Round 2 of the event took place at Kiawah’s Par-72 Osprey Point Course where Woodbridge’s start was as turbulent as the seas off the coast of South Carolina.

A bogey on the second and a birdie on the third were completed in relative regulation but two bogeys and two double-bogeys before the turn left some ground to make up.

An immediate response birdie at the tenth, along with a bogey at 15 and another birdie at 16, allowed him to end with a 77 for a five-over par total (149).

“I didn’t hit the ball as well on the front nine as I did yesterday, which showed with my score,” said Woodbridge.  “But then I ground it out to come back in one-under this afternoon. It’s been very tough but hopefully I’ll have another good round tomorrow.”

Moving up the leaderboard into second place is the PGA of Sweden’s Peter Dahlberg.  Two birdies in the front nine and just a single bogey allowed him to go out in one-under par, but only a single birdie and three bogeys on the back nine brought him to one over for the day (73); seven-over par for the tournament and just two shots off the pace.

In third position is Simon Edwards (PGA of Great Britain & Ireland) with an eight-over par total of 152 after he matched Woodbridge’s 77 on the Osprey Course.

Woodbridge also continues to lead the Team Pro-Am event with amateurs Dave Holden, Kevin Jones, and Steve Wilkes after 79 points in their second round gave them a total of 155 (-11).

The PGA of America’s Darren McNeal and amateurs Tony Baker, Ben Segler, and Doug Vickers move into second place after a Round 2 78 points sit them at a 151 total (-7) with one round to go.

For full Round 2 results visit http://eur.pe/2015Pinehurst

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For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#GolfbreaksPinehurstProAm’ or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Golfbreaks.com visit http://www.golfbreaks.com/pga-pro.

Heavy snow throughout North Carolina in the past few days resulted in a change in venue (statement here: http://eur.pe/1zLDKsV) for the inaugural Golfbreaks.com Pinehurst Pro-Am to the former Ryder Cup venue, Kiawah Island and its Ocean Course.

Woodbridge started his round with four regulation pars until birdies at the fifth and sixth holes took him below par to two-under.  It was plain sailing until the 540-yard 16th hole where a double-bogey seven cancelled out his earlier work to finish with a level par 72.

Three shots behind is fellow GB&I Professional, Simon Edwards, who had a less simple round consisting of three birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey for a three-over par 75.

A further three shots behind is Peter Dahlberg (PGA of Sweden) whose 38 shots out and 40 shots in gave a six-over par 78.

Individual leader Woodbridge also leads the Team Pro-Am competition along with amateurs Dave Holden, Kevin Jones, and Steve Wilkes with a total of 76 points (-4).

Mirroring the individual leaderboard, Edwards also sits at second in the team event with amateurs, Ian Gidden, John Tattersall, and Michael Shanks, after a first round total of 75 points (-3).

For full Round 1 results visit http://eur.pe/2015Pinehurst

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For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#GolfbreaksPinehurstProAm’ or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Golfbreaks.com visit http://www.golfbreaks.com/pga-pro.

Statement from Confederation of Professional Golf Tournament Director, Robert Moss:

Upon arrival at Pinehurst on Tuesday 24th the courses were under approx. 5 inches of snow.  Pinehurst Resort were hopeful that based upon manageable temperatures it would be possible to play 27 holes on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th.

However, looking at the forecast there was a possibility of more snow on the evening of the 25th, which was proven when a further 12 inches of snow did fall, so alternative arrangements were made with Kiawah Island to enable a switch in venue and to move all competitors there with time for practice.

The tournament continues to be three rounds but will be played across Kiawah Island’s Ocean, Osprey Point and Turtle Point Courses.

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For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#GolfbreaksPinehurstProAm’ or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Golfbreaks.com visit http://www.golfbreaks.com/pga-pro.

A total of 32 teams consisting of PGA professionals from around the world and their amateur partners took part in the five-day tournament over the five courses of Durban Country Club, Zimbali Country Club, Prince’s Grant Golf Estate, Cotswold Downs Golf Estate and Mt Edgecombe Country Club Course 1.

The final round was played at Durban Country Club on Friday.

Engdahl won the Professional Championship with a score of 186 individual stableford points. Basson finished second with 177 points and Du Toit third with 176 points.

“It’s one of the highlights of my career to defend this title. I’ll definitely be back to try for a hat-trick next year,” said Engdahl, whose victory earned him just over R390 000.

This was the second Mercedes-Benz World Club Pro-Am, which is supported by the PGA of South Africa, and the event has secured its place on the international PGA tournament calendar.

“There is no doubt that this event will be sanctioned by the Confederation of Professional Golf and will feature on our international calendar as a premier tournament,” said Ian Randell, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf.

The Pro-Am Fourball Alliance competition was won by Modderfontein Golf Club with a score of 440 points. Strand Golf Club finished second with 432 points.

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For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#WorldClubProAm’ or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

Find out more about the event here: WorldClubProAm.com.

The SMS INC. report, commissioned by Women & Golf magazine and featured in the March/April issue, on sale 6 February, reveals that male golfers could be a key stimulus in increasing female participation.

The survey reveals that the top reason for female golfers initially taking up the game is because of a husband or partner who played. Yet the conclusions show that over three quarters of male golfers who have a wife or partner say that this companion does not play golf, thus presenting a great opportunity to the golf industry to embrace these golfers to grow the game.

“The impending report in Women & Golf, that will also be available to view on the website www.womenandgolf.com, will give the golf industry exceptional insight into a much coveted group of consumers, offering detailed data on their attitudes to the game and how the sport can attract more women,” said Richard Payne, Senior Sports Account Manager of SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC.

“SMS INC. emphasised the importance of the ‘three F’s’ – Fun, Flexible, and Family’ – at The Industry Lunch at The Open in Hoylake six months ago, and this research fully supports that vision”.

Male Golfer Attitudes:

SMS INC.’s report also provides pivotal insight into the attitude of the male golfer, revealing that over half of men who have sons say that their son(s) play golf, whereas just 12% of men who have daughters say that their daughter(s) play.

Less than half of men with wives or partners who do not currently participate in the game, have tried to introduce them to golf, and a similar trend (31%) is evident of men with daughters who do not currently play.

“This in-depth research clearly demonstrates that the industry must utilise its current male golfers to encourage the women in their life into the game. Clubs must emphasise the inclusive, familial nature of the sport to help it develop and grow female participation” said Alison Root, Editor of Women & Golf.

Furthermore, the report reveals that 47% of women golfers play golf casually with male golfers at least once a month.

The survey was carried out during the summer and autumn 2014 and involved over 3,000 core golfers.

Click here to find out more about the study and results

After starting the day in second place and three shots behind the pace at the La Manga Club in southern Spain, it was up to Bragg to carve out a sub-par score to claw back shots from overnight leader, Liam Bond.

“I came into the week wanting to have fun and wanted to enjoy the time with some clients,” explained Bragg.  “I’m quite a big believer in myself anyway and I felt quite comfortable with what was happening so it was a case of holing a couple of putts and riding the storm.

“I started off solid [today] as I did yesterday and had a really nice two at the long par three and just kept it going…I also knocked a couple of good putts in which gets momentum.  I had a bit of fortune on the 11th, the par-four up over the water…I made a beautiful up-and-down from there which saw me home really.

“For me it’s a case of playing a few more events this year…so hopefully this will give me a bit of a kick-start.”

Gentler weather conditions in the final round freed the North London Golf Academy Professional up to make an early move at the 201-meter fifth hole with a birdie two, followed up shortly after at the ninth with another birdie to bring him back to a four-over par total through nine holes.

A single bogey at the 12th made things more difficult, but two further birdies allowed him to get to three-over.  A further bogey at the par-four 16th threatened to spoil his plans but a solid birdie on the 18th hole was enough to get him back to three-over (220) for the tournament.

For Bond, who led through both the first and second rounds, it wasn’t to be as a single birdie on his front nine was not enough to cancel out three bogeys on holes one, six and seven.

Further bogeys at the 10th and 15th holes gave him a four-over par 77, a tournament total of seven-over par (224), making for a solid one-two pair of finishes in the last two Confederation of Professional Golf Sanctioned events having won 10 days ago at the Kempinski “The Dome” Pro-Am in Turkey.

Completing the GB&I one-two-three was Nicholas Ludwell who held his own once again narrowly missing out on second place by just one shot after a final one-over par 74 gave him an overall total of 225 (+8).

In the Team Pro-Am event another GB&I member in the form of John Paul Banbury (pictured second left) led the team honours together with his amateurs, Steve Hadley (left), Scott Hansell (right), and Chris Stokes (second right).  A final round 83 points (-11), added to their previous totals of 73 and 72, earned them a winning 228-point total (-12).

In tied second place were the team of Robert Bardsley (GB&I), and amateurs David Calvert, Andrew Calvert, and Michael Sadoz, along with PGA of Italy Professional, Andrea Zanini, and amateurs Orlando Grondona, Marco Villa, and Emmanuel Georgudis.  84 and 80 final round point totals respectively allowed both teams to end on 225 points (-9).

For full final results visit http://eur.pe/2015LaManga

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For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope and search #LaMangaClubProAm on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

For more information about the resort and to book a break, call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reservas@lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com.

Darren Clarke has been announced as the European captain for The 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota, from September 30-October 2, 2016.

The 2011 Open Champion becomes the first Northern Irishman to lead Europe against the United States, having played in the biennial contest five times, featuring on the winning side on four occasions. He was also a vice captain under Colin Montgomerie and José María Olazábal in the European wins in  2010 and 2012 respectively, and succeeds Irishman Paul McGinley, who captained Europe to a 16 ½-11 ½ triumph at Gleneagles last September.

Clarke takes the reins for the 41st Ryder Cup with the aim of leading Europe to a record fourth consecutive victory in the biennial contest.

The 46 year old was chosen by a five man selection panel consisting of those three most recent European Ryder Cup Captains – McGinley, Olazábal and Montgomerie – as well as the Chief Executive of The European Tour, George O’Grady, and European Tour Tournament Committee member David Howell, which met at Wentworth Club today (Wednesday February 18).

Clarke said: “I am naturally extremely proud to be selected as European Ryder Cup captain for 2016. The Ryder Cup has been a massive part of my life and my career, so to have the chance to lead Europe next year is a huge honour.

“I am lucky to have played and worked under some fantastic captains in my seven Ryder Cups to date, and I look forward to the challenge of trying to follow in their footsteps and help Europe to a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup victory at Hazeltine next year.”

The 14-time European Tour winner made his Ryder Cup debut in 1997 at Valderrama in Spain under Seve Ballesteros, partnering Montgomerie to defeat Fred Couples and Davis Love III in the fourballs before losing narrowly to Phil Mickelson in the singles.

He then contributed two points at each of the next two Ryder Cups, at Brookline in 1999 and The Belfry in 2002, and three-and-a-half points in Europe’s record 18½-9½ victory at Oakland Hills Country Club in 2004.

But his most memorable, and emotional, Ryder Cup performance came two years later when he inspired Europe to victory by the same record equalling margin in front of passionate Irish galleries at The K Club, just six weeks after his first wife Heather passed away.

Clarke won all three of his matches in Co. Kildare, joining forces with Lee Westwood to defeat Mickelson and Chris DiMarco then Tiger Woods and Jim Fuyrk in the fourballs, before beating Zach Johnson 3 and 2 in the singles. His two victories alongside Westwood mean the duo are joint second in the all-time list of most successful Ryder Cup partnerships, with six points from their eight matches together, while overall Clarke has contributed a total of 11½ points in the blue of Europe.

He returned to The Ryder Cup fold four years later as a vice captain under Montgomerie at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, as Europe beat the United States by 14½-13½, and he gained further experience as part of the backroom team under Olazábal at Medinah in 2012.

That came a year after the finest individual achievement of his distinguished career, when he held off Mickelson and Dustin Johnson to win The 140th Open Championship at Royal St George’s, adding the Claret Jug to the two World Golf Championship titles he won in the early 2000s, when he became just the second player after Tiger Woods to win more than one WGC crown.

George O’Grady, speaking on behalf of the Ryder Cup Europe selection panel, said: “We are delighted to announce that Darren has accepted the invitation from the panel to captain Europe at The 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National.

“Darren has an impressive Ryder Cup pedigree having featured five times as a player and twice as a vice captain, so he has a strong understanding of the attributes required to be a successful captain. He is also a popular figure among the players and has both the passion and knowledge to lead Europe in the quest for a record fourth consecutive Ryder Cup victory.”

Clarke is the first captain to be chosen using Ryder Cup Europe’s new selection process – the third method used to pick The Ryder Cup captain since players from Continental Europe joined the fold for the 1979 contest, under the captaincy of John Jacobs, at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.

From then until 1997, when the late Seve Ballesteros led Europe in his homeland at Valderrama, the European Ryder Cup captain was identified by the Ryder Cup Committee, who selected Jacobs again in 1981, Tony Jacklin in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989, and Bernard Gallacher in 1991, 1993 and 1995.

However, in 1999, Mark James was the first European captain to be nominated by the European Tour’s Tournament Committee and ratified by the Ryder Cup Board, a process which went on to select Sam Torrance (2002), Bernhard Langer (2004), Ian Woosnam (2006), Sir Nick Faldo (2008), Montgomerie (2010), Olazábal (2012) and McGinley (2014).

Playing in gusts of over 55kph on La Manga Club’s South Course, Bond began his assault on the course from the 10th hole where an immediate bogey five brought him back to level for the event.

A further bogey at 15 and a double at 16 took him to three over until a birdie at 18 curtailed the downward trend.

A much more stable second half on the South’s outward nine featuring just a single bogey at the seventh showed the mettle of Bond’s game, and enabled him to close the day with a four-over par 77 and a tournament total of 147 (+3).

Three shots behind him is another PGA of GB&I Professional, Darren Bragg (pictured below), who finished the day one place ahead of where he began.  Six pars and a birdie through his opening seven holes showed his resilience to the wind until he came unstuck with five bogeys in the next nine holes.

But another birdie at the par-three 17th was a welcome addition to the card allowing him to close on six-over (150) for the tournament and definitely in with a chance of making a further move up the leaderboard come the final round.

“The course was in fantastic condition,” said Bragg.  “The 40mph wind makes it really difficult to get the clubbing right, and, with most of the holes playing with a cross wind, it was a case of head down and do what you can do today.

“I’m pleased with the score – I think we’re probably all the same in that we could of hit a couple of better shots but I’ll definitely take it.”

In third position, and again keeping it as a GB&I one-two-three, is Nicholas Ludwell who sits just one shot back from Bragg having carded a five-over par 78 for a total of 151 (+7).

The Team Pro-Am continues to be led by the PGA of Czech Republic’s Maroš Gajan and amateurs Jiri Magyer, Jan Pizur, and Tomas Haulis.  Their second score of 75 points for the tournament takes them to a total of 150 points (-6) and a five shot lead heading into the last day.

Tied for second are GB&I’s John Paul Banbury and amateurs Steve Hadley, Scott Hansel, and Chris Stokes, along with the PGA of Italy’s Andrea Zanini and amateurs Orlando Grondona, Marco Villa, and Emmanuel Georgudis, each with totals of 145 points (-1).

For full Round 2 results visit http://eur.pe/2015LaManga

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For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope and search #LaMangaClubProAm on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

For more information about the resort and to book a break, call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reservas@lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com.

[Images courtesy of Tony Henshaw/La Manga Club – www.lamangaclub.com]

Coming off the back of a win at the Kempinski “The Dome” Pro-Am just 10 days ago, Bond put his best foot forward in hugely windy conditions with gusts of over 40kph throughout the day.

“It was really windy out there; they were very tough conditions,” explained Bond.  “It was just a matter of trying to keep it under the wind and out of rubbish.

“The course was very good, I enjoyed it – I’ve never played the North Course before and it’s fiddly without wind so with the wind it was extra fiddly!”

Regulation pars from the first to fifth were interrupted by an uncharacteristic bogey at the par-five sixth hole, but after four more pars, birdies at 11 and 12 reversed his fortunes allowing him to close as the only player under par through Round 1.

In second place is another GB&I Professional, Nicholas Ludwell, who battled the elements through a round that included three bogeys and a single birdie at the 12th, one of the hardest holes of the day, for a two-over 73.

Completing the GB&I top-three is Darren Bragg who sits at four shots off the leader after a three-over par 74.

The Team Pro-Am event is headed up by the team of Maroš Gajan (PGA of Czech Republic) and amateurs Jiri Magyer, Jan Pizur, and Tomas Haulis, who lead with 75 points (-3).

Just two shots back is the PGA of GB&I’s John Paul Banbury and amateurs Steve Hadley, Scott Hansel, and Chris Stokes on a one-under par 73 points, who are then followed by five teams tied for third place, leaving it all to play for with two rounds remaining.

For full Round 1 results visit http://eur.pe/2015LaManga

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For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope and search #LaMangaClubProAm on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

For more information about the resort and to book a break, call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reservas@lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com.

[Image courtesy of Tony Henshaw/La Manga Club – www.lamangaclub.com]

Cater has 17 years of experience and has been with Ermenegildo Zegna for the past eight where he was vice president of wholesale for Ermenegildo Zegna Sportswear, Shoes, and Leather Goods. Before that, he was the national sales manager at Paul & Shark.

“Jason’s experience in the luxury sportswear category will be invaluable to Peter Millar as the company continues to experience considerable growth in the U.S. and internationally,” said Scott Ruerup, president, Peter Millar Collection.

Cater will work with the brand’s existing design team including Chris Knott, founder; Mike Bowers, vice president of design and merchandising — golf, and Lindsay Browder, women’s design director.

Scott Mahoney, chairman and chief executive officer of Peter Millar, said Cater will add a “fresh perspective and creative vision” to the Richemont-owned brand.

The 32-year-old Ancaster, Ont., native has worked in numerous roles for the PGA of Canada since 2004 and says he’s looking forward to opportunity.

“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to take my career to the next level here at the PGA of Canada,” said Dykeman, a graduate of Brock University’s Sport Management (Honours) Program. “The PGA of Canada has had a great run in the past number of years and I look forward to continuing the momentum for the association,” he said, adding, “I’ll be working closely with CEO Gary Bernard and the entire national office staff for the betterment of the PGA of Canada’s 3,700 members and our brand.”

In his most recent position of Director of Business Development & Brand for the PGA of Canada, Dykeman played an integral part in increasing national partnerships with top corporate brands from Canada and around the world. He also had a significant hand in re-launching the PGA Championship of Canada, creating of the PGA of Canada Player Rankings and launching of the PGA of Canada’s national golf magazines.

Dykeman’s previous roles with the association include Manager of Business Development, Manager of Education & Employment and Assistant Tournament Director. Prior to joining the PGA of Canada, Dykeman worked in a number of different capacities at various golf courses in Ontario, as well as spending time with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) as part of game day promotions team.

In 2013, Dykeman was named one of the Most Influential People in Canadian Golf by CanadianGolfer.com.

Bond began the final round two shots ahead of the field requiring a strong defence against his chasers, but two bogeys in the first two holes on Antalya Golf Club’s PGA Sultan Course were not perhaps the ideal start.

However, birdies at holes three, five, seven and eight swiftly dealt with the early deficit taking the Englishman to eight-under par.

His back nine was less eventful and two bogeys at 11 and 16 brought Bond back to six-under (208), enough to win the event by two shots.

“Today was good,” explained Bond.  “I dropped a couple early on in the first two holes, but managed to scramble them back, and then dropped a few towards the end again.

“But I’ve played steady all week and not made many mistakes – I think that’s what you’ve got to do with the course and, as we’ve seen with the Turkish tournament on the European Tour, it’s a tough test of golf and you’ve just got to keep your ball in play.”

In second place was the PGA of Italy’s Gregory Molteni [pictured right] who began the day four shots off the pace and his quick start with three birdies and two bogeys to go out in one-under gave him momentum to move in the right direction.

The Italian’s 12th hole proved to be a high point as he holed a second shot five-iron for eagle on the 433m par four, but an immediate bogey at the next took him to back to four-under and a birdie at 16 and bogey at 18 kept him there finishing with a two-under 69 for an overall four-under par total (210).

“I’m quite happy with today’s round,” said Molteni.  “I knew that with Mr Bond there I would have to play well from the beginning.  I am here with my Italian team and I must thank them for giving me the opportunity to train…here on the fantastic facilities.”

Third place went to the PGA of Israel’s Itamar Cohen who fell away relatively early in his final round after three bogeys and a double-bogey in his front nine.  Two birdies late in the back nine were useful in pulling him back up the leaderboard to be stand-alone third with a final round one-over par 72 and an overall total of one-under (213).

The two round Team Pro-Am event was won by Lukasz Szadny (PGA of Poland), and amateurs Krysztof Burdalski, Mariusz Konieczny and Waldemar Kowalczykowski, having carded 91 points in Round 2 added to their previous total of 86 points for a 177 points total (-33).

In second place was the PGA of Czech Republic’s Alan Babicky and amateurs Peter Stranak, Alzbeta Fulopova and Imed Abdellaqui, after a second round 91 points bettered their first round effort by 10 points for a total of 172 points (-28).

For full final results visit http://eur.pe/2015Kempinski.

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For more information on Antalya Golf Club visit www.agc.com.tr, and for the Kempinski “The Dome” Hotel visit www.kempinski.com/en/belek.

For more information on the 2015 Kempinski “The Dome” Pro-Am visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope and search #KempinskiDome on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

Bond’s outward nine on the PGA Sultan Course was completed in regulation form with nine consecutive pars for a level-par 35.  Two further pars were then interrupted by a bogey on the 12th bringing him back to three-under overall.

But a run of four birdies in four holes took the Englishman to seven-under only marred by a single bogey at 18 to end on his six-under par total and a two shot advantage heading into the final round.

In second place is the PGA of Poland’s Jakub Ossowski who made solid headway during Round 2 with a four-under par 68 on the Pasha Course, that, combined with his first round level-par takes him to four-under (139) for the tournament.

After starting the day in second place, the PGA of Italy’s Gregory Molteni was only able to card a level par on the Pasha to remain at two-under (141), where he is joined by the PGA of Israel’s Itamar Cohen, whose 70 on the Pasha took him to four off the lead.

Lukasz Szadny (PGA of Poland), and amateurs Krysztof Burdalski, Mariusz Konieczny and Waldemar Kowalczykowski, have moved to first position in the Team Pro-Am event after 91 points in Round 2 added to their previous total of 86 points for a 177 points total (-33).

Advancing up the leaderboard is the PGA of Czech Republic’s Alan Babicky and amateurs Peter Stranak, Alzbeta Fulopova and Imed Abdellaqui, after a second round 91 points, bettering their first round effort by 10 points for a total of 172 points (-28).

For full Round 2 results visit http://eur.pe/2015Kempinski.

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For more information on Antalya Golf Club visit www.agc.com.tr, and for the Kempinski “The Dome” Hotel visit www.kempinski.com/en/belek.

For more information on the 2015 Kempinski “The Dome” Pro-Am visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope and search #KempinskiDome on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

Perfect spring conditions in Turkey left the course open for good scoring but Antalya’s Pasha and PGA Sultan courses continued to prove the test that they are renowned to be.  Bond’s round began with five regulation pars before a birdie-par-eagle run at the next three holes added a flash of colour to the scorecard.

A further birdie at the 10th took the Englishman to -4 and then a run of eight straight pars tied of his first round as solidly as it had begun.

Two shots behind is the PGA of Italy’s Gregory Molteni after a two-under par 69 around the PGA Sultan course.

An early start with birdies at two, three and later at seven got the Italian Professional to three-under par, but bogeys at 11 and 15 were only salvaged by another at 16 to leave him at two-under par.

Tied for third place are Ladisalv Tupa (PGA of Czech Republic) and Nick Baron (PGA of GB&I) who each made steady one-under par first rounds on the Pasha Course.  Both Professionals had up and down rounds compared to those players ahead of the but managed to salvage sub-par rounds to remain only a few shots off the pace.

The Team Pro-Am competition is led by PGA of Israel Professional Itamar Cohen, and his amateur teammates, Guy Benhamo, Moti Fishman and Charlie Uzan, with a total of 87 points (-15), ahead of PGA of Poland Professional, Lukasz Szadny, and amateurs Krysztof Burdalski, Mariusz Konieczny and Waldemar Kowalczykowski with 86 points (-14).

For full Round 1 results visit http://eur.pe/2015Kempinski.

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For more information on Antalya Golf Club visit www.agc.com.tr, and for the Kempinski “The Dome” Hotel visit www.kempinski.com/en/belek.

For more information on the 2015 Kempinski “The Dome” Pro-Am visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope and search #KempinskiDome on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

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Just 40 minutes south of Barcelona or a 15-minute transfer from Barcelona’s Reus airport, golf in the Costa Daurada remains something of a well-kept secret.  Although that might not be the case for long because it really is something special. The renowned ‘Golden Coast’ already has some seriously good golf, including the Greg Norman-designed course at the 36-hole venue LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club in Vila-Seca/La Pineda Platja – a state-of-the-art Spanish resort that is fast gaining a reputation for being one of Europe’s premier golfing destinations.

Although still in its infancy, the facility has already been showered with praise from international media and industry experts alike for its intriguing vision and authentic atmosphere.

With a broad variety of attractions, including 45-holes of championship golf, a variety of hotel options to suit all budgets, a first-class events and conference centre, restaurants serving modern Mediterranean cuisine and a magnificent Beach Club, LUMINE offers a luxurious haven in which to unwind and get away from the stresses of daily life.

Under the guard of the world’s leading management company, Troon Golf, this all-encompassing resort offers the finest in service and Spanish hospitality and is fully equipped to welcome golfing groups, families and business travellers.

With two international airports, Reus (10 min drive) and Barcelona, LUMINE can be easily accessed from anywhere in Europe and further afield.  With its North East coastline location, LUMINE boasts an ideal Mediterranean climate of long hot summers and short mild winters with the added benefit of a steady sea breeze that helps to cool the heat on summer evenings.

45-HOLES OF GOLFING PARADISE

LUMINE is a true golfing haven, with 45-holes that offer a wide-variety of challenges for players of all skill levels. With Troon Golf at the helm alongside dedicated staff, guests are guaranteed pristine course conditioning, smooth and fast greens alongside first-class service and hospitality.  The three LUMINE courses are the first in Spain to be awarded the Audubon International Gold Signature Sanctuary Certificate, regarded worldwide as the kite mark for the most environmentally aware leisure developments.

For those looking to hone their skills during their stay, a team of professionals at The LUMINE Golf Performance Centre are on hand with numerous group courses for beginners right through to elite amateurs, and a Junior Academy introducing the game in a fun and relaxed environment.  The centre, previously base to their official winter training camps, has received rich praise from the Austrian and Finnish Golf Federation’s elite squads and is a popular choice for PGA Professionals leading group training.  LUMINE has also played host to the first ever Nordea Tour event to be held outside the Nordic region, with aspiring young Nordic professionals competing in the Nordea Tour Winter Series.

APRÈS GOLF

Once you step off the final green a wealth of world-class facilities await, including two fully equipped clubhouses and the luxurious LUMINE Beach Club. Situated on 1km of golden Spanish beach and pine-clad hillside above the sweeping bay of Tarragona’s Playa Del Llarga, it offers the perfect mix of style, relaxation, excitement and fine dining.  With nine swimming pools laid out on a series of terraces with luxury beds and loungers, this has become a fashionable venue for a young crowd as well as families and couples.

The Beach Club also provides the location for the award-winning LUMINE Restaurant.  Offering superb Mediterranean cuisine, head chef Eduardo Cuesta has already become somewhat of legend in the area.

SURROUNDING REGION AND ATTRACTIONS

Beyond the serenity of the resort, the Costa Daurada region is brimming with leisure, cultural and historic attractions. Spain’s largest theme park and one of country’s biggest entertainment attractions, PortAventura, lies just 5km away.

To the north lies the Priorat wine region, the birthplace of exquisite reds that many wine writers and collectors consider to be Spain’s most elite.  The historic town of Tarragona is also just a 15 minute drive from LUMINE.  With 2,200 years of history and a Roman heritage preserved in dozens of monuments and architectural remains, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Essential Roman highlights include the Amphitheatre, the Circus depicting the route of early chariot racing, a one-kilometer stretch of original walls and fortifications from the 2nd Century BC, and a temple with its surviving portico.

If it’s bustling nightlife or seaside sophistication you are looking for, then the choice is yours; with both the busy resort of Salou and the more peaceful marina port of Cambrils just a few minutes’ drive away. Both have superb beaches, facilities and some of the finest restaurants in the region.  For those wishing to experience the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona, it is just a 100km drive up the coast.

For more information visit LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club – www.lumine.com, Costa Daurada – www.costadaurada.info, Cambrils – www.Cabrils-Tourism.com, La Pineda Platja –www.lapinedaplatja.info, and Salou – www.visitsalou.eu.

1. Plan

Before approaching your contacts, plan carefully what you want to get out of the encounter and the questions you want to ask (see our list of ideas below).  This will ensure that you make the best use of the opportunity and that you appear professional in your approach.

2. Research

Research a little into your contact’s jobrole and the organisation they work for so that you can ask relevant questions.  You do not want to be using valuable ‘networking time’ asking for information that can easily be sourced via the company’s website.

3. Call Them

A brief, professional telephone call can often elicit a better response that a letter or email as it requires less initiative from your contact to respond. During the call you can:

• Remind them how you know them / explain who gave you their name.
• Explain why you are ringing – i.e. because you are considering a move into their particular occupational field/ considering applying for a role with their employer and you would appreciate an insider’s view about what this entails (not because you want them to find you a job or look at your CV!).
• Ask them if they can spare 10 minutes or so to speak to you by phone.  If they are busy, ask when would be a good time to call back, or ask if they would prefer you to contact them by email.
• If they say that they cannot help you (because they are not in the relevant area of work, for example) then ask them if they can suggest another contact you could approach.
• Thank them for their time and help.

4. Ask to find out more

Never ask your contact if they know of any vacancies in the field in your introduction as this will put your contact under pressure and may make them feel uncomfortable.

It is better to ask about typical routes in to the profession and ask generally where opportunities tend to be advertised.  If your contact is aware of a suitable vacancy which is likely to arise, they will probably mention it to you. If the conversation is going well, you might ask them if they would consider having a quick look over your CV to give you some advice on how to market yourself for this area of work.

This ensures that your contact is aware of your skills, enthusiasm and availability and will bear these in mind if an opportunity comes up.

5. Seek Experience

If your aim is to secure work experience, then ask about how you might go about arranging this.  Explain the sort of practical role you feel you would be able to fulfil (based on your current skills) and what you are looking to get out of the placement.  If your contact explains that their company does not offer work experience, or that they are too busy/some other objection you might want to ask if a short period of work shadowing might be possible as this requires less planning and staff resources from the employer.

6. Seek More Contacts

At the end of the conversation, ask your contact if they can think of anybody else who might be willing to speak to you to improve your understanding of the job area. Your aim should be to end the conversation with at least one further contact to explore.

7. Follow-Up

Follow up the conversation with a thank you letter or email, thanking them for their time and helpful information and enclosing your CV for their information.  You could ask them to bear you in mind if they chance upon a suitable opportunity which might interest you and offer to come in for a further meeting if they would like to explore this further.

8. Remember to Make Good Impression at All Times

Throughout your networking encounter, remember that you might be talking to a prospective employer or to someone who can recommend you to an employer in the field.  This is an opportunity for you to make a good impression and to impress them with your skills, qualities and motivation.

When asked for your reasons for entering this job area, for example, try to give the same sorts of reasons that you would in an interview, albeit in a more informal way.  Your contacts don’t want to hear that you want a job in their area because you hate your current employer/you’re broke/it sounds like a cushy number!