An incredible debut on the Challenge Tour
26 January 2025
After successfully completing the qualification stages in Spain, securing his tour card, Bård enjoyed a productive few weeks in Norway. He trained with Niklas at Losby, renewed his visa at the U.S. Embassy, and spent quality time practicing with friends in Sveio. A highlight for many was seeing him in action during a round of golf back home.
Before Christmas Bård returned to Dallas, where he resumed training with Kyle, sharpening his skills in preparation for the upcoming tournaments in the spring. However, golf enthusiasts back home could rejoice, as he came back to Norway for the holidays.
After enjoying the holidays in Norway, Bård’s first destination on tour was South Africa, where he joined Alexander Settemsdal and his caddie Gavin Hinds for an exciting new chapter. The trio embarked on a scenic road trip to the golf resort, encountering giraffes along the way—a true African adventure. Their first training session in South Africa took place amidst warm weather, vibrant wildlife, and the company of a local caddie. Reports highlighted some impressive shots, though the internet connection proved to be a challenge.
As preparations continued, the final practice round was completed ahead of the first tournament day at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa. Players and caddies even had the unique experience of an elephant safari after their practice—a memorable way to begin their time at this extraordinary location.
The tournament began on a strong note, with Bård finishing the first day at -4, a solid start to the Hotel Planner Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour). This led him to a shared 5th place in the tournament. On day two, he followed up with yet another impressive round, shooting -3 and bringing his total to -7. This performance ensured he made the cut, which settled at -2.
On the final day, Bård delivered hole after hole without bogeys, and with only three holes left he was placed in fourth place with a score of -5. With a bogey on hole 16, and one on 17, he kept us on our toes until the very end. However he eneded with an impressive birde on 18, which secured a remarkable closing round of -4. This strong finish placed him well within the top 10 of the tournament, and the incredible total of -12. What a performance! The result is a testament to Bård and Gavin’s exceptional efforts and determination under the challenging South African heat.
A huge congratulations to Bård, Gavin, the coaches, the support team, and all the golf fans cheering along the way. A special thanks goes out to Gavin for not only his incredible work as caddie but also for capturing this incredible experience with several photos!