark Challenge is the name of the new tournament that will be played in Copenhagen at Royal Golf Club in May. The tournament is part of The Challenge Tour, and will have 156 participants led by the Danish Challenge Tour profiles Andreas Hartø, JB Hansen, Jeppe Huldahl and Mark Haastrup.
Thanks to our partners Sport Event Denmark, Wonderful Copenhagen and The Danish Golf Association we managed to obtain the necessary funds in only a few weeks.
"We have needed a Challenge Tour event in Denmark for the last few years, and I am proud that we have managed to organize the Made in Denmark Challenge in such a short time. It is important for Danish and Scandinavian golf that we have tournaments at all levels," says Promotor Flemming Astrup.
"Made in Denmark in Himmerland got off to a flying start last year with huge crowds, lots of publicity and focus on both Himmerland and Denmark. With The Made in Denmark Challenge in Copenhagen we once again get the opportunity to brand Denmark as a golf country," says Lars Lundov, CEO, Sport Event Denmark, which is an important partner on both Made in Denmark events.
Denmark’s best golfer, and winner of the Challenge Tour Rankings in 1995, Thomas Bjørn is happy that his native country once again will host a Challenge Tour Tournament.
"The Made in Denmark organization is sending a fantastic signal by also organizing a Challenge Tour event in Denmark. It means a lot to Danish golf, that the players on that level and the young talents also have a tournament on home soil. Both mine and many other careers started on the Challenge Tour, so I know how important this tour is," says Thomas Bjørn.
"We are delighted to welcome the Made in Denmark Challenge to the 2015 schedule and to return to a country which has built such a strong legacy on the Challenge Tour. Ever since Thomas finished top of our Rankings, the Challenge Tour has been a conveyor belt for talented young Danes who have gone on to great things in the game, and it would be no exaggeration to say that this country has been one of our tour’s great success stories," says Director of the Challenge Tour, Alain de Soultrait.
Golf fair and Showmatches
The Made in Denmark Challenge will be played from the 14th to 17th May. Furthermore three exhibition matches will be played from Monday the 11th with players from the Danish National Team, the ECCO Tour, Challenge Tour and the two European Tour players, Anders Hansen and Søren Kjeldsen.
On the four tournament days, the spectators can also attend the Danish Golf Show, a golf and leisure fair with focus on golf, travelling and lifestyle.
Wonderful Copehagen, which supports The Made in Denmark Challenge is pleased that the event lasts for a whole week offers more than just a golf tournament.
"Copenhagen is known as an international event destination for cycling, running and triathlon events, and we can soon add high-level golf to this list. We look forward to presenting golf to a large audience and also the international tv viewers throughout the week. With Made in Denmark Challenge we have secured another another event succes in our Capitol," says Lars Vallentin, Head of Sport Events Wonderful Copenhagen.
Made in Denmark Challenge FACTS:
Course: Royal Golf Club in Copenhagen
Prize fund: 170.000 €
First prize: 27.200 €
Number of players: 156
Danish profiles: Andreas Hartø, JB Hansen, Jeppe Huldahl, Mark Haastrup, Jeff Winther, Mads Søgaard, Christian Gløët, Daniel Løkke m. fl.
Quotes about Made in Denmark Challenge:
Morten Backhausen, Director, Danish Golf Association:
We are delighted, that the Challenge Tour returns to Denmark, and that we with The Made in Denmark Challenge we now have professional tournaments on all three levels.
It means a lot for our young players, both amateurs and professionals, that they can play a tournament on the second highest level in Denmark, and Made in Denmark Challenge helps support the positive development of Danish golf we have seen throughout many years.
The Made in Denmark Challenge closes the gap between the third level tour ECCO Tour and Made in Denmark on The European Tour, and helps both our current Challenge Tour players and the ones just outside the Tour.
Morten Sundberg, CEO, Royal Golf Club
At Royal Golf Club are we proud that Made in Denmark and The European Challenge Tour chose us to host the Made in Denmark Challenge. Hosting a big event like this is part of our vision to attract major golf tournaments to Copenhagen.
Andreas Hartø, 3-time Challenge Tour winner
This is great news. It means a lot to us players to play at home, so to get that possibility on the Challenge Tour is fantastic. I look forward to playing in my hometown and on the Royal Golf Club again, and I only hope, that the people of Copenhagen will support us as much as they did for Made in Denmark in Himmerland last August.