Swiss Challenge

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Victor Riu - 0.75 points each-way  40-1 (Skybet/Victor)

The last three winners of the Swiss Challenge held at Sempachersee have been either Italian(2010) or French (2011 and 2012) and that makes perfect sense given the proliferation of players from mainland Europe that start their careers on the Alps or Nordic Tours. Both those satallite Tours provide the perfect grounding for young players and the Challenge Tour tends to have a heap of winners that find their way via these.

There seems no reason to divert from that thought and whilst the event looks tricky at first, the likes of recent winner, American Dylan Fritelli and twice-winner of the event (although on a different course) Benjamin Herbert of France, just look too short for now. Instead a small wager on in-form maiden Victor Riu is advised at 40-1.

Riu hasn't won an event anywhere in six years but his turn cannot be far given recent form. Top-10 in India shows a game of accuracy, whilst it's no surprise to see him gain further places on the leaderboard in his home country and in Germany last weekend. The 28-year old is approaching the age of maturity as a golfer (generally assumed to be around 30) and his profile is progressive enough to believe he can continue his fine play on a course where his record reads 28/mc/19, his first 3 rounds in 2010 being  69/66/69 and finishing last season with a final round 68. Riu clearly needs to find consistency to get over the line, but he looks set to beat his best ever ranking of 32 in 2010, currently lying 23rd, and coming off a course-record 63 in Germany. The Tour is starting to hot up as players jostle for position and Marco Crespi was just overlooked purely on course form, but as they approach the money-making events Riu is expected to be right there come payday.