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Santo da Serra Golf Sat, 1st Mar 2003 Diego Borrego - (Spain) Madeira Island Open Santo da Serra - Madeira - Portugal - 21st to 14th March. 2002 On the European Tour, Diego Borrego an outsider from Spain won the newly formed Madeira Island Open. Diego beat his fellow Spanish golfer Ivo Giner and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber by one stroke and with this victory moved to World No.162. |
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Vale do Lobo Ocean Sat, 1st Mar 2003 Carl Pettersson (Sweden) Algarve Open de Portugal Vale do Lobo - Algarve - Portugal - 4th to 7th April, 2002 Carl Pettersson of Sweden won the wind and rain-affected Algarve Open de Portugal at the first hole after a sudden-death playoff. Carl Pettersson moved up 40 places to No.67. David Gilford finished in the runner-up spot and he moved to No.287. Carl Pettersson's victory at Vale de Lobo means that he is now the 4th highest ranked Swede in the World. The strong Swedish contingent within the World Top 100 consists of Niclas Fasth – No.34, Jesper Parnevik – No.35, Pierre Fulke – No.57, Carl Pettersson – No.67, Mathias Gronberg – No.83 and Robert Karlsson – No.96. |
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Vale do Lobo Ocean Sat, 1st Mar 2003 Golf Director John Pinckney joined the Vale do Lobo Resort two years ago. He brought with him not only his love for the sport but also his considerable business experience. As a youngster he had by the age of 15 reduced his handicap down to a proud 1 stroke. After leaving school, circumstances took him in another direction and before long he was making a name for himself in the financial field of the City of London. As is generally inevitable in life, John had to face another change in direction and decided to return back to the world of golf where he keenly admits he should have stayed from the beginning. Prior to joining VLD (as it is locally known), he held senior management positions in both the Brocket Hall Golf Club owned by CCA, and the Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club owned by American Golf-UK Limited. John was quickly introduced to local event problems shortly after joining VDL when he was involved in the organization of the 'The Skins'. This event took place during unusual drastic weather conditions that caused for some delicate handling. John is enthusiastically looking forward to the possible new challenges presented by the Open with its 135 top players on a course which spreads itself across the two by combining a selection of the best scenic and most challenging holes. Some other temporary topographical adjustments have also been necessary to ensure that all the facilities that the players expect during the course of the competition are on hand. John considers that all is in place and the course condition meets the high level expected by such an international event. As to the future there are lots of plans. A programme of works will upgrade the Ocean Course and there is also an additional third course planned together with a 5 Star Hotel. John firmly believes that the future of the Algarve is closely tied to further premium developments being created in order to be in harmony with the international market trends. Carlota Rodrigues is John's right-hand and joined his team just some 5 months ago. Carlota brings some formidable qualifications besides her attractive presence. This young lady has a degree in Golf Management & Teaching she acquired in San Diego and on the course she plays of a solid 4. In conversation she mentioned that she also enjoys a good game of tennis! John, Carlota and the Resident Pro Stephen Walker, are heavily involved in promoting golf to local youngsters and this is kindly sponsored by VDL. Every week for a period of four months a group of selected 16 youngsters ranging in age from 11 to 15 are taught the basics and then introduced to the physical side of the game. Stephen is the son of Janet Walker who many golfers will remember from the 70s and 80s as the Golf Secretary for over 16 years. The enthusiasm and input of this team will undoubtedly be proven sometime in the not distant future! The constantly busy spacious reception desk is managed by Hermani Estevao who is assisted by Telma, Andre, Sandra, Ricardo, Rita, Anicieto and Victoria. Together with the pressure of the many visitors this team also copes ably with the three different and very active groups composed of resident VDL golfers. The state of the courses lies in the hands of Inacio Coelho who is answerable to the VDL overall Technical Director, Eng. Luis Matos. The Greenkeeper Sr Coelho brought with him 12 years ago the experience he had gained on similar courses of Quinta do Lago and Vila Sol and has now had the total responsibility for the upkeep of Vale do Lobo's two courses for the past 4 years. Luis Matos has worked in Vale do Lobo as an Agricultural Engineer for 29 years and has been the Golf Course Technical Director for 20 years. He commented, 'We have a great team and our aim is to have the course in the best possible condition for the Pros to play in the Open, and in accordance with all the requirements laid down by the PGA'. Sr. Coelho and his team have been working extremely hard and those efforts are clearly producing good results. In closing, I would like to mention to the many car enthusiasts that the VDL is also presenting a Vintage Car Exhibition close to the reception area during the Algarve Portuguese Open. Also, to the back of the Bar area there is a permanent collection of memorabilia devoted to the history of the Courses and particularly to the architect, Sir Henry Cotton. |
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Sat, 1st Mar 2003 The Seve Trophy Druids Glen Golf Resort - Co. Wicklow - Ireland - 19th to 21st April, 2002 The captain for Continental Europe being Seve Ballesteros after whom the Trophy is named. The competition was won by Great Britain and Ireland with a team led by Colin Montgomerie representing Great Britain and Ireland. |
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Sat, 1st Mar 2003 West Australian Steve Collins won the New South Wales Masters tournament after defeating Leigh McKechnie at the first extra play-off hole. Steve became No.321 in the World Golf Ranking. On the US PGA Tour Matt Kuchar shot a final round 66 to win the Honda Classic at Coral Springs in Florida. In only his 17th event as a professional, Kuchar has secured himself an invitation to the Masters Tournament courtesy of his position within the World’s Top-50. He joined John Daly and the South-African Rory Sabbatini as the 3 players who qualify through the Official World Golf Ranking of 11/03/2002 - the second and final installment of World Ranking qualifications for the 2002 Masters. Matt moves up 99 places to World No.50 whilst Brad Faxon followed up his excellent showing in the Accenture Match Play Championship by finishing joint runner-up to Kuchar at Heron Bay. Brad moved up a further 8 spots to World No.19. Joey Sindelar joined Faxon as a runner-up and Joey remained just outside the world Top-100 at No.114. MAR - The European Tour moved to the Middle East where Ernie Els continued his winning ways by capturing the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club. This victory is Ernie’s 3rd consecutive 72-hole stroke play win following his triumphs in the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne Golf Club and his win the previous week in the Genuity Championship. Ernie remained at World No.3 but only less than half a point behind Phil Mickelson. Niclas Fasth finished as runner-up in Dubai and the Swedish Ryder Cup rookie moved up 9 places to Number 30 in the world. Tiger Woods won the Bay Hill Invitational at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida. Tiger remained at the Top of the World Rankings for the 136th consecutive week. Michael Campbell moved up 13 spots to World No.20 courtesy of his runner-up position. In the first tournament on the 2002 Japan Golf Tour season, Toru Taniguchi won the Token Corporation Cup from Hirofumi Miyase and Toru became No. 53 in the world. Peter O'Malley continued his good form in 2002 to win the Holden Clearwater Classic - a co-sanctioned event between the Australasian Tour and the BUY.com tour. Peter Moves up to World No.65. The New Zealander Craig Perks moved up 139 places to World No.64 after he won The Players Championship at the Tournament Players Club in Sawgrass. It is the first time in the Tournament's history that the winner has made the Championship their first PGA Tour win. Stephen Ames moved up to one spot behind Perks at World No.65 and Rocco Mediate continues his charge up the World Rankings to No.18. From a European viewpoint, Sergio Garcia from Spain was the highest finisher and he remained at World No.5. As well as an improvement of 192 places in the Ranking this year, Perks also picked up the first place prize money cheque for $1,080,000 – a full $1.07 million dollars more than when he won for the last time at a 1995 Hooters Event. South-African Retief Goosen shot a final-round 70 to win the BellSouth Classic at the TPC Sugarloaf in Atlanta. It was Goosen’s second career PGA TOUR victory and he moved up 4 places to No.4 – his highest World Ranking position ever and an improvement of 6 spots in 2002 alone. In the 15 months since January 7th 2001, Goosen has shot up the Official World Golf Ranking from No.39 to No.4. Jesper Parnevik had dropped 13 positions in 2002 but his second place finish meant that Parnevik moved back up 10 places to No.35. Phil Mickelson finished 3rd and he remained at No. 2 whilst 4th placed moved Scott McCarron up to No.22 – a 30-place improvement. Justin Leonard moves up 17 positions to No.23 after he won the WorldCom Classic at the Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina and he also jumped up from No.33 to No.13 on the PGA Tour money list. Runner-up Heath Slocum improved his No. 158 position to No.92 after he recorded his best ever PGA Tour finish. Davis Love III returned to the World Top-10 at No.9 courtesy of his T5th finish. Bernhard Langer is the highest placed of the Europeans and an improvement of 4 places placed the German at No.15. Phil Mickelson finished in 3rd position and remained at No.2 in the World Ranking. Rocco Mediate continued his good year as he rose to No.12 after winning the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic – an overall improvement of 18 positions in 2002. Runner-up Mark Calcavecchia is now at No.32. |
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Sat, 1st Mar 2003 Ernie Els - (South Africa) Dubai Desert Classic Emirates - Dubai - United Arab Emirates - 7th to 10th March, 2002 The European Tour moved to Dubai where Ernie Els continued his winning ways by capturing the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club. This victory is Ernie Els's 3rd consecutive 72-hole stroke play win following his triumphs in the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne Golf Club and his win the previous week in the Genuity Championship. Ernie remained at World No.3 but only less than half a point behind Phil Mickelson. Niclas Fasth finished as runner-up in Dubai and the Swedish Ryder Cup rookie moved up 9 places to Number 30 in the world. |
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Sat, 1st Mar 2003 Adam Scott - (Australia) Qatar Masters Doha -Doha - Qatar - 14th to 17th March, 2002 Adam Scott from Australia claimed his second victory on the European Tour International Schedule when he easily won the Qatar Masters at the Doha Golf Club. Adam moved up 12 places in the World Ranking to No. 50 and earned himself a place at the Players Championship. |
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Sat, 1st Mar 2003 Tiger Woods - (USA) Masters Tournament Augusta National - Augusta - Georgia - USA - 11th to 14th April, 2002 Tiger Woods became the youngest player in history to win 7 Major Championships after he won the US Masters at Augusta for the third time in his career. Tiger Woods's victory means that he extends his lead over Phil Mickelson to 6.27 points. Retief Goosen finished in the runner-up spot and remained at No.4. Two-time Masters champion Jose-Maria Olazabal finished in 4th position and moved up 6 spots from No.20 to No.14. Padraig Harrington finished 5th and moved up 3 places into No.9. The final 3 two-balls of The Masters possessed 6 of the World’s Top-7 golfers – only David Duval was missing! |
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Sat, 1st Mar 2003 Sergio Garcia - (Spain) Canarias Open de Espana El Cortijo Club de Campo - Gran Canaria - Spain - 25th to 28th April, 2002 Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia completed a 4-shot victory over the Italian Emanuele Canonica to win the Canarias Open de Espana at El Cortijo Club de Campo. Sergio Garcia remained at World Ranking No.5 and moved to 4th on the Volvo Order of Merit. |
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