Little Wins in a Canter as Bond’s Challenge Falters
England’s Jamie Little completed a superb 54-hole challenge for the Confederation of Professional Golf-endorsed Beko Classic Pro-am on the Cornelia Course in Antalya-Belek to win in a canter by eight strokes from Welshman Liam Bond.
The third and final day proved to one of contrasts for the pair who had battled out from the start on the leading two positions. When the crunch came Little upped the tempo with six birdies for an opening nine of 30 and a tight grip on the first prize that he was never going to fully let go.
He did falter slightly on the home straight to finish on four-under 68 with a fine winning score of 204, twelve under par. Bond, meanwhile, saw his chances disappear in the Turkish sunshine when a double-bogey seven on the second hole left him with far too much to do.
His 75 earned him runners-up place, two ahead of a trio on two under in Marco Ruiz (Paraguay), Robert Coles (England) and Erol Simsek, the Turkish-born past winner who has lived most of his life in Germany.
The tournament that established itself for many years at the Kemer Golf and Country club, Istanbul, moved to the Antalya-Belek course last year and has now been staged with great success at its third venue, where it was enjoyed and well-received by all, who were accommodated at the splendid Cornelia Diamond Hotel.
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Beko Classic Moves to Cornelia Faldo Course
The Beko Classic 2008, endorsed as always by The Confederation of Professional Golf, will be staged on November 26-29, 2008, at the Cornelia Faldo Course, Antalya-Belek, in Southern Turkey.
This will be the third different course in as many years on which the increasingly-prestigious event will be played, following the adjacent Antalya venue last year and, for many years previously, the Kemer G&CC, Istanbul.
Designed by Nick Faldo and featuring a David Leadbetter Academy, Cornelia is one of the latest of the superb array of facilities that constantly grows in this ever-expanding golfing destination.
During its lengthy association with The Confederation of Professional Golf, this International Pro-Am has increased the quality of its field year by year and the organisers plan to continue their policy of advancement for 2008.
Several former Ryder Cup players have appeared in the Beko Classic while, in 2007, it was graced by the former US Masters winner and World No.1, Ian Woosnam. It is anticipated that other leading Senior Tour players will be in this year’s field.