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Algarve Golf News - (2007/10/13)

The golf peak season in 2007/8 has now started and most courses will be very busy until the end of November. The fantastic weather that is occurring during the month of October is just an additional factor for the many reasons why golfers choose this month for their holidays.

The most significant golfing event this year in Portugal is in October. It is the staging on the Oce�nico Victoria Course in Vilamoura of the inaugural "Portugal Masters", a PGA European Tour event, from October the 18th to 21st. As widely advertised on some TV channels the Masters venue is taking place on this popular Arnold Palmer designed course and is was on this same course that the 2005 "WGC World Cup" was played. Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd, who won together the international event for Wales, will also take part in this new tournament. The following golfers are also on the entry list at the time of writing: Justin Rose, Retief Goosen, Darren Clarke, Andres Romero, Richard Sterne, Jos� Maria Olaz�bal, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, Paul Lawrie, David Howell, Kenneth Ferrie, Phillip Price, Jeev Milkha Singh, Paul McGinley, Simon Dyson, Johan Edfors, Jean van de Velde, Paul Broadhurst, Gonzalo Fernandez-Casta�o, Francesco Molinari, Thomas Bj�rn, Markus Brier, John Bickerton, Marc Warren, Miguel Angel Jim�nez, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Dougherty, Thongchai Jaidee Peter Hanson, Jean-Fran�ois Remesy, Rapha�l Jacquelin, Anton Haig, Portuguese Open champion, Pablo Martin, Graeme Storm, Gr�gory Havret, Ross Fisher, S�ren Hansen, Rory McIlroy, Brian Davis, Sandy Lyle, David Frost, Phillip Archer, Jarmo Sandelin, Peter O'Malley, Garry Orr, Marcel Siem, Brett Rumford, Ricardo Gonzalez, Damien McGrane, Simon Wakefield, Jos� Filipe Lima, Stephen Gallacher, Marcus Fraser, Peter Lawrie, Jyoti Randhawa, Maarten Lafeber, Oliver Wilson, Mark Foster, Alastair Forsyth, Robert-Jan Derksen, Christian C�va�r, Tom Whitehouse, Andrew McLardy, Miles Tunnicliff, Christian Nilsson, Gr�gory Bourdy and Gary Murphy. The final list of entrants will be announced only about a week before this �3 million event.

Visitors to Forum Algarve (Faro - Portugal) got the chance to get on the green with �Golf Forum�, an event aimed at providing the community and the Forum users with an opportunity to have a first touch with golf or to improve established golfing skills. The event ran between 25th September and the 7th October and was held in the Central Plaza of Forum Algarve.

The original concept for the event was born when PGA Master Professional Tony Bennett and members of the Forums management team came together and started developing the project. �Our initial aim was to create a luxurious golfing environment� said Tony (consistent with all the Forums activities) who went on to say that �golf should be accessible and enjoyed by everybody; with events such as this proving that quality is both possible and can be developed in a way for all�.

Over the duration of the event, which attracted well over one hundred people almost everyday, with more than six hundred taking lessons from a PGA qualified professional and a team of introducers, over 1500 people came in touch with golf. Additionally Golf Forum invited pupils from the local school and associations to book a free golf experience.

The event cumulated on Sunday evening with a final skills challenge attracting golfers of all ages and abilities from the local and national golf community. The event has already received widespread praise, with many onlookers and commentators being quick to point out the event will defiantly provide an emphasis to the growth of the game; with the ripple effects being felt as far east as Castro Marim, west as Lagos and north as Lisbon.

As planned, the new club house at Boavista Golf Resort in Lagos was officially opened. Located by the 18th green, it offers beautiful views over the course and coastline. The building boasts extensive locker rooms, a 150-seater restaurant, private function room and a well stocked golf shop. There is also a heated indoor pool, gymnasium, steam room, sauna and spa as well as extensive sunbathing terraces and a children�s outdoor pool. Boavista Resort now has a focal point with first class facilities and services all under one roof to our property owners, members and visitors�.

The Lexus PGA Portugal Tour event sponsored by Oce�nico Developments and held at the Oce�nico Pinhal Course in Vilamoura. It ended in a resounding win by Vale de Lobo pro, Ant�nio Sobrinho, with a 13 under par 72-hole and a total of 275, whilst the runner-up Hugo Santos was 12 strokes behind. The top 21 pros in the tournament took part in a Pro-Am on the following day and the team comprising amateurs A. Glen, C. Ball and J. Russell with pro Scott Taylor came in first when they carded a net score of 54 strokes.

The inaugural "Portugal Nations Cup" organised by the Federation of Portuguese Golf was held on the Ocean course in Vale do Lobo. A total of 16 teams defended their respective countries. Both England and Ireland drew for 1st place on the 18th green. However, a count-back gave the edge to England and winning the Cup.

Lisbon & North & Islands Golf News

Tiago Cruz (POR) won SATA AZORES OPEN 2007 tournament with a steady final round of 71 (1 under par). Lee Curry (CAN) shot 73 (1 over par) on this final round and finished with a score of 3 under par. Nuno Campino (3rd on the par) and Ant�nio Sobrinho (9th with 7 over par) were the 2 other players that managed to score the last round on the red figures. Ricardo Raposo (AZO) won the Group A Amateur tournament with runners up Jos� Sousa (CAN, 2 shots more on Net competition) and Diogo Tom� (AZO, 1 shot more on Gross competition). The Group B Amateur tournament was won by Jorge Costa (AZO) on the Gross Competition while Onofre Soares (AZO) won the Net Competition.

The Forum Coimbra, being one of the newest and in Portugal's third city which is famous for its university, received a design award at this year's ICSC conference in Warsaw. The winning team � whose 4th member was absent - comprised Magda Carrilho, S�rgio Garcia (namesake only!) and Joaquim Pinheiro, with the runner-up team being Ricardo Oliveira, Benno van Veggel, Duarte Garin and Inigo Arnaiz.

Howard Chamberlain from England won the title in the annual 2007 Lisbon Golf Coast Festival sponsored by the Lisbon Tourist Board. This popular event is a combination of golf on local courses and organised social functions and draws players from many European countries. Howard just had the edge over his nearest rival Michael Allendorf from Germany. The team event for the Nations Cup was won by Brian and Glenda Winn from England.

The Credit Suisse Estoril Challenge de Portugal at Estoril Course was won by Peter Baker, former Ryder Cup player. Lying close behind Baker was Welshman Stuart Manley with Jan-Are Larsen from Norway in third place. Tiago Cruz won the Mota Engil Classic which took place on the Amarante Course. He was followed by Ant�nio Sobrinho and Ricardo Santos, whilst, M�nia Bernardo won the Ladies prize followed Cl�udia Dantas.

The 1� Guialmi Cup played at Quinta do Per� Course brought together 156 invited players involving many household brand names was won by Paulo Sp�nola followed by Gustavo Salazer and Miguel Mimoso. The Ladies segment was won by Maria Helena Antunes followed by Maria Jo�o Almeida Fernandes and F�tima Pita. Estoril Golf was the location for the annual D'Arcy Orders Competition. The event was won by Eva Sanches with Derek MacIvor in second place. The Praia D'el Rey course was chosen by the Pings Golf Society for their annual Presidents Putter Competition. First prize went to George Buss with Philippe Schifferling close behind. The 6� Casino Estoril Tournament on the Estoril Course was won by Nicolas Sturken followed by Jo�o de Deus.

Tiago Cruz was the winner of the Mota Engil Classic on the Amarante Course. The Montebelo Course at Viseu recently inaugurated their additional nine holes to make 27. This course was also the location for the Invitation Becel Tournament which was won by Jorge Toste followed by Ant�nio Vieira, and Anabela Pereira won the Ladies prize. The Golden Eagle Course was for four days the scene of intense activity as the Campeonato Nacional de Jovens was played. The best young golfers from around the country played at their best to win their varies sections. Under eighteens was won by Bernardo Fr�re and Marta Vasconcelos. Under sixteen was won by Tiago Rodrigues and Ana Santos Melo. Under fourteens was won by Gon�alo Pinto and under twelve's was won by Jo�o Magalh�es.

The team Landidor consisting of Carlos Tinoco, Jo�o Vinagre, Artur Ferreira and Jo�o Navega, were the winners of the World Corporate Golf Challenge which was held at the Sul de La Manga Course in Spain. This team event was hard fought by teams representing many countries from all around the world.

90 players participated in the Lexus Trophy held on the Oporto Club Course near Porto. Jos� Carlos Sousa won with 42 points with Mandim Lino taking second place with 40 points. The Ladies segment was won by Cathy Le�o.

The 1� Royal Caribbean Golf Trophy was held on the Penha Longa Course near Estoril was won by Em�lio Fernandes with 27 points. Maria Cristina Matos won the net with 37 points.

On Madeira Island in the TMN Tournament held on the Santo da Serra Course, Kimberley Camacho and June Maul carried off the top prize with 65 net strokes. Two pairs tied for second place with 67 net strokes; Nina Haarguaard/Goretti Aveiro and Fernando Vieira/Francisco Gon�alves. On Porto Santo Course a serious of tournaments are held in August which are successfully attracting players.

In the very north on the Ponte de Lima Course, a round of the Spanish "Copa de Ora de Galicia" series, brought together 112 Portuguese and Spanish players. Jos� Casimiro Lima with 41 points took the net prize with Vasco Garcia Costa in second place.

The young Portuguese player Pedro Figueiredo took second place in the Amateur International Championship held on the Basel Golf Course in Switzerland. Pedro who plays at the Quinta do Per� near Lisbon was tied in first place with Sean Einhaus and Pierre Relecom. In the play-off he lost due to a bogey on a Par 3.

The Miramar Course held its in-house tournament to establish its 2007 champions. Jorge Abreu won the men's, Susana Mendes Ribeiro won the ladies and Francisco Almeida won the juniors.