The year 2013 will not be easy to forget due to the numerous victories and good moments achieved by Andalusian golfers. Although 2013 once again brought nuring a complex economic situation that fully affected the golf industry, the extraordinary achievements of Andalusian sportsmen and women stood out in a season to remember.
As in previous years, the Andalusian players, both professional and amateur, have shown that they know how to succeed, continuing a line of successes as a result of the work and quality they possess.
Special mention to Azahara Muñoz for her decisive contribution to the European team’s historic victory over the North American team in the Solheim Cup. Asimismo, la jugadora malagueña redondeó un año sobresaliente con su primer puesto en el Lacoste Ladies Open de FranceThe event belongs to the European Women’s Tour.
Another of the great references of Andalusian, Spanish and world golf in 2013 was Miguel Angel Jimenez. El golfista de Churriana, que comenzó a competir cuando la temporada ya había atravesado su ecuador debido a la injury that he suffered at the end of 2012 while skiing, he signed off a brilliant year, in which his decisive role in the triumph of continental Europe stood out, thirteen years after winning for the last time, at the Seve Trophy; and his fourth title, and second in a row, at the UBS Hong Kong Open.
With this last great success in Asia, the incombustible Miguel Ángel Jiménez reached his twentieth victory on the European Tour and enlarged his legend a little more by beating his own record as the oldest player to win a tournament on the European Tour.
Raúl Quiróschampion of the Alps of the Castillas o Álvaro Quiróswinner together with the rest of the European team at The Royal Trophywere other Andalusian professional golfers who left their mark throughout 2013.
First victories in the United States University League
Already in the amateur field, although just a few steps away from making the leap to professionalism, 2013 will be remembered for the definitive emergence of several Andalusian players who combine their studies at different universities in the United States with the practice of high-level golf.
As a result, the Malagueñas Noemi Jimenez (first classified of the Cal Classic) y Rocio Sanchez (winner of the Seminole Match Up) made their first appearance in the United States Collegiate League (NCAA).
Subsequently, Noemí Jiménez (Darius Rucker Intercollegiate) added her second title, and the Grenadian Scott W. Fernández (Furman Intercollegiate) completed the list of Andalusian university golfers who triumphed on the other side of the Atlantic.
Mario Galiano reigns again
Mario Galianothe leading exponent of this new batch of young Andalusian golfers endowed with exceptional talent, had another dream campaign where, among other numerous successes, his title in the Spanish Boy’s Championship stood out. Spanish Boy Championship and his third consecutive victories in the Puerta de Hierro National Cup e International of Spain Junior Stroke Play.
Likewise, in terms of collective competitions, the player from Cadiz also performed at a superlative level, contributing to the triumph of the Spanish team in the Lacoste 4 Nations. Lacoste 4 Nations, and winning, together with David Moragofor the first time in history in the Argentina Team International, XLII edition of the Tailhade Cup..
Women’s prominence at the international level
Noemi Jimenez was one of the great bastions of Andalusian golf throughout the season. In addition to her splendid individual achievements in the NCAA, the Malaga golfer consolidated herself as a firm project for the future thanks to her sensational contributions to both the continental European team that won the traditional Vagliano Trophyas well as the Spanish team that won the gold medal at the Women’s Absolute European Championship.
For this European title, Noemí Jiménez and the rest of the national team received the Silver Medal of Merit in Golf. Silver Medal of Merit in Golf at the Annual Gala organized by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation to honor those athletes, personalities and institutions that have made a special contribution to the development of golf in our country.
On the other hand, Maria Parraone of the jewels of the Andalusian quarry, won a major triumph in the prestigious International North of England U16 International. La jugadora gaditana selló la primera plaza, seguida de la malagueña Ana PeláezThe company’s success is a milestone that will last for a long time.
New national titles
Despite the halo of glory that surrounded Mario Galiano during 2013, the golfer from Cadiz was not the only Andalusian player to win a national title last season.
The Malaga-born Angel Achawinner of the Spanish University Championship or the Cordovan José Manuel Muñoz, champion of Spain 3rd Category, were other essential references in the golfing panorama of our country.
A separate chapter deserves Casilda Castillejo, who demonstrated, together with her sister Catalina, their absolute hegemony in the Spanish Senior Women’s Doubles Championship after winning her third consecutive title.
In addition, with respect to the World Ranking events, Scott W. Fernandez won his first victory of the year in the Canarian Canary Islands Championship; Mario Galiano added to his list of winners with the Balearic Cup; y Ana Peláez crowned herself in the inaugural edition of the Andalusia Women’s Cup.
Finally, in the National Junior Scorersthe young values of Andalusian golf shone with their own light, highlighting the first places of Juan Manuel Dueñas, from Cordoba Juan Manuel Dueñas and the Cadiz Beltrán Fernández in the Infantile and Alevín Male categories, respectively.
The Andalusian Pitch & Putt adds up and goes on
The Andalusian Pitch & Putt, source of countless successes in recent years, once again completed a spectacular season in which it won six national titles, reaffirming its total dominance in this variety of golf.
Thus, Leonardo Lilja and Ana Pelaez reissued laurels such as champions of Spain Individual; Antonio Pimentel and the Leonardo Lilja their second consecutive victory in the Spanish Doubles Championship; Antonio Fernandez and Rosa Sanchez were awarded the Spanish Senior Men’s and Women’s Championship; and the Andalusian Pitch & Putt team, made up by Jose Lopez, Antonio Pimentel, Leonardo Lilja, Jose Luis Lopez and Pedro Rodriguez (captain), repeated his triumph in the Interterritorial.
To round off a year full of victories, the Cadiz-born Enrique Marín finished first in the fourth and last Scoring for the National Ranking of Pitch & Putt 2013..
Andalusia sweeps the U-25 Men’s and Children’s Interterritorials
If in the individual tournaments the Andalusian golfers scored masterfully, in the team competitions they did not lag behind, demonstrating that Andalusia is at the top of the national golf.
In addition to the second consecutive win for the masters of short game in the Pitch & Putt Inter-territorial, the regional team, made up of Leonardo Lilja, Víctor Pastor, Mario Galiano, Carlos Leandro, Antonio Cruz-Conde, José Mateo, Mario Galiano Trujillano (captain) and Castor Gómez (professional), also revalidated their crown in the Interterritorial U-25 Men’s 1st Division “Santi Ollé Memorial”..
With this new achievement, Andalusia reached an impressive fourteen titles (1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2012 and 2013, reflecting its supremacy in this competition.
And to round off the superb collective performance of the Andalusian players during 2013, the team composed by Ignacio Puente, Sergio Ronchel, Sara García, Gonzalo Leal, Juan Manuel Dueñas, María Contreras, Inmaculada Torres (captain) and Inmaculada Torres (captain). (captain) y Castor Gómez (professional) lifted the title in the Children’s Interterritorial “Memorial Blanca Mayor“.
Thus, Andalusia continued its idyll with a championship in which it already has nine victories (1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013), a record that no one has equaled so far.
Lacoste Promises with Andalusian flavor
As a finishing touch to a glorious year for Andalusian golf, the Sevillian golfer Ignacio Puente won the Lacoste Promises, one of the most important junior circuits in the national calendar.
Ignacio Puente’s stellar role, combined with the second place finish of María Parrawho came close to victory after losing in the play-off tie-breaker to Asturian Covadonga Sanjuánand the third place of Ana Pelaezare a new proof of the magnificent work carried out in Andalusia during the last decades.
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