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Algarve Golf News - (2007/03/09)
The latest dominating news has been the purchase of five Vilamoura courses by
Oce�nico Golf Group. During 12 years of ownership by Andr� Jordan Group of
Lusotur Golfes, S.A., during which the Millennium and Victoria courses were
built and the other three (Pinhal, Laguna and Vilamoura Old Course) have been
upgraded, this prime golf destination now looks forward to an even brighter
future. A 25-minute drive west along from Faro is the site where Oce�nico are
building their two golf courses and residential complexes, the "Amendoeira
Resort". The two challenging 18-hole courses designed respectively by Christy
O'Connor Jr. and Nick Faldo, are both due for opening in 2008.
The management of the all Oce�nico courses in the Algarve has been entrusted to
Troon Golf of Scottsdale, Arizona, the same company that already manages
Oce�nico two courses on S�o Miguel island in the Azores. This acquisition was
made a year ago in partnership with the Portuguese company, Siram. Oce�nico are
also developing the Royal �bidos Golf Resort on the Costa de Prata (Silver
Coast) about an hour's drive north of Lisbon. Oce�nico will now own ten courses
and have therefore become the largest owners of golf facilities in the country,
and a major player in Europe
Another transfer of ownership in Algarve golf courses occurred previously when
some weeks ago the CS Group (owners of the 5-Star S�o Rafael Hotel in Albufeira",
purchased the Morgado and �lamos courses near Portim�o including the property
development assets of the Herdade do Morgado de Reguengo from the Tivoli Hotel
Group.
The 77th Portuguese Open Amateur Championships for both men and ladies were held
at the Quinta de Cima and the Quinta da Ria courses near Tavira. There were 96
contestants in the men's event and 36 in the ladies', and after two qualifying
stroke-play rounds those with the leading scores played match-play for the
Championships. I�igo Urquizo, a 24-year-old law graduate from San Sebastian in
Spain, became the 2007 champion by defeating Frenchman Anthony Pailler 3&2 in
the 36-hole final. The English golfer Holly Aitchison (who is 19), became the
lady Amateur Champion after beating Nicola Roessler from Germany by the same
margin. Jo�o Carlota, a 16-year-old Vilamoura junior, lost to Urquizo in the
semi-final, the same stage at which Ana Melo, aged only 15, from Terceira GC in
the Azores lost 1 down to the eventual winner.
Solverde Casinos staged a "Simply the Best" fun tournament at the Quinta da Ria
course. The 88-player field qualified during the sponsor's 2006 circuit of
tournaments by scoring nearest-the-pin shots. C�ndido da Luz, a member of ADC
Quinta do Lago won the Stableford event with 40 points after a count-back
decision as he had tied with Vilamoura golfer Valdomero Rodrigues. There were
also novelty prizes for balls closest to the hole after the 2nd strokes on some
par-4's and 3rd strokes on par-5's. The new circuit comprises five tournaments
starting with the 5th Espinho Casino tournament at the Oporto Course in the
north on the 24th-25th March and ends in September. |
Portugal Golf
