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The first EGTF Murcia Pro Am took place recently at the Polaris World Resort, with an excellent number of 12 teams participating. 

Gavin Riddall of Pink Properties and also an EGTF Pro, was responsible for organising the event along with Paula Moreland.

We were based in the La Torre Resort for our first venture down into this part of Spain, this being one of the more established complexes, of the many being developed in this area.

TEAM ABBOTT

BILL ABBOTT

Round 1 was played at La Torre, a shorter resort type course, but with small tricky and very fast greens, so everyone had to be wary of their putting.  Scoring was good for the majority, with Stan Richards' 41 points leading the Amateur event, and Stewart Craig and John Greer leading the Pro event with rounds of 70.  Peter Ledwidge's team took an early lead in the Team Championship on 90 points.

STEWART CRAIG

DRIVING RANGE

Round 2 was played at the newly developed El Valle Resort, which was a very stiff challenge especially for anyone with a slightly dodgy putting stroke!!  The greenkeeper, who had obviously had a bad evening the night before, had decided that the golfing fraternity must suffer and placed the majority of pins in places that Tiger Woods could not have 2 putted from.

Still as always happens, some people manage to overcome and produce some great golf, and Pete Stopford, who works alongside me at Darenth Valley GC, posted an excellent round of 73, to play himself into the lead in the Pro event.  Stan kept himself in the lead with a score of 26 points in the Amateur event and Peter Ledwidge's team maintained their position at the top of the team competition.

9TH HOLE

These events are always made special by the coming together of the Amateurs and Pro's for a competitive but fun week, and by sharing a meal and a couple of beers in the evenings with some of the other players, a really great atmosphere is created.

Round 3 was played at the fiercesome Hacienda del Alamo, the longest course in Spain, and even off our tees the course stretched out to 7,000 yards.  The course was described by many as 'a monster', with huge, lightning fast greens where only the best struck shots were to receive any sort of reward.

The Amateur event was eventually won by Stan Richards, our Day 1 leader with a last round of 28 points.  Peter Ledwidge's team maintained their position, leading from start to finish, eventually triumphing by 4 points, from John Greer's team.

AMATEUR WINNER STAN RICHARDS

The Pro event was very keenly contested, with any one of 6 people in with a chance on the last day, but an excellent round of 75 by Pete Stopford clinched the title by 1 shot from John Greer.  Pete has worked very hard on his game in the last year and I was extremely pleased to be able to hand over the trophy to him, so he can display it proudly at our Golf Club.

PRO WINNER PETE STOPFORD

The presentation evening was a fine affair with trophies being presented to the successful players and a very nice cheque for 2,000 euros going to Pete for the Pro Event.

TEAM LEDWIDGE

My thanks go to Gavin and Paula for the excellent tournament they organised and to all my fellow EGTF Professionals and their Amateur teams who made this trip so enjoyable.

I hope I will see you at one of the EGTF tournaments in 2008 as they really are a great experience.

Bill Abbott

Pro Event