The Telenet Trophy takes place at Rinkven Golf Club in Antwerp which gives valuable competitive experience to young players from Belgium and all over the world, and offers Belgian golf global coverage. It is a tournament that Nicolas Colsaerts played when he was progressing through the ranks, and the 27 year old is now reaping the benefits with a number of fine performances on The European Tour this season.Colsaerts graduated via the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2009, finishing third after wins in the SK Golf Challenge and the Dutch Futures, as well as a further eight top ten finishes.
It proved a sound foundation for 2010 on The European Tour, and he has finished in the top ten in three events – the Volvo China Open (tied eighth), the Open de España (tied sixth) and the BMW Italian Open (tied third).
Team Ireland Golf field three players, Jonathan Caldwell, Gareth Shaw and Colm Moriarty with Niall Kearney still recovering from injury.
Moriarty comes to Belgium after the week in Tuscany where he competed in the Mugelllo Open finishing in the 50th pace.
The ALLIANZ Open Cotes d'Armor Bretagne in early May was the last Challenge Tour event for Gareth Shaw – who missed the cut - and Jonathan Caldwell, who finished in a tie for 50th place.
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe and is operated by the PGA European Tour. World ranking points are awarded for high finishes in Challenge Tour events.
The tour was introduced in 1986 and was initially called the Satellite Tour and The Order of Merit was introduced in 1989, with the top five players on it winning membership of the European Tour for the following season. It was later renamed the Challenge Tour.
Up to 1993 the Challenge Tour Rankings were based on each players' best several results, but since 1994 it has been a straightforward money list, with all results counting. Players who are successful on the Challenge Tour qualify for membership of the European Tour the following year.
The Telenet Trophy will be held from 27th May to 30th May 2010 at Rinkven GC near Antwerp in Belgium.
