Rafael Echenique
Encyclopedia
Rafael Echenique is an Argentine
professional golfer
.
Echenique was born in San Luis, Argentina
. He turned pro in 1999. Having failed to gain a place on the European Tour
via the qualifying school
on four occasions, Echenique finally won his card on the main tour by virtue of finishing seventh on the 2006 Challenge Tour
, helped by a win in the Telia Challenge Waxholm
in Sweden and was second in the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final. Later that year he won the biggest title of his career, the Argentine Open
in his home country.
Echenique's first year on the European Tour was highlighted by a second place finish in the TCL Classic
as he just did enough to retain his playing privileges for the following season. In 2008, a tie for fourth in the Celtic Manor Wales Open
and seventh in the Omega European Masters
, along with several other top twenty finishes, enabled him to sit more comfortably in 90th place on the Order of Merit. He was second in the 2000 Llao Llao Match Play, and the 2004 Argentine PGA Championship
. He won the Argentine Amateur Rankings in 1997/98.
Echenique achieved the biggest result of his career at the 2009 BMW International Open
, finishing runner-up to Nick Dougherty
. Moving through the field on the final day, Echenique carded a final-round 10-under-par 62, which included an albatross at the par-5 18th hole, contributing to a European Tour record back-nine score of 27.
Professional
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
.
Echenique was born in San Luis, Argentina
San Luis, Argentina
-External links:* * *...
. He turned pro in 1999. Having failed to gain a place on the European Tour
PGA European Tour
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
via the qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
on four occasions, Echenique finally won his card on the main tour by virtue of finishing seventh on the 2006 Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
, helped by a win in the Telia Challenge Waxholm
Telia Challenge Waxholm
The Telia Challenge Waxholm was a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour and the Telia Tour. It ran from 1996 to 2007 and was always played in Sweden.-Winners:-External links:*...
in Sweden and was second in the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final. Later that year he won the biggest title of his career, the Argentine Open
Argentine Open
The Argentine Open or Abierto de la República or Abierto de Argentina is one of the oldest national golf open championships. First played in 1905, it has featured numerous notable winners including major champions Jimmy Demaret , Lloyd Mangrum , Tom Weiskopf , Craig Stadler , Mark Calcavecchia ,...
in his home country.
Echenique's first year on the European Tour was highlighted by a second place finish in the TCL Classic
TCL Classic
The TCL Classic was a men's professional golf tournament which was played on a course designed by American Robert Trent Jones, Jr. at Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya on Hainan Island, People's Republic of China four times between 2002 and 2007....
as he just did enough to retain his playing privileges for the following season. In 2008, a tie for fourth in the Celtic Manor Wales Open
Celtic Manor Wales Open
The Saab Wales Open, previously the Celtic Manor Wales Open, is a European Tour golf tournament which was founded in 2000 and is played each June. The event is hosted at the Celtic Manor Resort in the city of Newport, South Wales, also the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup...
and seventh in the Omega European Masters
Omega European Masters
The Omega European Masters is the Swiss stop on professional men's golf's European Tour, and in 2009 will become the first event in Europe to be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour....
, along with several other top twenty finishes, enabled him to sit more comfortably in 90th place on the Order of Merit. He was second in the 2000 Llao Llao Match Play, and the 2004 Argentine PGA Championship
Argentine PGA Championship
The Argentine PGA Championship was a golf tournament played in Argentina from 1920 to 2005. It was generally supported by the leading Argentine golfers and its list of champions includes Eduardo Romero , José Jurado , Vicente Fernández , José Cóceres and Ángel Cabrera...
. He won the Argentine Amateur Rankings in 1997/98.
Echenique achieved the biggest result of his career at the 2009 BMW International Open
BMW International Open
The BMW International Open is an annual men's professional golf tournament on the European Tour. Founded in 1989, it has always been held in and around BMW's home city of Munich, Germany, and since 1997 has been played at the Golfclub München Eichenried....
, finishing runner-up to Nick Dougherty
Nick Dougherty
Nicholas Dougherty is an English professional golfer.Dougherty was born in Bootle, Merseyside, and attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School near Blackburn, Lancashire. He is a protégé of former professional golfer, Nick Faldo, and had an exceptional amateur career...
. Moving through the field on the final day, Echenique carded a final-round 10-under-par 62, which included an albatross at the par-5 18th hole, contributing to a European Tour record back-nine score of 27.
Amateur wins
- 1997 Los Andes Cup
- 1998 Center OpenCenter OpenThe Center Open, or Abierto del Centro, is one of the major regional open golf tournaments in Argentina. Founded in 1927, it has always been held at the Córdoba Golf Club in Córdoba....
(Argentina), Junior World Championship (individual winner) (Japan)
Challenge Tour wins (2)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 Sep 2006 2006 Challenge Tour The 2006 Challenge Tour was a series of golf tournaments known as the Challenge Tour, the official development tour run by the PGA European Tour. The tour was started as the Satellite Tour in 1986 and was renamed the Challenge Tour ready for the start of the 1990 season.The Challenge Tour Rankings... |
Telia Challenge Waxholm Telia Challenge Waxholm The Telia Challenge Waxholm was a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour and the Telia Tour. It ran from 1996 to 2007 and was always played in Sweden.-Winners:-External links:*... |
2 strokes |  Martin KaymerMartin Kaymer Martin Kaymer is a German professional golfer. He became the No. 1 ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Rankings on 27 February 2011 after his runner-up finish in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.... |
|
| 2 | 3 Dec 2006 2007 Challenge Tour The 2007 Challenge Tour was a series of golf tournaments known as the Challenge Tour, the official development tour run by the PGA European Tour... (2007 season) |
Abierto Visa de la Republica | 1 stroke |  Ángel CabreraAngel Cabrera Ángel Cabrera is an Argentine professional golfer who plays on both the European Tour and PGA Tour. He is known affectionately as "El Pato" in Spanish or in English as "The duck" for his waddling gait. He is a former U.S. Open champion and Masters champion. He is the first Argentine to win either... , Ricardo González |
Argentine wins (4)
- 2001 Llao Llao Match Play
- 2004 Salta OpenSalta OpenThe Salta Open, or the Abierto de Salta, is a golf tournament on the TPG Tour, the official professional golf tour in Argentina. First held in 2004, it has always been held at the Salta Golf & Polo Club, in Salta, Salta Province.-Winners:...
- 2006 Argentine OpenArgentine OpenThe Argentine Open or Abierto de la República or Abierto de Argentina is one of the oldest national golf open championships. First played in 1905, it has featured numerous notable winners including major champions Jimmy Demaret , Lloyd Mangrum , Tom Weiskopf , Craig Stadler , Mark Calcavecchia ,...
(co-sanctioned by Challenge Tour) - 2007 Mendoza OpenMendoza OpenThe Mendoza Open, or the Western Open, is a golf tournament on the TPG Tour, the official professional golf tour in Argentina. Founded in 1939, the first two events were held at the Andino Golf Club in Mendoza, Mendoza Province...
Team appearances
Amateur- Los Andes Cup: 1997 (winners)
- Eisenhower TrophyEisenhower TrophyThe Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
: 1998
Professional
- World Cup (representing Argentina): 20092009 Omega Mission Hills World CupThe 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup took place from November 26 to November 29 at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. It was the 55th World Cup. 28 countries competed as two player teams...