Europe's Challenge Tour
will again include tournaments in Kenya, Slovenia, Russia and Finland this season.
The schedule includes 23
events worth around £2.5million, but that figure could rise to almost £3
millions if further negotiations are successful.
The total number of events
is down, but part of the reason for that is a deliberate streamlining so tournaments
do not clash.
"When the Challenge
Tour began 12 years ago there were as many as three tournaments per week on some
occasions," said director Alain de Soultrait.
"Our goal has always
been to work towards a schedule of just one per week. This will, of course, mean
a slight reduction in the total number of tournaments, but we feel this is the
right direction to take to improve the quality of all our events."
Schedule:
March 9-12 Tusker Kenya
Open, Muthaiga, Kenya
23-26 Spanish Challenge,
tba
May 4-7 Credit Suisse Open,
Patriziale Ascona, Switzerland
11-14 Alicante Challenge,
tba
25-28 Muermans Estate Open,
Herkenbosch, Holland
June 1-4 Danish Open 2000,
Odense, Denmark
8-11 NCC Open, Soderasens,
Sweden
22-25 BIL Luxembourg Open,
Kikuoka, Luxembourg
29-Jul 2 Volcans Open, Volcans,
France
July 6-9 Volvo Finnish Open,
Espoo, Finland
13-16 BTC Slovenian Open,
Bled, Slovenia
20-23 Guenther Hamburg Classic,
Wendlohe, Germany
27-30 Beazer Homes Championship,
Bowood, Wiltshire August
3-6 Russian Open, Moscow
10-13 Finnish Masters, Master,
Finland
17-20 West of Ireland Open,
Galway Bay
24-27 Rolex Trophy, Geneva,
Switzerland
31-Sep 3 Formby Hall Challenge,
Formby, Merseyside
September 14-17 Gula Sidorna
Grand Prix, Ljunghusens, Sweden
