Rafa Echenique

Fully exempt into the 2012 Open Championship by shooting 67-71 in local final qualifying at St Annes Old Links.
One of the exciting new talents to emerge from Argentina along with close friend Andres Romero, whose brother caddied for him on the 2006 Challenge Tour. In 2011 played 33 times but finished 138th in money race losing his card. In 2010 finished second in the Nordea Scandinavian Masters contributed greatly to him finishing comfortably inside the top 100 in The Race to Dubai in 82nd position.
On the European Tour in 2009, finishing a career-high 78th in The Race to Dubai. Highlight of 2009 was his second shot to the par-five 18th hole at the BMW International Open, a perfect 3-iron from 243 yards which found the hole for an albatross and helped him finish second behind Nick Dougherty as well as win The European Tour Shot of the Year Award. Graduated from the European Challenge Tour in 2006 and enjoyed a successful rookie season in 2007, the highlight being his runner-up finish in the TCL Classic in China as he retained his card in 113th position on the Order of Merit. Like so many of his compatriots, began his career on the Tour de Las Americas before coming to Europe via the Challenge Tour and ended 2006 in dream fashion by capturing Argentina's National Open Championship, the 101° Campeonato Visa de la Republica presented by Jeep. Is a huge fan of car racing, and would love to try the sport when his golf career is over.

2012 Challenge Tour results
Event Pos. Earnings R1-R2-R3-R4=Total To Par
Pacific Rubiales Colombia Classic Cut - 80-78=158 +14
The Barclays Kenya Open 14 â?¬ 2,576.88 70-69-72-70=281 -3
Madeira Islands Open Cut - 74-71=145 +1
Telenet Trophy Cut - 76-70=146 +4
Fred Olsen Challenge de España 32 � 1,152.00 67-69-69-71=276 -8
Kärnten Golf Open Cut - 72-71=143 -1
St Omer Open presented 42 â?¬ 2,700.00 74-72-72-75=293 +9
Challenge Provincia di Varese 63 â?¬ 440.00 72-67-68-75=282 +2