{"id":22301,"date":"2017-12-26T11:25:57","date_gmt":"2017-12-26T11:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/the-rfga-honors-its-most-outstanding-athletes-of-the-2017-season\/"},"modified":"2017-12-26T11:25:57","modified_gmt":"2017-12-26T11:25:57","slug":"the-rfga-honors-its-most-outstanding-athletes-of-the-2017-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/the-rfga-honors-its-most-outstanding-athletes-of-the-2017-season\/","title":{"rendered":"The RFGA honors its most outstanding athletes of the 2017 season."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-7764\" src=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6776.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6776.jpg 854w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6776-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6776-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6776-550x367.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Royal Andalusian Golf Federation has held the traditional Awards Ceremony, which every year\u00a0 serves as a well-deserved tribute and recognition to all those who in one way or another have had an outstanding role in the promotion, dissemination and development of Andalusian golf.<\/p>\n<p>The event was held at the headquarters of the Royal Andalusian Federation in Malaga and was attended by a large representation of the main protagonists of our sport. This event is nothing more than a reflection of the extraordinary state of health that Andalusian golf enjoys at the moment, not only at the forefront of sport, but also economically and touristically, in what has been the first year of Pablo Mansilla as president of the institution. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-7766\" src=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6853.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6853.jpg 854w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6853-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6853-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6853-550x367.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/>Precisely, Pablo Mansilla emphasized in the Ordinary General Assembly prior to the awards ceremony that \u201cthe overall balance has been very positive. We have had excellent results in sports and we have once again demonstrated the high level of our players in national and international competitions. We have also been proud that Andalusia has hosted major professional tournaments -which, once again, have allowed us to show our golf tourist destination \u00a0to the world- such as the Andalusia Alps, the Andaluc\u00eda Costa del Sol Challenge Match Play 9, the Open de Espa\u00f1a Femenino and the Andaluc\u00eda Valderrama Masters. On the other hand, it seems that this year we have already reached a turning point in the decrease of licenses, and we hope to start growing again in the number of members from next year\u201d.   <\/p>\n<p>The recovery of licenses is one of the priority objectives for 2018. \u201cWe have to continue working in this sense, to make golf faster, simpler, more accessible to all, as we set ourselves almost a year ago now, at the beginning of the legislature. In this sense, children and young people, the future of the sport, are one of the main points as far as golf promotion is concerned. They are the basis of programs that have worked very well and on which we will continue to insist and improve, such as \u2018Golf Joven\u2019, \u2018Golf en los Colegios\u2019 and the \u2018Friends Cup\u2019,\u201d explained Mansilla. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-7768\" src=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-3730.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-3730.jpg 854w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-3730-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-3730-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/>As for the recognitions made in the Honors Ceremony, probably one of the most emotional moments of the evening was when, at the beginning of the gala, Pablo Mansilla announced that, from this coming year 2018, the Andalusian Mid Amateur Championship will bear the name of Miguel Preysler de la Riva, whom he remembered as\u00a0\u00a0\u201d\u00a0a great player and a great person who has\u00a0left us recently. Gold Medal of this Real Federaci\u00f3n\u00a0Andaluza de Golf, and that kind of person we all think of when we imagine what a\u00a0golf player should be like\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>In sports, Andalusia has again brought important successes,\u00a0among others, the victory of the Andalusian team in the Interautonomic Championship of Spain U18, composed of Gonzalo Leal, Felipe Barrena, Victor Jimenez, Lukas Pany, Pedro Marin and Pablo Carrascosa; or the triumphs in international competitions of our youngest players, some of them with a strong feminine accent,\u00a0 like those of Ana Pel\u00e1ez (NCAA Columbus Regional), Tere Toscano (Jackrabitt Invitational Woman) or Mim\u00ed Rhodes (Scottish Girls Championship).<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-7770\" src=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6940.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6940.jpg 854w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6940-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6940-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6940-550x367.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/>There was also no lack of victories, usual every year, in the major professional circuits. Azahara Mu\u00f1oz won the Spanish Open for the second consecutive year at the Guadalmina course (M\u00e1laga), Miguel \u00c1ngel Jim\u00e9nez won at the Missisippi Gulf Resort of the PGA Tour Champions and \u00c1lvaro Quir\u00f3s won again on the European Tour six years later, by winning the Rocco Forte Verdura Open. <\/p>\n<p>In addition, as every year, the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation\u00a0 has delivered its highest distinctions -Medals and Plaques of Merit in Golf- to those individuals and institutions that, by unanimous decision of its Board of Directors, wanted to recognize\u00a0 their work in favor of the sport of Andalusian golf, either for sporting merit or for their commitment to the promotion and development of our sport.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-7772\" src=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6902.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6902.jpg 854w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6902-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6902-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6902-550x367.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/>Thus, Manuel Carde\u00f1a -CEO of Acosol, water company under the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Costa del Sol West-, has collected from the hands of Pablo Mansilla the Plaque of Merit in Golf, in recognition of its support for sustainable tourism and its involvement in the management of water resources,\u00a0making the Costa del Sol in leading destination in integrated water use. In this regard, precisely last Wednesday, December 20, the first study was presented that has been conducted within the Golf Observatory of the University of Malaga, under the Chair of Golf, and has had the collaboration and sponsorship of the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Costa del Sol West and its water company, Acosol. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-7774\" src=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6872.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6872.jpg 854w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6872-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6872-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6872-550x367.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/>For his part, Vicente Pitarch, founder of Lauro Golf (Alhaur\u00edn de la Torre, M\u00e1laga), has also received\u00a0 the Plaque of Merit in Golf in gratitude for the work that -during the 25 years that the club has just completed the Pitarch family and all those who have been and are part of Lauro Golf have done in favor of Andalusian golf, becoming a model in its commitment to children and youth golf and the promotion of the sport in general.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-7776\" src=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6926.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6926.jpg 854w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6926-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6926-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6926-550x367.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/>As for the Medals of Merit in Golf, \u00c1ngel Hidalgo from Malaga and V\u00edctor Pastor from Cordoba -player of the University Golf Program M\u00e1laga- have been distinguished with this highest recognition awarded by the federation, after having signed both an excellent season, adding to his record -among other triumphs- the Absolute European Team Championship, together with the Spanish team. V\u00edctor, in addition, was proclaimed European University Champion in September, both individual and team, together with Ana M\u00aa Cabello, also a player of the University of M\u00e1laga. <\/p>\n<p>For his part, Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Zamora has been rewarded for the work he has developed and continues to develop as an international referee and from the different positions he has held on the European Tour, including Tournament Director and Deputy Director of the Challenge Tour.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-7778\" src=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6953.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6953.jpg 854w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6953-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6953-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/images_Actualidad2016_RFGA-6953-550x367.jpg 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/>The night\u00a0ended with the presentation of the Medal of Merit in Golf to Juan Jimenez Rodriguez \u201cel Pecas\u201d. The older brother of Miguel Angel Jimenez has been recognized for his life\u2019s work dedicated to the sport of golf, from the field of teaching. When he was only 11 years old, Juan had his first contact with golf at the Parador de M\u00e1laga, where he later began working as a caddy at the Real Club de Campo de M\u00e1laga. Most of his professional career as a teacher has been developed in Torrequebrada and, since 2015, he is dedicated exclusively to teaching at Miguel Angel Jimenez Golf Academy, where he holds the position of Sports Director.   <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>C O N D E C O R A T I O N S \u2013 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN SENIOR WOMEN\u2019S DOUBLES\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Casilda Castillejo Oriol<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">MISSISSIPPI GULF RESORT CLASSIC \u2013 CHAMPIONS TOUR<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Miguel \u00c1ngel Jim\u00e9nez Rodr\u00edguez<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">SCOTTISH GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mimi Rhodes<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN INTERAUTONOMY UNDER 18\u00a0MALE<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Players:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Gonzalo Leal Montero<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Felipe Barrena Rodr\u00edguez<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Victor Jimenez Bravo<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Lukas Pany<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Pedro Mar\u00edn Santander<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Pablo Carrascosa Vivas<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Captain: \u00c1ngel Hidalgo Portillo<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Vice-Captain: V\u00edctor Pastor Rufi\u00e1n<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Coach: Iv\u00e1n Hurtado Vergara<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">WOMEN\u2019S PITCH AND PUTT CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mar\u00eda Pardo Victori<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN UNDER-16 MALE<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Pedro Mar\u00edn Santander<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">NCAA COLUMBUS REGIONAL<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ana Pel\u00e1ez Trivi\u00f1o<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">JACKRABBIT INVITATIONAL WOMAN<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mar\u00eda Teresa Toscano Borrero<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">2<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">THE ROCCO FORTE OPEN ITALIANO<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u00c1lvaro Quir\u00f3s Garc\u00eda<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">CHILDREN\u2019S PITCH & PUTT CHAMPIONSHIP<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Laurentino Gil Salas<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">EUROPEAN MEN\u2019S ABSOLUTE CHAMPIONSHIP BY<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">EQUIPMENT<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">V\u00edctor Pastor Rufi\u00e1n<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">EUROPEAN MEN\u2019S ABSOLUTE CHAMPIONSHIP BY<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">EQUIPMENT<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u00c1ngel Hidalgo Portillo<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIP<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">V\u00edctor Pastor Rufi\u00e1n<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">UNIVERSITY SPANISH CHAMPIONSHIP<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">V\u00edctor Pastor Rufi\u00e1n<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">SPANISH UNIVERSITY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">V\u00edctor Pastor Rufi\u00e1n (University of Malaga)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">SPANISH UNIVERSITY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ana Mar\u00eda Cabello P\u00e9rez (University of M\u00e1laga)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">2ND, 3RD AND 4TH WOMEN\u2019S CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">CATEGORIES<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Lola Garc\u00eda Jim\u00e9nez<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">ANDALUC\u00cdA COSTA DEL SOL OPEN DE ESPA\u00d1A FEMALE \u2013<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Azahara Mu\u00f1oz Guijarro<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">THE ANNUAL UNG FALL INVITATIONAL<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Carlos Leandro<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">WHAC JAMBOREE<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Gonzalo Garc\u00eda Parada<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Royal Andalusian Golf Federation has held the traditional Awards Ceremony, which every year\u00a0 serves as a well-deserved tribute and recognition to all those who in one way or another have had an outstanding role in the promotion, dissemination and development of Andalusian golf. The event was held at the headquarters of the Royal Andalusian [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[125],"tags":[217,133,218],"class_list":["post-22301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-andalucia-golf-en","tag-costa-del-sol-en","tag-golf-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andaluciagolf.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}