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Outright Picks - European Challenge Tour

Tipster: Jumbo

Odds: Outright

 
 
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Mark Tullo - 1 points win @ 12-1 Bet365

Pontus Widegren - 1.25 points each-way @ 35-1 bet365

Ed Espana - 2 points top-10 @ 7-4 Skybet 

 

It would have been good to see Moritz Lampert line up this week despite not needing to do anything to gain his card for the main Tour next year. Even at single figures his chance would have had some appeal and instead his main rival this Summer, Andrew Johnston, takes the mantle as favourite. Hardly out of contention for the past six week or so, his windy lesson in Denmark last week may have been a shock to the system and it will be fascinating to see if he can shrug that off and get back to winning ways. Given he will be chasing his third, and most significant, win and that he comes off that bad missed-cut, I'd be happy to leave him alone this week even in a 44-man field of which at least half cannot win.

Up at the top, more eye-catching is the 12-1 put up for last week's winner Mark Tullo. Vastly experienced in this grade, he also has plenty of form on the main Tour with some very decent results especially on Links courses. Put up in this year's Scottish Hydro, his final round 65 was just a place shy of a payout but showed that he just doesn't play safe and that constant attacking game suits a course that often requires the winner to shoot around 20-under to win.

Last Sunday's best-of-the-day 64 followed progressive rounds of 68/67/65, and with that after a 4th in Norway there can be no doubt that the Chilean is in fine form and he'll be one of the few here that believes he can go on to win back-to-back, especially round Geneve. I'll accept that Kris Broberg was a level above this class when going win/T3/win through these few events, but when looking at the field it is hard to see Tullo not challenging at some point, especially given the memories of his win here in 2010 when coming from behind a certain Matteo Manassero. Granted the latter was just 17 at the time and played the final day in complete contrast to the rest of the event but you can only beat what is in front of you and, whilst the Italian bogeyed two of the last three holes, a feature of Tullo's win was putting, absolutely crucial here this week. 18th here when back at this level in 2012, Tullo is a player best caught when on a run, his top-20 at Crans in 2013 is further evidence that he likes it in Switzerland and he looks a rock-solid chance here this week.  

Aside of the each-way bets I am tempted by the top-10 offer on Edouard Espana with Skybet as he is another player proven in lesser grade but with the potential to win one of these better events. Seemingly always on the leaderboard at some point, he just fails to go through with it at present but it won't be long and it isn't hard to see him finish ahead of 34 players here this week, especially on a run in full fields of 7/6/13/18/6/11. However, at just 20-1 he doesn't make the main selections for win purposes and instead UCLA graduate Pontus Widegren is put up at 35-1 with Bet365.

The 23-year-old was a hit on the US College circuit and finished his decent amateur career beating highly-rated Michael Kim in the Palmer Cup, in effect a college Ryder Cup. From his various interviews it is clear that all he has ever wanted to do was play golf and he has some decent results on the Challenge Tour to back up his obvious ability. Tied-second to Jens Fahbring in Norway last season led to a ranking of 69th from just seven events, and his efforts thus far in 2014 see him currently ranked 20th and just outside a main Tour card. I wanted to see consistency from him before taking a plunge and whilst the 9th/4th fortnight early in season took the eye, it was then followed with five m/c. Recent efforts suggest he is back to form with a 7th in Norway and a closing 4th last weekend and it may be that he has again found his quality short-game. Maidens can win here - Dantorp did just twelve months ago - and, of course, being Swedish is no barrier at all given the last two winners were of that nationality.