Tranlate this title Infortar Estonian: Franssen tops the podium in spanish

The HotelPlanner Tour stopped in Estonia for the first time in its history, and the Infortar Estonian Challenge, played on the beautiful par-72 Estonian Golf & Country Club course in Tallinn, provided a spectacle worthy of the event. The tournament will remain in memory as the first professional individual competition in the Baltic country, with a prize pool of €300,000 and a strong international participation. The winner was Scotsman Rory Franssen, 27, who finished with a total score of 269 (-19) thanks to four very solid rounds: 69-67-66-67. In the final round, he posted a beautiful 67 (-5), with five birdies on the last ten holes, sharing the best partial of the day with three other players. Franssen thus surpassed Englishman Andrew Wilson (272, -16), leading him by three shots and winning his first title on the second European Tour. For the winner, who entered the circuit thanks to his top-seeded ranking at the 2025 Tartan Pro Tour (where he won three tournaments), this was a surprise win. In eleven previous appearances on the HotelPlanner Tour, he had only two placings and nine missed cuts. This feat earned him a €48,000 prize. Third place with a score of 273 (-15) was occupied by Germany’s Michael Hirmer and England’s David Horsey (also a 67), while fifth place with a score of 274 (-14) was occupied by Spain’s Santiago Tarrio and Denmark’s Sebastian Friedrichsen. Seventh place with a score of 275 (-13) was occupied by Denmark’s Victor Sidal Svendsen and England’s Barclay Brown.

Infortar Estonian, results

The Italians performed well in Estonia. The best performer was Matteo Cristoni, who finished in 11th place with a total of -11 (69-67-69-72). A consistent performance that kept him consistently in the top rankings, confirming his positive seasonal form. Close behind, in 17th place with a 10-point gap, is Lorenzo Scalise (69-65-73-71). Scalise managed to recover with an excellent second round and maintained his position despite a more difficult third round. Andrea Romano finished in 46th place with a 4-point gap (67-69-76-72), while Aron Zemmer finished 57th with a 2-point gap (71-68-71-76), still making the cut and taking home points. Jacopo Vecchi Fossa (69-73), however, missed the cut, having come off a strong run and hoped to capitalize on the opportunity at this stage.

This week, Estonia hosts a high-level professional individual event on the European circuit for the first time. From July 30 to August 2, 2026, the Estonian Golf & Country Club will host the Infortar Estonian Challenge, a stop on the HotelPlanner Tour with a prize pool of €300,000, a record for a sporting event in the Baltic country. This is a historic moment for both Estonia and the Tour, which now becomes the 52nd country to host a tournament. The competition course is the renowned Sea Course, already home to the 2026 European Amateur Team Championship and numerous high-profile international competitions, including World Cup qualifiers.

The Sea Course winds for over 6,400 meters through pristine forest, with elevation changes of up to 40 meters, centuries-old oak trees, and breathtaking views of the Baltic Sea towards Finland. The third hole, the signature hole, perfectly frames this spectacular panorama. The course is considered among the best in continental Europe according to the Golf World rankings and is part of the European Tour Destinations. Alongside the 18 main holes, there’s a 9-hole Stone Course and practice areas, making the Estonian G&CC one of the finest facilities in the country. Off the course, players will have the opportunity to visit Tallinn’s splendid Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, less than half an hour from the club.

Five Italian players will be competing to represent the Italians in this historic event: Lorenzo Scalise, Matteo Cristoni, Jacopo Vecchi Fossa, Aron Zemmer, and Andrea Romano.

Lorenzo Scalise, currently ranked 32nd in the Road to Mallorca, is one of the key players for the Italian team on the circuit. Matteo Cristoni is ranked 41st in the DP World Tour entry rankings, and Jacopo Vecchi Fossa is ranked 46th, coming off solid performances that have seen him earn significant points in recent outings. Aron Zemmer and Andrea Romano complete the Italian delegation, ready to make the most of the pitch and collect precious points in the race towards the final in Mallorca and possible promotion to the top European circuit.