A hundred professionals met at the Riocerezo course in Burgos to play the thirtieth edition of the PGA Championship of Spain, which began on Tuesday with the Pro-Am and will end on Saturday 16. A great party for the oldest professional sports association in Spain, which also celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2017 since its official constitution.
Among the hundred or so golfers, the best of national golf, there are some names that are shining in a special way this season. Like Alfredo García Heredia (in the photo, with Mikel Galdós), winner of the last round of the Gambito Golf Tour that was played at Sherry Golf last week, with a record: in addition to double winner of the Tour, he won the play-off (the first of the national circuit) with an approach from outside the green. And with almost no time to rest, with a few hours to see his family, he crossed the peninsula to his homeland to play the Asturias Professionals Championship, where he also came out triumphant with another approach from off the green to win the play-off, again.
“This is golf. Last year I didn’t win one and lost tournaments in the playoff and this year I have two out of two,” said the Asturian.
But not only in the minds of the fans is the name of Alfredo, the Madrid-born Sebastián García Rodríguez has had an excellent season with six victories: three in the Madrid Tour, one in the National Tour, 1 Alps and an Invitational. And this is a course that suits his game very well. Although for the defending champion, Mikel Galdós, who is not afraid of the almost 600 meters that the course has been lengthened to prepare it for such an important event.
Ander Martinez wins the Pro-Am
Among the favorites: José Luis Adarraga, winner of last season’s Order of Merit, is always a player to watch out for and has started the week well with third place in the Pro-Am played on Tuesday, tied with Ignacio Bermudo who came in second.
The winner of the Pro-Am was Ander Martinez with -22, it was a festive day in which the weather was sunny and barely windy, which was to the liking of professionals and amateur players who played the tournament.
Among the names to highlight also: Jacobo Pastor, Javier Ballesteros (fourth in the Pro-Am), Xavi Guzmán, Gabriel Cañizares or Lucas Vacarisa. Among others.
The tournament is played in three rounds, from Thursday to Saturday, with a cut-off on Friday, where the best forty most tied players will qualify for a prize of 50,000 euros.
Photo: Carlos Rodríguez
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