As golf returned to the Olympic games for the first time in 112 years this summer, a host of former European Challenge Tour stars took centre stage in Rio de Janeiro.
A total of 25 past Challenge Tour players arrived in Brazil in pursuit of gold, with a number of competitors having Olympic pedigree in their genes – 2014 graduate Byeong Hun An’s parents were both medallists in table tennis at the 1988 Games in Seoul.
Similarly, two-time Challenge Tour champion Nicolas Colsaerts’ great grandfather represented Belgium in both water polo and basketball at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp.
Despite Colsaerts’ impressive lineage, it would be another Belgian who caught the eye in South America.
Thomas Pieters, who played six events on the Challenge Tour in 2013 before gaining his European Tour card at Qualifying School later that year, was in contention for a medal after two rounds, following a four under par 67 with a five under par 66.
Despite a third round 77, the big-hitting 24 year old rallied to post a final round 65, taking fourth place ahead of 2008 graduate Rafa Cabrera Bello.
While Pieters’ last day heroics were impressive, the tussle at the top of the leaderboard between 2000 Challenge Tour Rankings winner Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose – who competed on Europe’s top developmental tour in 1999 – caught the attention of sports fans worldwide.
Going into the final day Rose held a slender advantage over his regular Ryder Cup partner after carding a third round 65 to reach 12 under par overall – one ahead of the Swede.
The pair went toe to toe throughout the fourth round, both reaching the turn in 32. But after a fiercely-contested battle reminiscent of Stenson’s last day clash with Phil Mickelson at The Open Championship, it was Britain’s Rose who would eventually triumph by two shots.
“To come away with an Olympic golf was just absolutely mind-blowing,” said Rose. “I’ve never been involved in a prize giving like that, as in golf you don’t have your national anthem playing, so when I was up there it was totally unique and surreal.
“Henrik’s a good mate of mine and I knew it was going to be incredibly difficult as he doesn’t give away much. You don’t get the name ‘Iceman’ for nothing.
“My caddie said to me at one point ‘we’re going to have to out-Stenson Stenson today’. So we just kept our blinkers on and kept playing as hard as we could.
“It came down to the last hole which wasn’t great for my nerves, but I think it was great for golf as a showcase in the Olympics.”