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Wed, 1st Feb 2006 For the second time in six years the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) nominated the Algarve as the best established golf destination, one of its most prestigious awards. Regardless of a lack of rain during the autumn, there was an upturn in business and the courses announced a total of almost one million rounds of golf played. December and January are normally slow months due to the Christmas season but a reasonable numbers of golfers visit to take advantage of the emptier courses. Also, during the while year there are a number of tournaments held for both local and visiting players. One of these is the annual visit of the 'UK Barmens Guild' golfers who played together with their Portuguese counterparts during the second week of the year. A well-established group of golfers which celebrated their 25th annual visit to Vilamoura is the 'Sussex Professional Golf Union', comprising about 200 businessmen composed of executives as well as Pro golfers. During this year's visit they played all five of the Vilamoura courses. The 'Vale do Lobo Golf Week' is another popular Amateur Tournament in mid-January attracting many visitors as well as the resident golfers of the Algarve. |
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Wed, 1st Feb 2006 In December, Lusotur Golfes, held their flagship medal-play tournament 'Grande Trofeu' which was played for the 18th time and this year on the Millennium, Pinhal and the Old Course courses. A total of 285 players representing many countries took part. Including were 44 ladies, with all golfers of each gender split into four handicap sections. Prizes were awarded for the three best net scores and the best gross score in each section, in addition to the best overall net and gross scores. A special prize was awarded to Stuart Symmons who scored a stunning hole-in-one on the 157 metre long 3rd hole of the Millennium course. |
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Wed, 1st Feb 2006 The 9th annual 'Charity Golf Tournament', now a respected and traditional part of the golfing calendar was held on the Victoria course at the end of January. Due to renovation work at the venue, the traditional gala fund-raising dinner was postponed until later to take place in June. The Tournament was held with a field of 108 golfers and the event raised 9,350 Euros for the four charities designated for 2006. This popular event was heavily sponsored by dozens of local and not so local businesses. The main winners of the golf tournament were: 1st – Colin Watts and Colin Whittingham; 2nd - Willie Scott and Alfredo Germano; and 3rd – Oliver Hart and Sebastian Keeping. |
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Quinta da Ria Wed, 1st Feb 2006 The last qualifying event for the finals of the 15th 'Golfe & Comunicacao Tour' took place on the sister courses near Tavira, the Quinta da Ria and Quinta de Cima. Two well-known Portuguese personalities were in the field, Joao de Deus Pinheiro (former Foreign Minister and European Commissioner), and General Vasco Rocha Vieira, an ex-Governor of Macau. Both claimed prizes for their efforts, Joao Pinheiro taking 2nd place in the 2nd Handicap section, and General Vieira who gained the best net score for the Seniors. The winners in each section qualified for the finals which will be held in China later in this year. |
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Victoria Wed, 1st Feb 2006 During the last week in January, the 14th 'International Senior Amateur Ladies' golf competition was held on the top two Vilamoura golf venues, the Victoria and the Old Course. About 200 Senior Amateur ladies from 14 European countries played in the 3-day event consisting of an 18-hole Better-Ball tournament followed by the main Single Medal-Play. Cecilia Mourgue d'Algue, winner of the lowest handicap division, retained the gross title she has previously conquered in 2005. The respective gross winners in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th divisions were: Bebe Cabral (Portugal), Manoli Zaspe and Brownen Denza. |
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Wed, 1st Feb 2006 The Royal Trophy Amata Spring - Bangkok - Thailand - 7th to 8th January, 2006 Europe beat off a spirited fightback from the Asian team to win the inaugural Royal Trophy 9-7 after a dramatic final day at Amata Spring Country Club, Bangkok, Thailand. Sweden's Henrik Stenson secured the winning point, beating Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee 5 and 4 in the anchor match, after the Irish duo of Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell put the first two points on the board for Europe. |
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Wed, 1st Feb 2006 Retief Goosen won the South African Airways Open at The Links Golf Club at Fancourt in George by a stroke from Ernie Els. Both players retained their positions in the World Golf Ranking and made ground on Phil Mickelson as the Nº 3. Tiger Woods retained his Buick Invitational title by overcoming the challenge from Nathan Green and Jose Maria Olazabal in a sudden death playoff. The trio tied on 10 under par. Woods extended his lead at the top of the World Golf Ranking to 7.64 average points. Nathan Green climbed 110 places to Nº 143 while Jose Maria Olazabal moved up 6 places to Nº 24. |
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Wed, 1st Feb 2006 Chris DiMarco - (USA) Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates - 19th to 22nd January, 2006 Chris DiMarco won the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship with a final round of 67 for a 20 under par total of 268. He was one shot ahead of Sweden's Henrik Stenson. This victory in his first European Tour event outside the Major Championships and World Golf Championships helped Chris DiMarco to regain his World Top 10 status with a two position improvement to Nº 9. |
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Wed, 1st Feb 2006 Henrik Stenson - (Sweden) The Commercialbank Qatar Masters Doha - Qatar - 26th to 29th January, 2006 Henrik Stenson from Sweden followed his second place finish in Abu Dhabi the previous week with a victory at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters at Doha GC. The victory took Henrik Stenson into the Top 20 for the first time as he jumped 9 places to Nº 19. Second placed Paul Broadhurst moved up 22 places to Nº 62. |
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