They felt -save the insurmountable distances- emulators of the best players in the world when they unsheathed their drivers, tried to dodge the branches of the leafy cork oaks that flank the immaculate fairways and attacked the very fast greens of the best course of continental Europe. And no wonder, the scene of the Ryder Cup, the American Express World Championships, the Volvo Masters and many other tournaments of great international importance, that is, the Real Club Valderrama, is a course with a majesty that impresses every golfer, especially if you are an amateur.
The participants of the Andalucía Golf Tournament enjoyed yesterday not only a course in exceptional conditions but also an extraordinary weather, with a sunny sky and without a single cloud, a pleasant temperature and a moderate wind.
The players felt in their own flesh the challenge that Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Seve, Faldo, Langer and so many other players who have made history in this sport faced in their day. And, of course, if the great professionals have a hard time to overcome a course like Valderrama, the amateurs could not with it, although they enjoyed every stroke, no matter how complicated the challenge was. There were many who in their attack to the 17th green ended up in the lake that protects it, as happened in his day to Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup and the American Express World Championship, in which because of a triple bogey on that hole Miguel Angel Jimenez caught up with him and had to settle the victory in a play off, which won the Californian. The natural amphitheater of that hole was not crowded this time, but the participants in the Andalucía Golf tournament felt as if they were playing for a great title.
In the end, everyone came away happy and very satisfied with the challenging and exceptional course, although the results showed that Valderrama is an impressive test for any golfer, regardless of handicap.
The prize-giving ceremony took place in one of the elegant clubhouse’s coquettish lounges, where a cocktail party was served and praised by the players. The general manager of the Real Club Valderrama, Javier Reviriego, addressed some kind words both to the magazine Andalucía Golf in the figure of its editor Antonio Sánchez and to the participants in the tournament.
As for the results, in the first category, Peter Andersson won with 34 points, who also achieved the best scratch result. In second position, and due to his lower handicap, was Martin Lofuenhaft, who tied on 31 points with the third classified, Andreas Maaland.
In the second category, Enrique Villachica López (from Club Pineda) won with 33 points. Second was Juan Manuel García Vega (Real Club de Golf de Sevilla), with 31 points, and third, with the same score, was José Antonio Cáceres Domínguez (Club Zaudín).
In the scratch classification, Peter Andersson won by minor handicap, as he scored the same 27 points as Ola Gejerval. Third place, with 26 points, went to Martin Lofuenhaft.
As for the special prizes, Claudia Mejía, who scored 29 points, won the the best lady classified; the longest drive went to Ricardo Solé, and the closest ball to the flag, established in four holes, went to Javier Burgués, Antonio Ramírez, Martin Lofuenhaft and Frederic Marsan.
The prizes included top brand clothing from the Fairway + Blue store in Puerto Banús, bags of clubs, boxes of balls, cases of wines from the Somontano D.O. and a painting by the prestigious Marbella-based painter Alejandro Hermann, which went to the winner of the scratch prize. The painting was highly praised by the participants in the tournament, among whom were some art experts.
{gallery}AG Tournaments 2016/Tournament AG Valderrama 2016{/gallery}
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