The Gecko Tour provides participants with a diverse spectrum of emotions and challenges. For some it is a chance to regain confidence after a setback; for others, a stage to announce their potential as stars of the future.
Both aspects were on rich display during the most recent two tournaments of Europe’s premier winter circuit. First of all for Jordi García del Moral, who had not planned on playing at El Paraiso. He had fallen out of the European Tour Qualifying School in the second half, hung up his clubs in November and didn’t pick them up again until a week before El Paraiso..
His objective was to return to competition within a week but he had “great vibes” and felt there was no reason not to hit the course sooner. Additionally, the day before, he had received the sad news that his grandmother Rosa had passed away in Castellón. The snowfall that fell that same weekend throughout the eastern coast of Spain kept him from being able to travel to say a final adios. “It’s okay son,” said his mother. “These things happen. Play in the tournament and dedicate it to your grandmother.”
Two days and 39 holes later he was able to dedicate the win to her, with victory on the third hole of a play-off against Irishman Tommy O’Driscoll and German Finn Fleer. “After the School I was really down,” said García del Moral, who won the Gecko order of merit two years ago. “I got bumped out after the only bad round of the year, the second at El Saler. It was tough and I was left a bit disoriented about what to do, to continue, not to continue... thinking about it a lot. This win really boosted my morale; it is pushing me to keep going and helps to prove to myself that I’m doing things well. It’s hard to win in general, anywhere. We had to shoot 10-under-par to get into the play-offs. Everyone has a really high level.”
García del Moral plans to continue playing golf, coordinating competitions with the master in sporting greens maintenance that he is currently completing in Málaga (he already has one in course management).
And so to future promise… Two days after El Paraiso the tour moved to the Atalaya New course, where 18-year-old Finnish amateur Sami Valimaki, playing in his first international tournament among professionals, took five play-off holes to defeat Gecko veteran and EuroPro Tour winner James Maw from the UK.
Last year Valimaki won three tournaments as an amateur, two in Finland and one in Belgium, and he decided to play on the Gecko to prepare for the Portugal International amateur event. “I’m really happy with the win. It’s the first time I’ve won in a professional international tournament, so I won’t forget it.”
