Estonia hosts its first professional golf tournament
This week, Estonia is hosting the Infortar Estonian Challenge, the first professional-level golf tournament in the country, taking place in Jõelähtme. The event features 156 golfers, including eight Estonian professionals.
Estonia's first professional golf tournament tees off
Estonia has become the 52nd country to host a professional golf tournament of this caliber. The Infortar Estonian Challenge, part of the HotelPlanner Tour, is underway in Jõelähtme, with 156 competitors, including eight local professionals.
Organizing such a tournament is a major milestone for Estonian golf. European Team Championship silver medalist Carl Hellat called it a huge deal for youth, club players, and everyone involved. He noted the home-course advantage and urged everyone to make the most of it.
With this event, Estonia's top golfers can now compete in professional tour events abroad. The team, which won silver at the European Team Championship two and a half weeks ago, believes that without such a tournament, taking the next step in golf would be significantly harder.
Golfer Mattias Varjun, who won the Estonian stroke-play championship a week and a half ago, said his preparations have gone well. He explained that the course conditions have changed slightly: the greens are firmer and faster, and there is less water. He will play a practice round and follow his usual routines.
The tournament attracts 14 of the top 20 players in the tour rankings. Competitors come from every continent: Brazil, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, and various European nations.
