For the first time in the Andalucía Golf Challenge-Destination PGA Riviera Maya by Bahía Príncipe Circuit’s’ 13-year history, Santa María Golf hosted an event – and enjoyed a hugely successful debut.

The forecast (for rain) was unfavourable, which prompted many of the registered players to cancel their participation. Nevertheless, 91 spirited golfers showed up and were rewarded for their decision with an exceptional day and only sporadic raindrops.

In anticipation of wet weather, which was forecast for the early hours of the morning, the start was delayed to 10 am. It would not have been necessary in the end, but prudence recommended this course of action.

The course had drained to perfection after the overnight rain and everyone enjoyed its excellent condition and superb greens. 

The day was rounded off with lunch served at the club by the excellent H19 team led by Seiny Gueye Dia.

After lunch, the prize-giving ceremony was presided over by director Pedro Batista, assisted by Gabriela Jones from the Fairway+blue store in Puerto Banús, followed by a prize raffle.

In addition to their corresponding trophies, the winners received one dozen Bridgestone balls, a Fairway+blue garment, other gifts and a case of three bottles of Somontano D.O. wine.

The special prizes for closest to the pin were presented by IdeaTerrazas (the best option for enjoying home terraces all year round) and Tragabuches Restaurant.

(PHOTO GALLERY AT THE END OF THIS TOURNAMENT REPORT)  

The scratch and category one and two winners each won a place in the final of the Circuit, which is organised by Andalucía Golf/España Golf magazine and (in October) will determine the winners of five fabulous trips to the Riviera Maya.

As for the competition, the scratch winner was Domingo Gavira Esquivel (with 35 points). Andrés de los Ríos Gaspar won category one (39 points), followed by Angel Mirat Marcos (37) and Jorge Alejandro Herrera Barrero (35). In category two, Amelia do Nascimento Fegueiredo led the way (43 points), José Francisco Muñoz Lara (42) was second and Francisco Cano Barbero was third (41). 

The results can be found at the following link: SANTA MARÍA RESULTS

In addition to prizes for the top three in each category and the scratch winner, there were special prizes for nearest to the pin: on the 12th hole provided by Dani García Group’s Tragabuches Restaurant and won by Francisco Pérez Martín, while Miguel Fernández Serrano was closest on the 15th (IdeaTerrazas).

The Santa María event was the 11th of as many as 30 tournaments scheduled to be held during the 13th edition of this hugely popular open amateur circuit, organised by Andalucía Golf/España Golf magazine. The Circuit covers all Andalucian provinces, in addition to other areas of central Spain, with the majority of events being held at top courses on the Costa del Sol.

The Circuit’s grand finale, which will decide the five winners of trips to the Mexican Caribbean, will be held at Almenara on 30 September, followed by a gala dinner at Gran Hotel Guadalpín Banús in Marbella.

Access to the final will be direct for the winners of each category and the leading scratch player in all the qualifying tournaments, while the rest of the places in the final will be awarded based on the Benahavís Ranking, calculated from points obtained in each leg.

The next event will be on 4 June at La Dehesa in Madrid.

You can access the Circuit's own website through the magazine website, consulting the dates for forthcoming events and registering online.

ENTRY REGISTRATION



DESTINATION PGA RIVIERA MAYA by BAHÍA PRÍNCIPE

The grand finale of the circuit will decide the five winners of one-week all-inclusive trips to the Bahía Príncipe resort in Riviera Maya, with golf at PGA Riviera Maya, El Camaleón Mayakoba and Playa Paraíso. The top two finishers in each category and the scratch winner in the final, to be played on 30 September at Almenara, will travel to the Mexican Caribbean.

PLANNED DATE FOR THE TRIP

28 October to 4 November 2023

The PRIZE INCLUDES:

- Flights from Málaga or Madrid to Cancun (round trip)

- Transfers between the airport and hotel

- All-inclusive accommodation at the 5-star Grand Tulum Bahía Príncipe hotel

- Golf at PGA Riviera Maya, El Camaleón Mayakoba and Playa Paraíso

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The Circuit is sponsored by AIR EUROPA, BENAHAVÍS TOWN HALL, TURISMO COSTA DEL SOL, BAHÍA PRÍNCIPE, GRAN HOTEL GUADALPÍN BANÚS, VIVIENDO DEL TRADING and MARBELLA TOWN HALL. The main collaborators are Fairway+blue, D.O. Somontano, IdeaTerrazas and Holiday Golf Estates. Cadena SER and Andalucía Golf/España Golf magazine are the Circuit's official media outlets.

AIR EUROPA

Air Europa is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, made up of 19 airlines that have been working together as a major global network for 20 years, serving more than 630 million passengers annually. Air Europa's fleet is one of the most modern on the continent. It comprises 38 aircraft whose average age does not exceed four years. The company is a leader in environmental conservation processes. In 2018, the German environmental organisation Atmosfair rated Air Europa as the most efficient European network airline.

BENAHAVÍS

Benahavís is a town with a rich Andalucian flavour, highlighted by narrow white streets, typically Arab, most of which lead to sunny squares. It is a welcoming town where you can enjoy nature and luxury developments, carefully integrated into the natural landscape and enveloped by golf courses meandering around the slopes of the Serranía de Ronda mountain range. Founded by the Arabs, under the protection of a 10th century fortress, Benahavís today is a perfect combination of tradition and modernity – a charming town that offers endless possibilities as a first-class tourist destination.

COSTA DEL SOL TOURISM

Costa del Sol Tourism and Planning is a public-owned company operating under the auspices of the Málaga provincial government (Diputación) and whose main objective is to promote the province as a tourist destination and to support economic growth, by designing and undertaking projects at the service of private companies and public entities. It is dedicated to providing professional consultancy, advice and services in the following areas: tourist and business development, tourist and territorial planning, new technologies and modernisation of the tourism industry, and tourism marketing. It is a technical instrument set up for departments of the Diputación and municipalities, municipal authorities, associations and other public or private organisations associated with the development of Málaga province.

BAHÍA PRÍNCIPE

Bahía Príncipe Hotels & Resorts is a hotel chain owned by Grupo Piñero, a prestigious Spanish family group that has interests throughout the high-end holiday industry network. Managed entirely by the Piñero family, the company has 27 hotels with more than 14,000 rooms, and is grouped under four categories: Bahía Príncipe Sunlight, Bahía Príncipe Grand, Bahía Príncipe Luxury and Bahía Príncipe Fantasia. The hotel chain has a presence in the most attractive locations in the Dominican Republic, Mexico), Jamaica and Spain.

GRAN HOTEL GUADALPÍN BANÚS

This five-star, frontline beach resort is located in the Nueva Andalucía (Marbella) area, just a 15-minute walk from the famous Puerto Banús marina. Offering tailor-made golf packs, Gran Hotel Guadalpín Banús and CostaSol Deluxe can organise your golf getaway so you don't have to worry about anything. Gran Hotel Guadalpín Banús is recognised as an elite and cosmopolitan option for those who are looking for the best hotels in Marbella. Only six kilometres separate it from Marbella’s town centre, highlighted by its charming Old Town with cobble-stoned streets and ancient churches – a wonderful place to visit.

VIVIENDODELTRADING.COM

The best manager of your capital is you. Learn to invest in a diversified and efficient way so that your money works for you. Viviendo del Trading has been training people for more than 10 years to manage their own capital with realistic expectations – and to enjoy a simple, easy and calm management process. Viviendo del Trading currently comprises seven people, six of whom are traders and investors. It is tremendously difficult and quite rare to bring together a team of traders with different profiles and specialities.

MARCA MARBELLA

Marbella is synonymous above all else with quality of life, an exceptional tourist destination that has been recognised worldwide for decades – with its image associated with the luxury, glamour and social status of other iconic resorts such as Monte Carlo and Saint Tropez. The keys to its success, attracting millions of visitors every year, are varied, highlighted by its extraordinary climate, its hotel infrastructure, its marinas, its beaches extending along 27 kilometres of coastline, its wide and varied range of leisure activities, and its many sports facilities, including 15 golf courses in the municipality.