The tournament, which was won by England’s Matt McGuire and Craig Swinburn, was staged at the Lumine Golf and Beach Club on Spain’s Costa Dorada.

It was contested by 58 pairs from across Europe over the resort’s Greg Norman-designed Lakes course.

Now Calle Carlsson, general manager the Lumine Golf and Beach Club, is looking to attract twice that number in 2013 and bring the resort’s Hills course into play.

He said: “This event was arranged at relatively short notice and we’re delighted with the numbers who entered.

“And it has been so successful we’re looking to get 120 pairs next year. We’ve got two very different but challenging courses here and we’d use them both.”

Carlsson added that holding the event again was dependent on the Costa Dorada region continuing its support of the event.

However, the signs are hopeful given that Octavi Bono, general manager Patronat de Turisme, Costa Dorada, was similarly delighted with the way this year’s tournament had panned out.

He said: “The event was a great success and we want to build on it to help promote our region as a golfing destination. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to stage it again for the next two years at least.”

Meanwhile, the Confederation of Professional Golf will return to the Lumine Golf and Beach Club somewhat sooner as the Coaches Circle and Heads of Training conference are being held there next month.

Ian Randell, the Confederation of Professional Golf chief executive, hopes the tournament and five-day visit in March will be the start of a long and fruitful relationship.

He said: “Everything has been first class, especially the facilty and the hospitality. We hope this is the start of a long partnership between the Confederation of Professional Golf, the Costa Dorada Region and the Lumine Golf and Beach Club.”

Having established a four-stroke advantage after the first two rounds of the tournament on Spain’s Costa Dorada, the pair were in no mood to squander their hard work in the third.

So, unlike the golfing pyrotechnics that resulted in them posting a two round total of 16-under-par, consolidation and prudence appeared to be on the menu.

Gone was the white-knuckle-ride golf that saw them set a scorching pace in the Spanish sunshine, replaced by a more conservative four-under-par 67.

But that was more than enough for the English duo to keep their nearest challengers in the 58-strong field at bay.

At the close, their advantage had been trimmed to three as a result of compatriots Michael Jones and Gary Houston posting a second successive round of 65 to finish second on 17-under, two strokes ahead of a five pairs who tied for third place.

The quintet comprised: Matthew Dearden of Wales and France’s Paul Brown; Grant Hamerton and David Smith of England; Italian pair Alessandro Napoleoni and Emanuele Canonica; and previosu winners Simon Edwards of Wales and England’s David Shacklady.
Edwards and Shacklady won the tournament in 2004, the last time it was contested before being revived in 2011.

The less expansive approach from the latest winning pair was anything but deliberate, however.

“The course was a lot tougher today,” said McGuire. “There was more wind than we’d had on the first two days and the pin positions were trickier. Not that we’re complaining – it’s a very challenging course, which can reward you if you’re prepared to take risks.”

In terms of rewards, that approach paid dividends as the pair did not record a bogey until the 42nd hole of the tournament.

One more followed, at the 18th, by which time the pair were assured of claiming the €4,500 winner’s cheque.

A half share of that, however, was not the only plus point for Swinburn.

“Playing a tournament like this in such good conditions a couple of months before the season starts is great preparation,” he said. “The course was also in brilliant condition and the hospitality superb so, hopefully, more pairs will enter next year. We certainly intend to will be to defend our trophy.”

Final Leaderboard – Click Here

Matt McGuire and Craig Swinburn ensured their march to victory in the Confederation of Professional Golf’s Fourball Championship did not mirror the continent’s tallest rollercoaster that stands sentry alongside the Lumine Golf and Beach Club.

Having established a four-stroke advantage after the first two rounds of the tournament on Spain’s Costa Dorada, the pair were in no mood to squander their hard work in the third.

So, unlike the golfing pyrotechnics that resulted in them posting a two round total of 16-under-par, consolidation and prudence appeared to be on the menu.

Gone was the white-knuckle-ride golf that saw them set a scorching pace in the Spanish sunshine, replaced by a more conservative four-under-par 67.

But that was more than enough for the English duo to keep their nearest challengers in the 58-strong field at bay.

At the close, their advantage had been trimmed to three as a result of compatriots Michael Jones and Gary Houston posting a second successive round of 65 to finish second on 17-under, two strokes ahead of a five pairs who tied for third place.

The quintet comprised: Matthew Dearden of Wales and France’s Paul Brown; Grant Hamerton and David Smith of England; Italian pair Alessandro Napoleoni and Emanuele Canonica; and previosu winners Simon Edwards of Wales and England’s David Shacklady.
Edwards and Shacklady won the tournament in 2004, the last time it was contested before being revived in 2011.

The less expansive approach from the latest winning pair was anything but deliberate, however.

“The course was a lot tougher today,” said McGuire. “There was more wind than we’d had on the first two days and the pin positions were trickier. Not that we’re complaining – it’s a very challenging course, which can reward you if you’re prepared to take risks.”

In terms of rewards, that approach paid dividends as the pair did not record a bogey until the 42nd hole of the tournament.

One more followed, at the 18th, by which time the pair were assured of claiming the €4,500 winner’s cheque.

A half share of that, however, was not the only plus point for Swinburn.

“Playing a tournament like this in such good conditions a couple of months before the season starts is great preparation,” he said. “The course was also in brilliant condition and the hospitality superb so, hopefully, more pairs will enter next year. We certainly intend to will be to defend our trophy.”

Final Leaderboard – Click Here

Spanish hosts keen to build on tournament’s success

The Spanish hosts of this year’s Confederation of Professional Golf Fourball Championship were so delighted with the event’s success they not only want to stage the tournament again but also double its size.

The tournament, which was won by England’s Matt McGuire and Craig Swinburn, was staged at the Lumine Golf and Beach Club on Spain’s Costa Dorada.

It was contested by 58 pairs from across Europe over the resort’s Greg Norman-designed Lakes course.

Now Calle Carlsson, general manager the Lumine Golf and Beach Club, is looking to attract twice that number in 2013 and bring the resort’s Hills course into play.

He said: “This event was arranged at relatively short notice and we’re delighted with the numbers who entered.

“And it has been so successful we’re looking to get 120 pairs next year. We’ve got two very different but challenging courses here and we’d use them both.”

Carlsson added that holding the event again was dependent on the Costa Dorada region continuing its support of the event.

However, the signs are hopeful given that Octavi Bono, general manager Patronat de Turisme, Costa Dorada, was similarly delighted with the way this year’s tournament had panned out.

He said: “The event was a great success and we want to build on it to help promote our region as a golfing destination. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to stage it again for the next two years at least.”

Meanwhile, the Confederation of Professional Golf will return to the Lumine Golf and Beach Club somewhat sooner as the Coaches Circle and Heads of Training conference are being held there next month.

Ian Randell, the Confederation of Professional Golf chief executive, hopes the tournament and five-day visit in March will be the start of a long and fruitful relationship.

He said: “Everything has been first class, especially the facilty and the hospitality. We hope this is the start of a long partnership between the Confederation of Professional Golf, the Costa Dorada Region and the Lumine Golf and Beach Club.”

 Day 2 – Four-Stroke lead for Swinburn and McGuire at Lumine

The better-ball format, so popular in the heat of Ryder Cup battle and a welcome alternative for golf pros so used to going it alone, is proving an absolute winner as the Confederation of Professional Golf’s Fourball Championship gains momentum at Lumine Golf and Beach Club, on Spain’s Costa Dorada.

None more so than for the Craig Swinburn and Matt McGuire – the overnight leaders with their ten-under  61- who added a 65 to that phenomenal opening and thereby completed a two-round score of sixteen under par for a four-stroke lead.

If not yet unassailable it will certainly become so if they can keep up their excellent work.

After 36 holes their score has been unsullied by dropped shots as those 16 birdies have graced their cards. For their first six holes of the second round they were content to par their way…then their scoring mania began again with six birdies in the final 12 holes and four in the last six.

Nearest to them are three pairs, Grant Hamerton/David Smith, John Harrison/ Peter Dahlberg and Miro Raic/Sebastian Ajster. The Slovenians added a 67 to their 63 to join the other two teams on twelve under.

With two rounds now under their belt, and course knowledge intensified, the leading challengers took advantage of the tempting chance it offers to rack up the birdies and the occasional eagle while eliminating bogeys on day two, a round delayed for an hour by overnight frost.

Typical, was another pair of Slovenians, Danny and Andrej Kraljic, who hauled themselves into a challenging position for the third and final round with an unblemished six-under-par 65 containing birdies at six holes between the third and 16th for a second round total of eleven under.

English pairing Hamerton and Smith also kept a bogey off their card for a 67 level with the mixed-nation team comprised of England’s  Harrison and Dahlberg (Sweden) on the same score after a 66 showing one dropped stroke, at the 14th.

They were just one ahead of Michael Jones and Gary Houston who, by adding a 65 to their overnight 66, displayed not only their scoring consistency but also, on eleven-under, the capacity to give themselves an outside chance on the final day.

One of the day’s best rounds was a seven-bi rdie  64 by Jonathan Cheetham and Mark Bradley, six strokes better than the previous day for an impressive, if not not challenging, eight under.

As in the first round, past champions Simon Edwards and David Shacklady left no doubt of their intention to win back the crown by adding a 67 to their 65 for a ten-under place. From they may be just  able to launch a winning onslaught ( as did Mariano Saiz and Mikel  Galdos with their matching 66-66) but only if those ahead of them lose their touch.

Beside them on the leaderboard were David Borda and Ion Garcia who seemed to acquire a happy habit in round two of conjuring lethal scoring bursts with birdies at 1-2-3 then 9-10-11 and finally 17-18.

Day 1 – Perfect Round for Swinburn/ McGuire…& Perfect Start for Lumine

When the Lumine Beach and Golf Resort, made the ambitious decision to stage the Confederation of Professional Golf’s Fourball Championship, their aim  was to present a truly international competition to reinforce their longer-term aim of unveiling Spain’s Costa Dorada as a desirable golfing destination.

In the event it took merely one day, and one round to confirm the accuracy of their strategy as the first round of the 54-hole tournament saw pairs of PGA pros from 18 countries rejoicing in the popular better-ball format to sprinkle birdie putts across the excellent golf course.

Players from England, Wales, Croatia Slovenia, Sweden and elsewhere were up there high on the leader board as a pair from the Midland region of the UK, Matt McGuire and Craig Swinburn, set the standard with a ten-under-par opening round of 61.

Featuring ten birdies and eight pars their team golf could only be described as ‘perfect’ with its lack of dropped shots and constant supply of single putts.

Until they cruised confidently into a two-stroke lead the mark had been set for a considerable period by two pairs on five under par, Paul Brown and Ivo Giner, and  Matthew Dearden and Ian Brown but then the competition hotted up quickly as the Grant Hamerton/David Smith and Miro Raic/ Sebastian Ajster pairs moved into joint-second position on eight under par.

Seasoned campaigner John Harrison (England), teamed up with Peter Dahlberg (Sweden), was not far behind on seven under and, no doubt all four of those leading pairs could see clearly in their wing mirrors that the pre-tournament favourites, Simon Edwards and David Shacklady, were in close pursuit.

Before the Fourball Championship ‘took a break’, the Welshman and his English partner had won the title when it was played  in  southern Spain, while Edwards had also won it a year earlier partnered by James Lee.

Edwards will have a hat-trick in his sights but judging by the scoring by the leading bunch on Day 1, and especially by the sheer excellence displayed by Swinburn and McGuire, Lumine has two more days of international quality on its agenda.

Exciting Golfing Future Beckons for Spain’s Costa Daurada

On the eve of the Confederation of Professional Golf’s  Fourball Championship being staged for the first time at Lumine Golf and Beach Resort, the surrounding Costa Dorada region of Spain was officially unveiled and acclaimed as ‘a new destination for golf tourism.’

The far-reaching proclamation of this ideal and idyllic location as a ‘must visit’ destination  for  golfers from far and wide, amateur and professional, was made by the Tourist Board of the Tarragona provincial government as they also announced a promotional collaboration with the Confederation of Professional Golf.

The press conference was staged to emphasise the important role that golf will play in the development of tourism to the region and the significant contribution that the Confederation of Professional Golf will make in the coming years as a promotional and marketing aid with the necessary experience and expertise.

The occasion took place at the Provincial Council Palace Tarragona, and was attended by  Josep Poblet, President of the Provincial Council Tarragona, Ian Randell, Chief Executive PGA Europe,  Lluís Rullán, President of Mediterranea Beach & Golf Community and Xavier Graset, alderman of Tourism at Vila-Seca.

Each of these dignitaries highlighted the outstanding quality of the golfing facilities in the area that features seven golf courses, three in Lumine (a total of 45 holes), one in Bonmont, one in Aiguesverds, one in Costa Dorada and another one in La Graiera.

Josep Poblet, underlined the quality of this ‘new benchmark’ for Costa Dorada provided by the Confederation of Professional Golf and added that it is ‘closely linked to the recognition and prestige that this sport bring’ for tourism’.

Luis Rullán, stressed that ‘not all efforts are focused on attracting foreign tourists, as the sport is being adopted more and more by local residents. ‘About 50% of the clients at Lumine Golf are residents of the province, a very positive balance for a sport that is growing in Tarragona’, he said.

Ian Randell commented that among the challenges for his association is to collaborate with and promote new golfing destinations, including involvement in joint healthy growth projects. He also stressed that ‘our intention is to create a long term relationship in which the bond is strong and solid’.

The PGA Europe is an organisation of 38 PGAs from countries around Europe and beyond, comprising a total of 21,000 golf professionals.

Lumine will play a crucial role in the continuing of the Confederation of Professional Golf Fourball Championship which was relaunched in Turkey last year after a lengthy absence and is to be played in this exciting new golfing region over 54 holes on February 21/23.  A full-house entry of 58 pairs of PGA pros will participate, amounting to 120 professional from 18 different nations.

None more so than for the Craig Swinburn and Matt McGuire – the overnight leaders with their ten-under  61- who added a 65 to that phenomenal opening and thereby completed a two-round score of sixteen under par for a four-stroke lead.

If not yet unassailable it will certainly become so if they can keep up their excellent work.

After 36 holes their score has been unsullied by dropped shots as those 16 birdies have graced their cards. For their first six holes of the second round they were content to par their way…then their scoring mania began again with six birdies in the final 12 holes and four in the last six.

Nearest to them are three pairs, Grant Hamerton/David Smith, John Harrison/ Peter Dahlberg and Miro Raic/Sebastian Ajster. The Slovenians added a 67 to their 63 to join the other two teams on twelve under.

With two rounds now under their belt, and course knowledge intensified, the leading challengers took advantage of the tempting chance it offers to rack up the birdies and the occasional eagle while eliminating bogeys on day two, a round delayed for an hour by overnight frost.

Typical, was another pair of Slovenians, Danny and Andrej Kraljic, who hauled themselves into a challenging position for the third and final round with an unblemished six-under-par 65 containing birdies at six holes between the third and 16th for a second round total of eleven under.

English pairing Hamerton and Smith also kept a bogey off their card for a 67 level with the mixed-nation team comprised of England’s  Harrison and Dahlberg (Sweden) on the same score after a 66 showing one dropped stroke, at the 14th.

They were just one ahead of Michael Jones and Gary Houston who, by adding a 65 to their overnight 66, displayed not only their scoring consistency but also, on eleven-under, the capacity to give themselves an outside chance on the final day.

One of the day’s best rounds was a seven-bi rdie  64 by Jonathan Cheetham and Mark Bradley, six strokes better than the previous day for an impressive, if not not challenging, eight under.

As in the first round, past champions Simon Edwards and David Shacklady left no doubt of their intention to win back the crown by adding a 67 to their 65 for a ten-under place. From they may be just  able to launch a winning onslaught ( as did Mariano Saiz and Mikel  Galdos with their matching 66-66) but only if those ahead of them lose their touch.

Beside them on the leaderboard were David Borda and Ion Garcia who seemed to acquire a happy habit in round two of conjuring lethal scoring bursts with birdies at 1-2-3 then 9-10-11 and finally 17-18.

Round 2 Scores – Click Here

Day 1 – Perfect Round for Swinburn/ McGuire…& Perfect Start for Lumine

When the Lumine Beach and Golf Resort, made the ambitious decision to stage the Confederation of Professional Golf’s Fourball Championship, their aim  was to present a truly international competition to reinforce their longer-term aim of unveiling Spain’s Costa Dorada as a desirable golfing destination.

In the event it took merely one day, and one round to confirm the accuracy of their strategy as the first round of the 54-hole tournament saw pairs of PGA pros from 18 countries rejoicing in the popular better-ball format to sprinkle birdie putts across the excellent golf course.

Players from England, Wales, Croatia Slovenia, Sweden and elsewhere were up there high on the leader board as a pair from the Midland region of the UK, Matt McGuire and Craig Swinburn, set the standard with a ten-under-par opening round of 61.

Featuring ten birdies and eight pars their team golf could only be described as ‘perfect’ with its lack of dropped shots and constant supply of single putts.

Until they cruised confidently into a two-stroke lead the mark had been set for a considerable period by two pairs on five under par, Paul Brown and Ivo Giner, and  Matthew Dearden and Ian Brown but then the competition hotted up quickly as the Grant Hamerton/David Smith and Miro Raic/ Sebastian Ajster pairs moved into joint-second position on eight under par.

Seasoned campaigner John Harrison (England), teamed up with Peter Dahlberg (Sweden), was not far behind on seven under and, no doubt all four of those leading pairs could see clearly in their wing mirrors that the pre-tournament favourites, Simon Edwards and David Shacklady, were in close pursuit.

Before the Fourball Championship ‘took a break’, the Welshman and his English partner had won the title when it was played  in  southern Spain, while Edwards had also won it a year earlier partnered by James Lee.

Edwards will have a hat-trick in his sights but judging by the scoring by the leading bunch on Day 1, and especially by the sheer excellence displayed by Swinburn and McGuire, Lumine has two more days of international quality on its agenda.

On the eve of the Confederation of Professional Golf’s  Fourball Championship being staged for the first time at Lumine Golf and Beach Resort, the surrounding Costa Dorada region of Spain was officially unveiled and acclaimed as ‘a new destination for golf tourism.’

The far-reaching proclamation of this ideal and idyllic location as a ‘must visit’ destination  for  golfers from far and wide, amateur and professional, was made by the Tourist Board of the Tarragona provincial government as they also announced a promotional collaboration with the Confederation of Professional Golf.

The press conference was staged to emphasise the important role that golf will play in the development of tourism to the region and the significant contribution that the Confederation of Professional Golf will make in the coming years as a promotional and marketing aid with the necessary experience and expertise.

The occasion took place at the Provincial Council Palace Tarragona, and was attended by  Josep Poblet, President of the Provincial Council Tarragona, Ian Randell, Chief Executive PGA Europe,  Lluís Rullán, President of Mediterranea Beach & Golf Community and Xavier Graset, alderman of Tourism at Vila-Seca.

Each of these dignitaries highlighted the outstanding quality of the golfing facilities in the area that features seven golf courses, three in Lumine (a total of 45 holes), one in Bonmont, one in Aiguesverds, one in Costa Dorada and another one in La Graiera.

Josep Poblet, underlined the quality of this ‘new benchmark’ for Costa Dorada provided by the Confederation of Professional Golf and added that it is ‘closely linked to the recognition and prestige that this sport bring’ for tourism’.

Luis Rullán, stressed that ‘not all efforts are focused on attracting foreign tourists, as the sport is being adopted more and more by local residents. ‘About 50% of the clients at Lumine Golf are residents of the province, a very positive balance for a sport that is growing in Tarragona’, he said.

Ian Randell commented that among the challenges for his association is to collaborate with and promote new golfing destinations, including involvement in joint healthy growth projects. He also stressed that ‘our intention is to create a long term relationship in which the bond is strong and solid’.

The PGA Europe is an organisation of 38 PGAs from countries around Europe and beyond, comprising a total of 21,000 golf professionals.

Lumine will play a crucial role in the continuing of the Confederation of Professional Golf Fourball Championship which was relaunched in Turkey last year after a lengthy absence and is to be played in this exciting new golfing region over 54 holes on February 21/23.  A full-house entry of 58 pairs of PGA pros will participate, amounting to 120 professional from 18 different nations.

It may sound too good to be true…but It’s a fact. The opportunity still beckons for PGA professionals and their amateur teams to enjoy the experience of springtime, competitive golf on a Bernhard Langer course, in the balmy surrounds of an Indian Ocean island.

The LOUIS ROEDERER LE TOUESSROK PRO-AM, over 54 holes, in Mauritius,  launched this year and endorsed by the Confederation of Professional Golf on March 22-24,  is described as being like golf in paradise…and places still exist to be there.

As described in the travel guides: “Le Touessrok is a pinnacle of tropical luxury and one of the most romantic places on earth. The resort superbly combines contemporary sophistication to its Mediterranean village style. A ten minute boat ride away on Ile aux Cerfs island there is the amazing championship golf course, endorsed by Bernhard Langer.

Langer said of the course that bears his name: “The Le Touessrok course is a golfing experience that truly arouses all the senses. From the amazing natural setting to the challenges presented by the course, I want it to be a game to remember for all who play it.

“I take putting my name on a golf course very seriously. With Le Touessrok Golf Course it was an easy choice because it combines environmental sensitivity, unmatched natural beauty, world-class ownership and magnificent golfing weather.”

A maximum of 20 teams (1 professional + 3 amateurs) are to compete over three rounds stableford and while interest has been predictably high for this new event on the Confederation of Professional Golf’s growing pro-am schedule, it is not yet a sell-out

This means that for a limited number of PGA pros  from around Europe and beyond, who have had limited scope for much-needed competition during the restrictive winter months, especially in northern Europe, the chance remains to reserve a place in Mauritius.

An added bonus is that if a professional organises a team, he and his wife/partner receive free accommodation – Clearly an opportunity not to be missed.

The all-embracing format provides an opportunity for all categories with its professional prize fund of €15,000 along with handicap events for both men and women amateurs offering ‘fantastic prizes.

The full programme is:

Tuesday 20th March – Arrival and registration
Wednesday 21st March – Official practice round and welcome cocktails
Thursday 22nd March – First tournament round
Friday 23rd March – Second Tournament round
Saturday 24th March – Final round and gala dinner
Sunday 25th March – Day of Leisure and departures.

When Colin Montgomerie played there he described Le Touessrok as ‘truly spectacular’ and a ‘must play’ destination. Its arrival as a Confederation of Professional Golf destination enhances a schedule that already includes events in Turkey (two), Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal and Spain.

For further details – Click Here
Tournament Information and Entry Form – Click Here

The PGA of Sweden’s forthcoming annual 3-day Coaching Summit, at Halmstad (March 9-11), is entitled ‘START…STAY…SUCCEED’ and features a transatlantic line-up of star speakers designed to continue the pursuit of excellence by teachers and coaches.

From America’s ‘Mr Wedge’ Bob Vokey, whose famous design has sold more than a seven million worldwide, to orthopaedic surgeon Ernst B Zwick, MD PD, the speakers will provide an educational master class of golfing knowledge.

Bob Vokey will be accompanied by fellow American Steve Pelisek (below), general manager of Titleist’s golf club business worldwide. Their presentation will cover wedge design, loft and bounce combinations, sole grinds, fitting tour players and amateurs, spin versus trajectory control, and the shot-making techniques of great players.

Ernst Zwick’s presentation will be on the essential subject of the development of junior players and how biological differences between individuals which, if not understood and appreciated, could hinder their progress.

Canadian Istvan Balyi is a world-renowned coaching educator, whose series on Long-term Athletic Development (LTAD) has been published in Canada, Australia, USA, and the UK. For the last 18 years he has been the resident sports scientist of the National Coaching Institute, British Columbia, Canada.

His wisdom has taken his work into a whole range of sports in several countries and he has published three books and delivered more than 400 presentations. At the Swedish Summit his topic will be ‘Paradigm Shifts in Coaching’ and how to keep up with ever-changing methods.

Christer Olsson, Sofia Ivarsson, Katarina Vangdal and Karl Gustavsson will provide in-depth presentations on their specialist subjects in enhancing a further education opportunity that no PGA pro who is able to blend the event into their diary will want to miss.

More Information – Click Here

When Donato di Ponziano retired from the board after his 20 years service as a Confederation of Professional Golf director, not only did he make an emotional farewell speech but he left a gaping space that previously had been filled by the force of his extrovert personality.

Into that space, nominated for it by the PGA of Italy, and endorsed by members at the 2011 AGM in Portugal, has stepped LUCA SALVETTI (left) who will shortly sit at the table with his colleagues to undertake his first board meeting.

Luca Salvetti is the proud possessor of a degree in Sports Science from Bologna University and later became a PGA Professional. As a keen educationalist he has been coaching golf in Italy and other countries ever since, while specialising in Junior Teaching Programmes.

To this end he conducted related research at Verona University of Sports. Having been appointed to the board of the PGA of Italy Luca has taken care of the education and vocational training of the Italian golf pros and has been in charge of the PGAI Annual Seminar.

Currently his role has evolved into Head of Member Education. Luca has an active role in the Board of the Fondazione Campus, University of Lucca for Golf & Tourism Management, where he is in charge of the learning programs structure.

Since 2009 he is head consultant for Giorgio Armani EA7 Golf lines and clearly has the qualifications to make a similar substantial contribution to his long-serving predecessor.

A superb, one-blemish round of six-under-par 65 by CHRIS BARON (far right) earned him top prize of €4,000 in the Kempinski ‘The Dome’ Pro-Am at Antalya, Turkey, despite a challenging come-back by the first round leader, PHIL GOLDING.

Baron, a well-respected coach with 30 years PGA experience including spells as head professional at some of the world’s most prestigious resorts, turned up the heat on the third and final day with a round that was perfectly designed for the occasion.

After three holes he was already three under par as the field of pros returned to the PGA-bonded, par-71 Sultan course for the final shoot-out and a dropped shot at the fifth proved to be no more than a temporary irritation as he then reeled off some magical scoring.

A sequence of birdie-par, birdie-par, par-birdie swept him into the lead, one that he did not intend to waste.  Seven safety-first pars then took him to the 18th where his grand finale was a birdie flourish to post a two-stroke lead over Golding.

Ulas Karatas had set the target at two over par with an excellent round of 70 but it was something of a switchback ride that took him into red figures for the day. Birdies, bogeys and pars went into his mix one after the other as he battled to steer a level course… until a three on the par four 15th sealed a good day’s work.

His leader-in-the-clubhouse role did not survive for long, however. Golding was soon to take over as the first-round leader all but wiped his second round slump off the slate with a seven-birdie round of 67 for a 54-hole total of 212, two under par.

Although he dropped a shot at the first and another at 12 he was never going to allow that second-day 77 to become a habit as his putter began to do the business again and the possibility of adding to his success in the 2011 Beko Classic was clearly in his sights.

Yet, well as Golding played, he was forced to settle for runner-up spot as ‘The Baron’ took centre stage. Among the sub-par scorers was Liam Bond. The Welshman’s round of 70 gave him third place on his own at level par for the 54 holes.

Final leaderboard – Click Here 

Final Team Scores – Click Here

Baron, a well-respected coach with 30 years PGA experience including spells as head professional at some of the world’s most prestigious resorts, turned up the heat on the third and final day with a round that was perfectly designed for the occasion.

After three holes he was already three under par as the field of pros returned to the PGA-bonded, par-71 Sultan course for the final shoot-out and a dropped shot at the fifth proved to be no more than a temporary irritation as he then reeled off some magical scoring.

A sequence of birdie-par, birdie-par, par-birdie swept him into the lead, one that he did not intend to waste.  Seven safety-first pars then took him to the 18th where his grand finale was a birdie flourish to post a two-stroke lead over Golding.

Ulas Karatas had set the target at two over par with an excellent round of 70 but it was something of a switchback ride that took him into red figures for the day. Birdies, bogeys and pars went into his mix one after the other as he battled to steer a level course… until a three on the par four 15th sealed a good day’s work.

His leader-in-the-clubhouse role did not survive for long, however. Golding was soon to take over as the first-round leader all but wiped his second round slump off the slate with a seven-birdie round of 67 for a 54-hole total of 212, two under par.

Although he dropped a shot at the first and another at 12 he was never going to allow that second-day 77 to become a habit as his putter began to do the business again and the possibility of adding to his success in the 2011 Beko Classic was clearly in his sights.

Yet, well as Golding played, he was forced to settle for runner-up spot as ‘The Baron’ took centre stage. Among the sub-par scorers was Liam Bond. The Welshman’s round of 70 gave him third place on his own at level par for the 54 holes.

Final leaderboard – Click Here 

Final Team Scores – Click Here

Having handed in cards earlier in the day to complete a two-round total of one under par it must have seemed heavily odds on that, by the end, they would have slipped down the leader board rather than moved to the top!

However, on a testing day when par always proved to be a precious target several contenders, notably the overnight leader Phil Golding, slipped away, to fashion a leader board that revealed three on one under and a quartet one stroke behind them.

Typically of many on the field, Golding endured a day he would prefer to forget as he switched from the Pasha to the Sultan. Despite an encouraging birdie start he quickly found his first round lead disappearing as mini-disasters mounted in the shape of double-bogeys at the par 5 third hole and the last.

His further two birdies in between could have been scant consolation for the five bogeys that contributed to his round of six over par 77, yet a two-over total going into the final round left him in touching distance of the lead, among the four in runners-up position with every chance of clawing his way back.

One of the few to consolidate their position was Erol Simsek, the Turkish-born former European Tour player, based in Germany, who was level-par on the Pasha for one over par after two rounds. His 72 included two three-hole surges, a hat-trick of birdies from holes eight to ten and eagle-birdie-birdie from the 13th.

Meanwhile, while  it may not have felt like a ‘good day at the office’ for Giorgio Grillo  it proved a better one than most as he , too, remained well in contention among the top trio.

Joint second overnight on two under he found it impossible to make progress in switching from the Pasha to the Sultan as his first birdie failed to arrive until the final green. By then he had dropped two strokes at the 9th and carded bogeys at 13 and 16.

Liam Bond also shed strokes – one at the 14th another three holes later on an otherwise unblemished card – on what was reputed to be the ‘less difficult’ of the two fine golf courses !

Heinz Peter Thuel  ran out of red figures with a round of 75 on the Pasha to find himself on the  plus-two group going into what, inevitably, would be a  tough third and final round. He and Golding  were joined by Chris Baron who posted a level-par round on the Pasha, and Simon Brizzolara.

Nicolo Gaggero, winner of the 2011 PGAsE-endorsed 6th Aegean Airlines Pro-am at Costa Navarino, was the second round’s first sub-par scorer with his  70 on the Pasha to cut his first round six-over by two strokes and a chance of a top ten place on the final leader board.

The par fives were the Italian’s particular target as he sought to undo some of the damage of his first-round 77 on the Sultan. Birdies on the sixth and tenth holes and an eagle on the 13th suggested that his long game was in sound shape but three bogeys elsewhere took the shine off a little.

Former Antalya winner Jon Evans was the only other sub-par scorer with a 70 on the Pasha.

Leaderboard….Click Here

Day 1 – Phil’s Bid to put the ‘Gold’ into Golding

Thirty years of experience of professional golf, including spells on the European and Challenge Tours, helped PHIL GOLDING to take a two-stroke lead going into the second round of the Kempinski ‘The Dome’ Pro-Am at Antalya, Turkey.

With his 50th birthday coming in July, and his target set firmly on a ‘new’ career on the European Seniors Tour, Golding confirmed his aim to continue onward and upward in his middle years with an excellent four-under-par round of 68.

This gave the Englishman a two-stroke lead in the 54-hole, two-course event on  Giorgio Grillo, who has made a habit of being in contention for Confederation of Professional Golf-endorsed tournaments without yet actually winning one.

None of the Italian’s first five holes were pars and though four of them were birdies the other was a double-bogey six. A similar see-saw scenario arrived on his back nine when, after posting two more birdies he double-bogeyed the last.

By putting a little space between him and the rest of the field, Golding appeared after Day 1 to be in a healthy position though realistically, the second round ahead threatened to prove something of a leveller.

Of the two excellent Antalya courses, the PGA-branded, par-71 Sultan is unanimously regarded as a tougher challenge than the par-72 Pasha and it was on this latter of the two that Golding posted his round of four under …. not that he should be daunted by the tougher test in the second round.

After some 18 visits to the European Tour qualifying school, a spell in the top level that brought him a win in the French Open in 2003 and wins on the Challenge Tour he is well-equipped to meet the task head on…not to mention his fabulous 63 in the 2011 Beko Classic and his sudden-death shoot-out win over Carl Suneson.

His opening round was in arrears early on as he bogeyed the par four fourth but there was action to come. Still level-par standing on the sixth tee, he then holed five birdies in eight holes to claim his place as pace setter.

One stroke behind Grillo was a quartet of sub-par challengers, Liam Bond (Sultan), Heinz Peter Thuel (Sultan) , Simone Brizzolara (Pasha) and Ulas Karatas (Pasha). Welshman Bond, a past winner of PGAs E-endorsed pro-ams, looked to be on the way to a possible lead when he took advantage of the par fives (3rd and 7th) to go two under but a dropped stroke at 14 ended his mini-charge.