Espen Kofstad

Espen Kofstad
Personal information
Born (1987-08-11) 11 August 1987 (age 37)
Oslo, Norway
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb; 12.0 st)
Sporting nationality Norway
ResidenceOslo, Norway
Career
CollegeUniversity of Denver
Turned professional2011
Former tour(s)European Tour
Challenge Tour
Professional wins4
Number of wins by tour
Challenge Tour4
Achievements and awards
Challenge Tour
Rankings winner		2012

Espen Kofstad (born 11 August 1987) is a Norwegian professional golfer who has played on the European Tour and the Challenge Tour, where he won 4 titles and the 2012 Order of Merit.

Early life and amateur career

Kofstad was born in Oslo and was educated at Perbraten School.[1]

Kofstad played college golf at the University of Denver, where he set the school record for the lowest 54-hole score of 195 and won twice. He entered the first stage of the European Tour qualifying school in 2010. At the final stage, he missed qualification for the European Tour by one stroke.[2]

Kofstad won the Norwegian National Golf Championship twice as an amateur, and represented Norway twice in the World Amateur Team Championships for the Eisenhower Trophy. He reached 18th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.[3]

He plays for Losby Golf and Country Club.[4]

Professional career

Kofstad turned professional in 2011 and joined the Challenge Tour, where his best finish in his rookie season was a tie for 5th at the Scottish Hydro Challenge. In 2012, he picked up his first victory at the Double Tree by Hilton Acaya Open. With a second victory at the tour's flagship event the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, he topped the 2012 Order of Merit, and graduated to the European Tour for 2013. His best finish in 2013 was a tie for 8th at the Open de España, two strokes behind winner Raphaël Jacquelin.[4]

Kofstad rose to a career-high 180th in the Official World Golf Ranking and established himself as Norway's highest ranked and most accomplished male golfer prior to the emergence of Viktor Hovland in 2019. He represented Norway at the 2013 World Cup of Golf and at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he finished tied 43rd.[5]

In 2022, Kofstad played in his first PGA Tour event in the Barbasol Championship, shooting a final round 67 to tie for 16th place.[4]

He announced his retirement from tour golf in October 2024, at age 37.[6]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (4)

Challenge Tour wins (4)

Legend
Grand Finals (1)
Other Challenge Tour (3)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 22 Jul 2012 Double Tree by Hilton Acaya Open −9 (72-69-65-65=271) 1 stroke Denmark Joachim B. Hansen
2 27 Oct 2012 Apulia San Domenico Grand Final −19 (65-66-67-67=265) 1 stroke England James Busby, Denmark Joachim B. Hansen
3 10 Jul 2016 D+D Real Slovakia Challenge −17 (67-65-75-64=271) Playoff France Romain Langasque
4 20 Aug 2021 Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge1 −11 (68-70-68-67=273) Playoff Scotland Ewen Ferguson

1Co-sanctioned by the Nordic Golf League

Challenge Tour playoff record (2–0)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 2016 D+D Real Slovakia Challenge France Romain Langasque Won with birdie on second extra hole
2 2021 Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge Scotland Ewen Ferguson Won with birdie on first extra hole

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional

See also

References

  1. ^ "Men's Golf: Espen Kofstad". University of Denver Golf. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Hauger to host the Norwegian Challenge". European Tour.
  3. ^ "Espen Kofstad". International Sports Management. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Espen Kofstad". Golfdata. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Men's Individual Stroke Play - Round 4". rio2016.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  6. ^ Roberts, Andy (24 October 2024). "PGA Tour player announces retirement from game at 37 years old". GolfMagic. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  7. ^ "European Boys' Team Championship – European Golf Association". Retrieved 22 January 2023.