"GOLF IN PORTUGAL" - NEWSLETTER - Nº 65

Welcome to the June 2007 monthly "Golf in Portugal" Newsletter.

Algarve News

The Mackenzie Sir Bobby Robson Golf Classic 2007 held at Vila Sol Course, Vilamoura, on 2nd June was a another yearly success. The event raised about €60,000 for the Aboim Ascenção, an emergency home for infants in Faro. Numerous famous football players and celebrities from the UK, Ireland and Portugal took part in the friendly but competitive team event. An auction was held during the Gala Dinner for many items of football memorabilia. The winning team of Guy Lissimore, Kamran Aziz, Geoff Newton and Andy Townsend amassed 89 Stableford points, edging out the "Alamo Avengers – 88" (Adam Masterson, Kevin Hall, Gerry McDermott, and Nigel Spackman) by a single point. The attached photo shows Dr. Pedro F. dos Santos (Vila Sol), Sir Bobby Robson, Charles Mackenzie and Sr. Luís Villas-Boas (Aboim Ascenção).

The Algarve Ladies Open, an official Ladies European Tour event, took place on the par-72 Gramacho Course near Carvoeiro, and after the first two of the three scheduled rounds, the cut was set at 5 over par. A total of 70 players passed the cut, and leading the field going into the 3rd and final round were four players tied on 7 under par: Jade Schaeffer and Sophie Giquel from France, Australian Joanne Mills, and Louise Stahle from Sweden. The scene was set for a close finish but by the fourteenth hole it came down to a duel between Giquel and Stahle, with the latter leading until she bogeyed the tricky par-four 16th after failing to get down in two from a green-side bunker. The Frenchwoman parred the hole and then sank a lengthy downhill putt for birdie on the next green to lead by a single stroke.

On the decisive par-5 last hole, most of the pressure was on the Swede to try and force a playoff, but she hit her second shot into a deep bunker in front of the green. Giquel confidently struck her long-iron approach to the back fringe and then chipped to about two feet for a birdie and a 10 under par total to win her maiden victory less than four years after turning pro, and just 11 days before her 25th birthday. On the same round, Lisa Hall scored a rare albatross on the 18th, and another Lisa (Sorensen) from Denmark sank her approach to the tricky par-4 uphill fifth hole.

Footballers together with several UK entertainment personalities were also very much in evidence at Parque da Floresta where former England and Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman staged his sixth annual "Safe Hands" Charity Classic. An amazing record amount of over £150,000 was raised at this annual popular event. This time it was played by 23 teams in a two-day competition sponsored by Hertz Portugal, the beneficiaries being the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The winners were John Peavoy, Geoffrey Vickers and Noel Barker (Sportax team), captained by the host, David Seaman. At the closing Gala Dinner, guests bid for auction prizes including a luxury holiday in Barbados, and the chance to join David at an Arsenal football match in their Emirates Stadium with hospitality at the members-only Diamond Club. Guests also participated by paying £35 each to enter a draw for a heart-shaped diamond worth about £8,000. Celebrities taking part included European Championship gold medal winner - Kriss Akabusi, former Arsenal footballers - Martin Keown, Graham Rix, Nigel Winterburn, Ray Parlour, Frank McClintock MBE and legendary goalkeeper and commentator - Bob Wilson, formerly Watford and England - Luther Blissett, ex-Man.U. footballers - Lee Sharpe and Clayton Blackmore, former Wolves' striker - Steve Bull MBE, rugby players - Craig Chalmers and Paul Sampson accompanied by Paul's glamorous partner TV's - Kirsty Gallacher, presenter and regular supporter of the event - Anna Walker, former Eastenders' actor - Craig Fairbrass, The Bill's - Chris Simmons and Karl Collins, singer - Dane Bowers, GMTV presenter and CF patron - Ben Shephard, actor and comedian - Vince Earl, as well as actor, comedian and official Safe Hands MC, Bradley Walsh - quite a crowd !!

The fabulous North course at the "Monte Rei Golf & Country Club" property development complex has now been opened for pre-view play. It is the first of two Jack Nicklaus designed "signature" courses on this complex located in eastern Algarve, and laid out over attractive rolling countryside in the hinterland, between the main A22 highway and the mountain range farther north. The official opening, it is now expected to take place in September and next year construction will commence on the second course scheduled for opening in 2009. The nearby new course "Quinta do Vale" has announced that it will be ready to receive players the month after in October.

In July there are still a few golf events which will take place regardless of a the usual wave of hot weather. The 7th Vilamoura Casino Invitational tournament on July 7th and 8th on the Oceânico Victoria and Old Courses at Vilamoura. Also at Vilamoura, the 3rd Vila Sol Golf Junior Open takes place on the 21st of July with several competitions according to age and/or handicap groups. The "Ernesto de Sousa Cup" was held on the Alto Golf Course near Alvor and was won by Amíliar Fonseca with Pedro Miguel Sousa in second place.

On 29th of July the "Le Meridien San Lorenzo Course" will be hosting a charity competition for the "Casa Flor dos Dunas", a local charity for cancer patients - Contact Tel: (00 351) 913 524 253.

Lisbon & North & Islands
In June the Oporto Course held their popular annual "Kendall Cup" which was won by Pedro Figueiredo with António Rosado taking second place. The 5º Curia Cup on the course of the same name was won by Elisabete Pinto with José Afonso and Manuel Gonçalves only one point behind. The Montbelo Course near Viseu hosted the 10º Anniversary of the "CG de Centro" and was won by Álvaro Marreco with Maria Carmo in second place. The Oporto Club was chosen for the "El Corte Inglês" Cup which was won by Thomas Perkins with José Manuel Cordeiro and Bernardo Graça taking combined second place. The "CG de Advogados" held their Spring Competition on the Golden Eagle Course which was won by André Carvalho with José Brigham in second place. "Lisbon SC" held their "São Bernardino Cup" which resulted in five equal winners with 37 points, José Amorim, João Mendonça, Amílicar, José Carlos Mascarenhas and Manuel Oliveira. The ladies winner was Isabel Dray.

The Estoril Golf Club held their annual "Salette de Sousa e Melo Cup" and "Dr José Sousa e Melo Cup". The former was won by Carla Cruz and Tomás Santos Silva, and the latter won by Tomás Santos Silva.