The Swiss Challenge is a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour, which was held in Switzerland until 2021. Since then it has since been held in France.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Folgensbourg, France |
| Established | 2000 |
| Course(s) | Golf Saint Apollinaire |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,434 yards (6,798 m) |
| Tour(s) | Challenge Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | €250,000 |
| Month played | September |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 262 Marcel Schneider (2018) |
| To par | −25 Rafa Cabrera-Bello (2008) −25 Marcus Helligkilde (2021) |
| Current champion | |
 Adam Blommé | |
| Location map | |
History
It was first played as the Credit Suisse Private Banking Open in 2000 and 2001 at the Golf Club Patriziale Ascona in Ascona. It replaced the Interlaken Open which ended after financial issues.[1] During the course of the 2002 edition, the heavy rain led to the overflow of the Lake Maggiore and to the cancellation of the event.[2]
Following a four-year hiatus, the tournament returned in 2006 and was held at the Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach through 2009. Since 2010 the event has been played at Golf Sempachersee in Hildisrieden.
In 2021, the event was uniquely held in France. It was played at Golf Saint Apollinaire in Folgensbourg, close to the Swiss border. In round 2 of the 2021 event, Alejandro del Rey shot the first ever round of 58 on any tour in Europe. It was also the lowest round to-par (−14) on any major tour in world golf.[3]
Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Challenge | |||||||
| 2023 | Adam Blommé | 271 | −17 | Playoff | Jesper Svensson | Saint Apollinaire | |
| 2022 |  Daniel Hillier | 274 | −14 | 2 strokes |  Jeong-Weon Ko | Saint Apollinaire | |
| 2021 |  Marcus Helligkilde | 263 | −25 | 1 stroke | Nicolai Kristensen Jonathan Thomson | Saint Apollinaire | |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||
| 2019 |  Ricardo Santos | 269 | −15 | 1 stroke | Richard Bland Moritz Lampert | Sempachersee | |
| 2018 | Marcel Schneider | 262 | −22 | 6 strokes |  Kristian Krogh Johannessen | Sempachersee | |
| 2017 |  Joel Girrbach | 267 | −17 | 2 strokes |  Craig Lee | Sempachersee | |
| 2016 | Alexander Knappe | 272 | −12 | 1 stroke | Paul Howard Espen Kofstad | Sempachersee | |
| 2015 |  Daniel Im | 273 | −11 | Playoff | Gary Boyd | Sempachersee | |
| 2014 |  Pierre Relecom | 269 | −15 | 1 stroke |  Niccolo Quintarelli | Sempachersee | |
| 2013 | Victor Riu | 265 | −19 | 3 strokes | Adam Gee Brinson Paolini | Sempachersee | |
| Credit Suisse Challenge | |||||||
| 2012 | Gary Stal | 273 | −11 | Playoff | Alexandre Kaleka | Sempachersee | |
| 2011 | Benjamin Hébert | 272 | −12 | 4 strokes | Jamie Moul | Sempachersee | |
| 2010 | Alessandro Tadini | 266 | −22 | 1 stroke |  Stuart Manley Marius Thorp | Sempachersee | |
| 2009 | Peter Baker (2) | 274 | −18 | 1 stroke |  Florian Praegant | Wylihof | |
| 2008 |  Rafa Cabrera-Bello | 267 | −25 | 2 strokes | Gary Lockerbie | Wylihof | |
| 2007 | Peter Baker | 272 | −20 | 1 stroke | Andrew McArthur | Wylihof | |
| 2006 | Francisco Cea | 276 | −16 | Playoff | Tim Milford | Wylihof | |
| Credit Suisse Private Banking Open | |||||||
| 2003–2005: No tournament | |||||||
| 2002 | Tournament abandoned due to severe weather[4] | ||||||
| 2001 | Greig Hutcheon | 266 | −18 | 1 stroke | Jesús María Arruti Kariem Baraka | Patriziale | |
| 2000 | Álvaro Salto | 268 | −16 | 1 stroke | Michele Reale | Patriziale | |