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Finding the top-ranked OWGR golfers from obscure golf nations

By Mike Randleman

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 03: Stuart J Smith of Botswana chips out of the 18th greenside bunker during Day Two of The Tshwane Open at Pretoria Country Club on March 3, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 03: Stuart J Smith of Botswana chips out of the 18th greenside bunker during Day Two of The Tshwane Open at Pretoria Country Club on March 3, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /
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Armenia’s flag bearer, cross-country skier Sergey Mikayelyan leads his national delegation during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Armenia’s flag bearer, cross-country skier Sergey Mikayelyan leads his national delegation during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics at the Fisht Olympic Stadium on February 7, 2014 in Sochi. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images) /

Armenia

If anything, Mikiel Tchobanian is resilient. After making two of his first five cuts in 2018 on the Alps Tour, the pride and joy of Armenian golf found some tough going.

He’s missed 16 straight cuts, and has descended from his peak at No. 1,936 in the OWGR to a tie for No. 2,089. The rankings do not extend past 2,089, and there are dozens of players miring at this number.

Tchobanian’s last start came in February at the Red Sea Little Venice Open. But you already knew that. You may think he’s out here embarrassing himself, but, he was only 1-over-par (75-70) for the tournament. He’s almost always scoring in the 70s.

In case you were wondering, Italian rookie Stefano Mazzoli won the Red Sea Little Venice Open at 15-under in what the Alps Tour press release described as a “real humdinger” of a final round.

If I had to power rank all the global tours in golf, the Alps Tour has got to be in the top 10. It’s arguably a notch behind the Challenge Tour, the European Tour’s feeder tour, though the Alps is independent of the European Tour.

Tchobanian has also competed on non-OWGR counting tours, including the 1836 Tour. In 2019, he was 0-for-3 in cuts made. One of those events featured former European Ryder Cup member, Jamie Donaldson.

Tchobanian missed out at PGA EuroPro Tour Q School in 2018. On his profile page here, he has an English flag beside his name and is a dual resident. Tchobanian claims Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand, as his home course. The Canyon Course at Blue Canyon twice hosted the European Tour’s Johnnie Walker Classic.

With the Alps Tour off until at least May, Tchobanian will have time to get his game back in order. He’ll try to make a big late push when play resumes to avoid returning to Q School.

I was delighted to see that there is actually a website, albeit outdated, called GolfArmenia.am. It’s run by the National Golf Association of Armenia.

There’s a souvenir portion of the website with logoed hats, mugs and polo shirts. When you click on each product, though, there’s no way to purchase one. How maddening. There are no event calendars updated past 2018. I’m poking some fun here, but I hope the NGAA is still afloat andsincerely hope golf is growing in Armenia, as well as throughout the world.

Ararat Valley Golf and Country Club appear to be the country’s only golf course, and it’s just nine holes. I think with all the mountaineous elevation changes within the Armenian topography, there could be some cool golf course possibilities if resources ever allow.

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