"GOLF IN PORTUGAL" - NEWSLETTER - Nº 66

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

Algarve News
July and August are unusual golfing months in the Algarve, given the higher temperatures, the courses are uncrownded except for occasional friendly tournaments which are mostly for some charity.

As mentioned last month, the 'soft' opening of the magnificent Jack Nicklaus layout at Monte Rei, near Vila Nova de Cacela has taken place. Having personally been at the site during one of Nicklaus's original visits in July, 1990, I was anxious to drive over and see the final masterpiece for myself as reports and photos published are really impressive. A special 'twilight' green-fee, including a shared buggy and complimentary use of the practice facilities, are on offer until the end of this August.

Through well-known local golf pro, Tony Bennett, who runs teaching centres at Alto Golf (Alvor) and Quinta da Ria (Tavira), and the writer received a kind invitation to play in a team event at the testing Penha Longa course, west of Lisbon. Organised by Tony and his wife and son, the tournament was sponsored by the Multi-Development Group which operates in 20 European countries designing, constructing and managing shopping centres. Established In Portugal for 17 years the company has set up many such complexes throughout the country.

The 36-hole 7th Vilamoura Casino invitational tournament was staged at the Oceânico Victoria and Old Courses at the beginning of the month. Getúlio Jorge was teh winner with Romeu Gonçalves in second place. Part of the Solverde annual circuit that culminates in September at the Oporto Golf Club. This was the first course in Portugal and one of the first of a handful in continental Europe, in fact, dating back to 1890. The ten leading players qualified for this year's final tournament.

The Le Méridien San Lorenzo Course provided their golf course to hold a charity event organised in aid of the Associação Oncológica do Algarve for its Casa Flor das Dunas project. A total of 93 players took part and G. Sloan won the men's prize with 40 Stableford points, followed closely by J. Cavell on 39. Two ladies, Janet Kaye and Judy McDowell tied the lead with first place going to the former after a count-back.

At the end of June, Parque da Floresta Course and sponsor Hertz Portugal held the 6º Safe Hands Charity Golf Classic which raised more than € 150.000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust with a two-day tournament and a Gala dinner. The event was won by the Sportax Team comprising of John Peavoy, Greoffrey Vickers, Noel Barker, and captained by the events host, David Seaman. The participants included a host of famous names past and present from football, rugby and cricket.

An amateur team event, the Nations Cup: Portugal, organised by the Portuguese tourist board and the Portuguese Golf Federation, will be held at Vale do Lobo from 29th August to 2nd September, and a good field of players is expected from several countries.

The Salgados Course near to Albufeira has last month inaugurated their smart new Club House which offers guests many more facilities including Spa facilities.

Lisbon & North & Islands
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 António Sobrinho and Ricardo Santos, whilst, Mónia Bernardo won the Ladies prize followed Cláudia Dantas..

The 1º Guialmi Cup played at Quinta do Perú Course brought together 156 invited players involving many household brand names was won by Paulo Spínola followed by Gustavo Salazer and Miguel Mimoso. The Ladies segment was won by Maria Helena Antunes followed by Maria João Almeida Fernandes and Fátima 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 6º Casino Estoril Tournament on the Estoril Course was won by Nicolas Sturken followed by João de Deus.

Tiago Cruz was the winner of the Mota Engil Classic on the Amarnate 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 António 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 Frére and Marta Vasconcelos. Under sixteens was won by Tiago Rodrigues and Ana Santos Melo. Under fourteens was won by Gonçalo Pinto and under twelve's was won by João Magalhães.

The team Landidor consisting of Carlos Tinoco, João Vinagre, Artur Ferreira and João 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.

International News
KJ Choi (Choi Kyung-Ju) from Korea won the inaugural AT&T National after holing a bunker shot on the 71st hole to claim his sixth win on the PGA TOUR. The final margin of victory was three strokes over Steve Stricker taking Choi to World Nº 13, a climb of 7 places. Jim Furyk finished tied third and moved to the Nº 2 position.

Colin Montgomerie picked up his 31st European Tour title when he won the Smurfit Kappa European Open by a stroke from Sweden's Niclas Fasth over the Smurfit Course at the K Club. Montgomerie improved his Ranking by 13 positions to Nº 30, while Fasth climbed two places to Nº 20. Toru Taniguchi won the Woodone Open Hiroshima on the Japan Golf Tour after a sudden death playoff with Prayad Marksaeng from Thailand. Taniguchi climbed 22 places to Nº78. Gareth Paddison won at the AGF-Allianz Open des Volcans on the European Challenge Tour.

Gregory Havret of France claimed victory in a play off with Phil Mickelson at The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond Golf Club after the pair had tied at 14-under-par. A sand save for par on the first extra hole was enough for Havret as Mickelson made bogey after tangling with the bank of Loch Lomond from the tee. The win took Havret to Nº 115, a leap of 205 positions and earned him a start in this week's Open Championship. Mickelson moved back up one to Nº 2 and Ernie Els, who finished third, climbed up one to Nº 4.

Jonathan Byrd birdied three of his final five holes to pass South African Tim Clark and win the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Illinois. As well as earning a trip to play at Carnoustie this week and Augusta in April, the win takes Byrd to Nº 68, a jump of 41 places.

Toru Taniguchi also heads to the Open this week in a rich vein of form having secured his second win in as many weeks on the Japan Golf Tour at the Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup. The win moved him up a further 17 places to Nº 61.

On the PGA Tour, Tim Clark, who came at second at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee moved up to Nº 39. Anders Schmidt Hansen won at the MAN NO Open on the European Challenge Tour.

Andres Romero won the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship of Europe at Gut Kaden in Hamburg, Germany, with a final round of 70 for a three stroke victory over Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson. Andres Romero climbed to Nº 29 and to 13th in the standings for the International Team in the Presidents Cup.

Jim Furyk completed a successful defence of his Canadian Open title with a sensational final round of 64, including a hole-in-one, to deny overnight leader Vijay Singh by a single stroke. With this first victory of 2007 Furyk regained the Nº 2 place. Colm Moriarty won at the FIRSTPLUS Wales Challenge on the European Challenge Tour.

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