Reigning Isuzu Queensland Open champion
David Bransdon makes his debut on Europe’s secondary Challenge Tour this week
when he is one of three Australians to tee up in the Challenge de Madrid in
Spain.

The 42-year-old veteran earns a place in
the field courtesy of his Q-School performance last year and will be looking to
make the most of the opportunity as the Challenge Tour season begins in
earnest.

This marks the third event of the 2016
season but many of the Tour’s players begin their campaign this week in what is
a long and exhausting season.

Much like their counterparts on the US
Web.com Tour, players on the Challenge Tour have little opportunity for time
off as the competition to earn, and maintain, a position high on the money list
is intense.

Bransdon is joined in this week’s field by
2015 tournament winner Scott Arnold and fellow Australian Daniel Gaunt.

It is Arnold’s first appearance for the
year and just the second time he has teed up in this event which has only been
on the schedule twice before.

While he missed the cut in his here in 2013
Arnold is a vastly improved player since then and after a victory last year,
and coming close to earning full European Tour status at the end of the season,
he will be looking for a strong start.

Daniel Gaunt has played both previous
editions of this tournament with a missed cut in 2013 and a T41 result last
year.

He also played last week’s Red Sea Egyptian
Challenge, the only Australian to do so, but failed to make the weekend with
rounds of 72-73.