A golden brooch to end the year and a night full of emotions, which did not miss figures as dear to the world of Andalusian golf as the Malaga Azahara Muñoz, who has signed a great season, winning the Open de España at home, or Manuel Piñero, captain of the team that has represented Spanish golf at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The headquarters of the Real Federación Andaluza de Golf hosted yesterday, Wednesday, December 21, the traditional delivery of awards to the most outstanding Andalusian athletes of the 2016 season, as well as the Medals of Merit in Golf to Antonio Vergara, Javier Ibáñez de Aldecoa, Sebastián Bruna, Salvador Álvarez and Manuel Piñero.
This was a particularly emotional ceremony as it was Ángel de la Riva’s last as President of the entity, which will now be headed by Pablo Mansilla, also from Malaga. Together with them, Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, presided over the ceremony.
After an emotional speech in which the Honorary President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, Ángel de la Riva, took stock of the last few years that he has been at the head of the Federation and thanked the world of golf for the wonderful moments it has given him, he proceeded to the presentation of awards to the most outstanding Andalusian athletes of the year.
Among them, it is worth mentioning the presence of Marcos Pastor from Cordoba -who last June embraced the title of Spanish Professional Champion- or the player of the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina, Angel Hidalgo, who less than a month ago conquered the Puerta de Hierro National Cup, thus finishing off an unbeatable season in which -among other triumphs- has been proclaimed U18 Spanish Champion and Spanish Men’s Champion.
This season has been equally full of joys in Andalusian women’s golf. Thus, the Cadiz Maria Parra has finished with note his career as an amateur, demonstrating that his place is among the best professional players and adding to his brilliant record the Championship of Portugal Women, the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande Cup Team, the PGA Halmstad Ladies Open, the Silver Medal in the European Women’s Team Championship and the Drobak Ladies Open. All this before making the leap to the professional world last September.
But undoubtedly, one of the most emotional moments of the night came from the hand of Azahara Muñoz from Malaga, who did not want to miss the event and, always smiling, collected from the hands of Angel de la Riva the recognition of her unforgettable victory last September at the Open de España. One of the most special victories of her career, won at the Aloha Golf Club, at home, and surrounded by all her loved ones who, last night, returned to give her the warmest of applause.
Five medals to close the night
The ceremony ended with the presentation of the Medals of Merit in Golf that the Board of Directors of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, which met on June 22 in an extraordinary session, unanimously awarded to the aforementioned Antonio Vergara, Javier Ibáñez de Aldecoa, Sebastián Bruna Zaragoza, Salvador Álvarez Escobar and Manuel Piñero Sánchez, in recognition of the work that each of them has developed in favor of the sport of golf in Andalusia, from their different positions and profiles.
Special mention deserves the tribute to the figure of Manuel Piñero. Golf professional since 1968, born in Badajoz but based in Andalusia since 1989, member of the European team in the Ryder Cup three times (twice as a player, once as Vice-Captain), winner of 9 titles in the European Professional Tour, and two World Cups. Golf course designer and, as the most recent merit, captain of the Spanish team that has represented our country in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
After receiving the award, Manuel Piñero asked for the floor to thank the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation for this recognition which, he said, makes him “especially excited, because of the affection and fond memories I always have for Ángel de la Riva”, whom he defined as a great president, who has done a “fantastic job, of which he can be very proud”.
In addition, Piñero confessed he was moved by the memory of people he has loved very much and who were very present yesterday night, such as the Malaga-born Pepe Gancedo -a figure of amateur golf and golf course designer, who passed away last February- and the professional, Salvador Balbuena -a great friend of Piñero and brother of Sebastián Bruna- who died suddenly in 1979, when he was only 30 years old. He dedicated some affectionate words to both of them.
As for Sebastián Bruna, the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation wanted to thank him for the teaching activity he has developed during his career as a golf professional -from his beginnings at the Real Club de Campo de Málaga, to his 27 years of work at Guadalhorce Club de Golf-, as well as the affection and willingness to collaborate that he has always maintained towards the federative organization.
Javier Ibáñez de Aldecoa and Antonio Vergara received awards for their careers as directors of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, as well as for their affection and selfless dedication to the sport, while Salvador Álvarez Escobar received recognition for his work in favor of Andalusian golf as director of Guadalhorce Club de Golf since 1992, and for his role as head of the Spanish Golf Course Managers Association, of which he is president.
The event was attended, among others, by Begoña Medina Sánchez, Councilor of the City of Malaga and Antonio Guevara, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism of Malaga.
GOLF MERIT MEDALS 2016
Antonio Vergara Perez
Javier Ibáñez de Aldecoa y Silvela
Salvador Álvarez Escobar
Sebastián Bruna Zaragoza
Manuel Piñero Sánchez
PITCH & PUTT COMMITTEE AWARDS
Pedro Rodríguez Cielos and Pablo Rodríguez Padilla
Spanish Pitch & Putt Doubles Championship
Alberto Baños Ramos
Spanish Pitch & Putt Benjamin Championship
Valentina Albertazzi
Women’s Spanish Pitch & Putt Championship
Andrés Pastor Ayllón
Pitch & Putt World Cup
CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE AWARDS
Alexander Amey Bollar
Spanish Alevín Championship (Winner of 11 years)
SENIOR COMMITTEE AWARDS
Adrian Morrow
European Senior Men’s Championship
MALE COMMITTEE DECORATIONS
Ángel Hidalgo Portillo
Spanish Individual Men’s Championship
International Championship of Spain U-18 Men Stroke Play
Puerta de Hierro National Cup
WOMEN’S COMMITTEE AWARDS
Ana Peláez Triviño
Bronze Medal European Championship U18 Women’s Team Championships
Bronze Medal in the Junior Women’s World Championship.
María Parra Luque
International Championship of Portugal Women
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande Cup by teams
PGA Halmstad Ladies Open
Silver Medal European Women’s Absolute Team Championships
Drobak Ladies Open
Bronze Medal in the Junior Women’s World Championship.
PROFESSIONAL COMMITTEE AWARDS
Marcos Pastor Rufián
Spanish Professional Men’s Championship
Miguel Ángel Jiménez Rodríguez
Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic
Azahara Muñoz Guijarro
Andalucía Costa del Sol Women’s Spanish Open
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