Andrew's Italian Challenge (HPT) Preview

After a long break, the HotelPlanner Tour is back – and settle in, folks, because they’re coming at you for 24 of the next 26 weeks. The good news is, we’re back in mainland Europe which means an “orthodox” HPT field – no co-sanctioning here – and we’re at a fantastic course. Let’s dive in.

 

The Tournament

The Italian Challenge has been an integral part of the Challenge Tour for some considerable time – as well it might be, given the increasing strength of Italian golf, and the quality of courses and events that they’ve made available. A winners list including the returning to glory Matteo Manassero, Dodo Molinari, Matthew Jordan and current champion JC Ritchie shows that the cream often rises to the top here. Yet, for some reason, this gets hurled around the calendar like no other event. This is our first time here in May – but we’ve see June, July, September and October contests before. 

Last year we were at the current venue, Golf Nazionale, which also hosted this event in 2022 and 2023. It’s in Viterbo, in the hills north of Rome and inland from the Tyrrenhian Sea (it’s going to be pleasant weather, not too hot and almost entirely calm with a threat of rain on just one day.) This is also the home of the Italian golf programme so many of the younger locals will have played numerous rounds here.  I previewed this contest last year, and among other things I said:

This is a tough 7,033 yard par-72 course that winds between oak trees on undulating land, with plenty of doglegs and a range of hole lengths including some terrific par-3's. If you’re thinking that this all sounds very classical, then yes, you’re right.  If you’re thinking that course management is key, and that bombers and plodders alike can thrive, then yes, you’re still right. Hit greens, make putts, and avoid mistakes.

Last year’s leaderboard showed all-rounder Ritchie, something of a veteran at 31 winning, with the likes of David Horsey showing the way for short-hitting forty-somethings, and plenty of other older players featuring. This simply isn’t the course for players fresh from the Nordic Golf League or the NCAA system to come out and open their shoulders and take driver on every hole. That said, it is far from the shortest course these players will face and every club will be tested. Keep an eye on the leaders; they’re likely to do well this season.

The Selections

We have a surprising list of invitations on the entry list (51, including the three amateurs.) Surprising because of the length, but also because of the range of nationalities represented – this is far from a solely domestic selection. It does mean that there are going to be plenty of players from categories 14 and 15 missing out on a tee time – that is, players who were outside of the top 75 on last year’s HPT rankings or who narrowly missed the cut at Q-school. Despite that frustration, we have a pretty representative field for a week when there’s a DPWT event also taking place, and the favourites for getting DPWT cards are mostly in attendance. I’d note that Saptak Talwar and Jhared Hack have, pleasingly, taken up their invitation to join given top five finishes when we last played, down in India. Both have chances here.

However, my first and most confident selection is Lorenzo Scalise, who hails from further north in Italy but is no stranger to this course and will be a popular local favourite. Currently sitting just outside the top 20 (and card status,) he can expect to progress as some above him won’t play the European events, but he’s certainly going to want to add more points at events like this which suit him. Last year he was tremendously disappointing on his return to the HPT, finishing 68^th despite an 11^th here. He was 26^th and third on his previous visits and is clearly in better form currently, finishing sixth on his last HPT start in India. It’s no surprise that his best ever performance on the DPWT course came at Golf Club Milano, a similar course also in his homeland. It’d be a surprise if the more experienced player can’t put that to good use.

After Scalise, I struggled to find players who I was confident were in decent form and would enjoy this challenge. I don’t want to say that I defaulted to my next pick, but there wasn’t a great deal of excitement in it. However, I do think there’s great value in Jamie Rutherford, a winner on this tour last spring and now a 34 year old. He’s always going to be held back by his length but he’s extremely accurate from tee to green and is a rock solid performer at this level. He was cut in this event last year when playing poorly, but was 34^th and fifth on his previous visits, and was seventh at the similar Argentario course in 2024. He can absolutely add a second win and end his run as the unluckiest player to not quite win a DPWT card.

Finally, I’m moving away from veterans to a young player who I think will enjoy this challenge and is starting to play excellent golf, Matthis Besard. The Belgian won a DPWT card at Q-school in 2023, shortly after graduating from Illinois (a very solid college performer at a top school) but struggled on that circuit and looked pretty ordinary to start 2025. However, he finished last year with four top 15 finishes from his last five events (as well as a great performance in the Nexo on the DPWT, finishing 13^th.) He was 13^th in this event last year, and his best performance as a pro was sixth on the DPWT at Eichenried in the BMW International. That’s a similar course, tree-lined, classical and undulating. He drives the ball exceptionally well and if his approach play is up to standard, which is the worry, he’ll be very capable of a breakthrough win here. A 12^th place finish in his last start suggests he’s rounding into form.

• Lorenzo Scalise, 28/1

• Jamie Rutherford, 33/1

• Matthis Besard, 28/1 All 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365. Better prices may become available if other firms open books.