English placer Stephen East wins the European Mid Amateur Championship in Rio Real
Weak performance by the Spaniards, after the unexpected score of Paradinas in the last round.
The English player Stephen East proclaimed victory in the XIX European Mid Amateur Championship, which finished this afternoon in Rio Real Club, Marbella. The Brit participated in an emotional duel with his fellow countryman Nigel Sweet, who began the day as leader and finished second, just one shot from the champion; and with the Brazilian Rodrigo Lacerda, coming in third, two shots under East. The winner scored a total of 217 shots, 1 over par, after having scored 72 today.
The ample Spanish representation in the tournament did no
t have the opportunity to fight for the victory after the unexpected score of Gonzalo Paradinas, who started the day in 9th position and finished 23rd, after having scored 81. In the end, the best Spanish players were José Ignacio Márquez and Ignacio González Martínez, who finished 17th, with a total of 227 shots in the three rounds of the tournament. With one additional shot, and thanks to his last round scoring 71, the best of the day, classifying in 20th position was José María Zamora, winner of the European Mid Amateur Championship in 2005.
East was very happy with his victory: “I feel fantastic, but it wasn’t easy: I’ve had to work hard to achieve the victory. I had a two shot advantage with four holes to play, when I hit a double bogey in the 15th. In hole 16 I got stopped behind the trees but I was able to get out well and score a birdie… I suffered a bit”.
Regarding the setting for his victory, the Englishman commented “it’s a magnificent course, and even more now that I’ve won”. In the awards ceremony, there were the presidents of the Royal Spanish and Andalusia Golf Federations, Gonzaga Escauriaza and Ángel de la Riva, and the president of Rio Real Golf Club, Luis Figueroa.
Escauriaza highlighted the excellent sporting atmosphere that he experienced during the tournament, praising the facilities and the service at Rio Real Golf and Wellness resort, and presenting the president of the Rio Real Golf Club with a commemorative plaque as a sign of gratitude.
If on Thursday the elite spectator at Rio Real was Gonzalo Fernández Castaño, today at the Marbella club we found the International basketball player Jorge Garbajosa, former player with Unicaja and the NBA, and currently playing on the Russian Khimki BC team.
Marbella, 6th of June, 2009
Photograph: Stephen East
European Mid Amateur Championship Press Department
Contact: Eduardo Garcia Palacios
Tel: 952 82 89 76 Mobile: 649090666
E-mail: editorial@andaluciagolf.com
Fernández-Castaño, elite spectator in the European Mid Amateur Championship
The great Spanish player, currently taking a break from the European Circuit, attended the tournament at Rio Real Golf with his wife
Marbella, June 4rd, 2009
Gonzalo Fernández Castaño, currently one of the best Spanish professionals, was one of the elite spectators in the European Mid Amateur Championship, which began today in the Rio Real Golf Club in Marbella. This player from Madrid spent the day at the Marbella club accompanied by his wife, Alicia, currently six months pregnant. Both followed during various holes, their friend Borja Queipo de Llano, one of the Spanish representatives in the competition.
Fernández Castaño, who’s had four victories on the Tour (the first in the Holland Open in 2005) and who’s come in second three times this season, said he’s currently in the costa del sol town “because, whenever I have the opportunity I like to escape to Marbella, seeing as there’s no better place in the world to relax, and moreover to train and play golf, my specialty”.
Regarding the setting for the tournament, he assured us that “it’s a course I love, I know it very well, I’ve been playing here practically since I was born, and the fact that the European Mid Amateur Championship is being played here is a great occasion for Marbella and especially for Rio Real.
“and what better opportunity” he added “to come and see all my friends from the Spanish Federation as well as the European Federation, and above all my friends who are playing. It’s always fun to watch golf from the other side of the ropes, not always from the inside when you are playing”.
The mayor of Marbella, Ángeles Muñoz also attended the tournament, taking a ride in buggy through the course accompanied by the president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, Gonzaga Escauriaza, the president of the Rio Real Golf Club, Luis Figueroa, Count of Quintanilla, and the Director of the Marbella resort, Antonio Ortiz.
The competition itself took place on splendid sunny day with temperatures of about 26 degrees. The lead position, at the end of the day, was held by the French player Francois Illouz, who has a brilliant track record and is considered one of the favourites to triumph. This player, having already participated in the morning games, and even after registering periods of strong winds, he achieved a magnificent result of 68 strokes, 4 below par. Classified in second position, with two strokes more, was the Swiss Ulf Blixberg. The best Spanish in this first day was Gonzalo Paradinas, with 71 strokes.
The competition will begin again tomorrow, Friday, with the same number of players, 144, establishing at the end of the day a cut, from which will be taken, Saturday the 6th after disputing the final round, the winner of this nineteenth edition of the European Mid Amateur Championship.
The first edition of this competition that unites the best European amateurs over 35, took place in Switzerland in 1991. This celebration of the Championship in Rio Real is the second time it’s been played in Spain, after having passed through El Saler in 1994. Three Spanish players have added their names to this championship’s winner’s list: Luis Gabarda, in 1992, when it was played in Venice; Victor Fernandez Grande, in 1998 in Rome; and from Malaga Jose Maria Zamora, in 2005 in Slovenia.
This year at Rio Real the English players are dominant, with a total of 30, followed second by the Spanish and German players, as well as a high number of competitors from the Nordic countries. In addition to the Europeans, there are three North American golfers.
The setting for the championship is one of the most prestigious courses in Spain. The course, designed by Javier Arana, who is considered among the greatest Spanish golf designers, is 18 holes and par 72, and was inaugurated in 1965. Its broad sports history includes hosting the Spanish Professional Championship and a number of international amateur tournaments.
The beauty of the course, winding through elegant majestic trees, travelling down a gentle slope towards the ocean, has given cause for Rio Real Golf Club to be used in many different publicity campaigns to promote golf in Andalusia, in particular images of Hole 4.
The course, which is hardly five minutes in car from the center of Marbella (about 4 kilometers), forms part of a complex that includes an elegant boutique hotel, a beauty and wellness center, a golf academy with the most modern technologies and tennis and paddle courts.
Marbella, 4th of June, 2009
European Mid Amateur Championship Press Department
Contact: Eduardo Garcia Palacios
Tel: 952 82 89 76 Mobile: 649090666
E-mail: editorial@andaluciagolf.com
The best amateur golfers in Europe compete in Marbella
Marbella, June 3rd, 2009
Rio Real Golf & Wellness Resort hosts the European Mid Amateur Championship from the 4th to the 6th of June
Rio Real Golf & Wellness Resort, one of the most prestigious complexes in Marbella, will host, from the 4th to the 6th of June, the European Mid Amateur Championship, a competition that unites the best European amateurs over 35. The magnetism of this tournament, organized by the European Golf Association (EGA) with the help of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG) and Rio Real, has made it difficult for some players to attain one of the 144 available participating slots.
The European Mid Amateur Championship celebrates this year its 19th edition. The first was played in Switzerland in 1991. This year in Rio Real will be the second time the competition takes place in Spain, after having passed through El Saler in 1994. Three Spanish players have added their names to this championship’s winner’s list: Luis Gabarda, in 1992, when it was played in Venice; Victor Fernandez Grande, in 1998 in Rome; and from Malaga Jose Maria Zamora, in 2005 in Slovenia.
This year at Rio Real the English players are dominant, with a total of 30, followed second by the Spanish and German players, as well as a high number of competitors from the Nordic countries. In addition to the Europeans, there are three North American golfers.
Among the Spanish representatives is the previous champion José Maria Zamora, current director of the European Tournament Circuit. Also playing are Jacobo Cestino, Gonzalo Paradinas, Ignacio González Martínez, Ángel Sartoriu, Álvaro Llanza, José Tomás Pérez Baragaño, Antonio Cavero, José Ignacio Márquez Pombo, Borja Ibarra, Franco Borja Queipo de Llano, Luis Pérez de Guzmán y David Jiménez.
The setting for the championship is one of the most prestigious courses in Spain. The course, designed by Javier Arana, who is considered among the greatest Spanish golf designers, is 18 holes and par 72, and was inaugurated in 1965. Its broad sports history includes hosting the Spanish Professional Championship and a number of international amateur tournaments.
The beauty of the course, winding through elegant majestic trees, travelling down a gentle slope towards the ocean, has given cause for Rio Real Golf Club to be used in many different publicity campaigns to promote golf in Andalusia, in particular images of Hole 4.
The course, which is hardly five minutes in car from the center of Marbella (about 4 kilometers), forms part of a complex that includes an elegant boutique hotel, a beauty and wellness center, a golf academy with the most modern technologies and tennis and paddle courts.
TOURNAMENT PRESENTATION
Participating today in the presentation of the tournament in Rio real was the president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFGA) and vice-president of the European Golf Association (EGA), Gonzaga Escauriaza; the president of Rio Real Club, Luis Figueroa, Count of Quintanilla; the director of the Resort, Antonio Ortiz; and the Marbella Sports Councilor, Ángel Mora.
Gonzaga Escauriaza gave thanks to the president of the Club for hosting the championship, pointing out the excellence of the course, “a product from one of the greatest Spanish designers”. In addition, he said that Rio Real possesses “an extraordinary design and advantage due to the fact that the courses of Javier Arana do not become obsolete in the face of the advances that have taken place in the past years in the golf world, specifically in the materials used in clubs”. The president of the RFGA stressed that Marbella, cosmopolitan and having an extraordinary climate, is the perfect location to celebrate this European Championship.
Luis Figueroa expressed his gratitude to the EGA and the RFGA for the confidence place in Rio Real by having it host such an important competition, “whose combination of charm and characteristics make Marbella and our Club the perfect setting to hold such an important event”. The president of Rio Real Club highlighted the grand caliber of the participants, coming from 23 different countries. Furthermore, he gave thanks to Marbella town hall, the Royal Andalusia Golf Federation and the company Turismo Andaluz for their collaboration. “For us, hosting this tournament is a welcomed effort, we believe it is an excellent way to promote Marbella”.
Ángel Mora expressed the pride that celebrating the European Mid Amateur Championship brings to Marbella. “It’s always very satisfying being able to host a great golf event in the city, having sixteen golf courses, one of which being Rio Real, which personally I find fascinating”.
Antonio Ortiz mentioned the excellent conditions of the course, always well kept however it’s been especially prepared for the occasion. He furthermore, expressed his gratitude to the Red Cross Spain, González Byass and Srixon for their collaboration in the tournament.
In the attached photograph from left to right, Ángel Mora, Gonzaga Escauriaza and Luis Figueroa
European Mid Amateur Championship Press Department
Contact: Eduardo Garcia Palacios
Tel: 952 82 89 76 Mobile: 649090666
E-mail: editorial@andaluciagolf.com
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