Golf: Raymond Russell relishes Challenge

Published on 01/07/2012 00:50

RAYMOND Russell went some way to making up for a season wrecked by illness by winning the Challenge Provincia di Varese for his maiden Challenge Tour title.

Having earned his full card via the Challenge Tour rankings, Russell played just one event on the main 2011 schedule as a debilitating virus kept him out of action all year and he has had to return to the Challenge Tour this season to start all over again. But, in his seventh start of 2012 on the second tier, he emerged victorious at Golf Club Varese in northern Italy, a final-round three-under 67 taking him to 17-under, one shot ahead of Argentine Daniel Vancsik, who produced a magnificent round of 64 to pile on the pressure.

“I’ve felt it coming the last few weeks,” said Russell. “I played nicely in Saint-Omer for a spell and in Madeira I played well.

“I led from day one and it would’ve been easy to fall by the wayside. It’s not easy to see it through, but I’ve done it.”