Thursday, 1/Dec/2005
WGC - Algarve World Cup in Portugal Victoria - Algarve - Portugal - 17th to 20th November, 2005 The Welsh Team composed of Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge beat both English and Swedish Teams by two strokes. The event had been shortened to just 54 holes due to bad weather. After the opening day better-ball, with Englands Luke Donald and David Howell scoring a magnificent 59 - leaving Australia and surprise India team only one stroke behind. The 2nd round, played in the foursomes format (alternate shot), ended in a 3-way tie between Sweden, England and Wales. The Welsh team of Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd caught up with birdies on the final four holes, although, England scored three and Sweden two in that home stretch but this finish boosted the Welshmens confidence. On the third day (which unfortunately turned out to be the last day of play), an eagle two by Bradley Dredge and Stephan Dodds birdie on the par-five 17th with its semi-island green gave the pair a two shot lead, ahead of England and Sweden. A final round with these three teams battling it out for top spot, followed by a keen chasing pack comprising of France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Argentina, all within a handful of strokes would have been a fitting finale. However, a strong overnight storm that continued until about 11 a.m. on the scheduled last day, plus a poor weather forecast that denied the organizers any chance of a Monday decider. They had to cancel the last round and award the World Cup to the Welsh pair, together with the full prize-money of US$700,000 each and the highest pay cheques they had ever received. Although, also regretting the forced inability to win over the 72 holes they and many other players felt that their victory was well deserved. Among the strong favorites perhaps only Argentina challenged for the leadership. A poor opening round 68 left their team nine strokes behind, but a record-breaking 61 for foursomes play on day two put them into contention only a stroke behind the leaders. Again in the better-ball format they failed to deliver, scoring only 67. Spain (Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez), South Africa (Clark/Immelman), U.S.A (Cink/Z.Johnson), and Australia (Hensby/Lonard) showed only few flashes of their normal brilliance throughout the championship. As the host country Portugal participated with PGA European Tour players, Jose Filipe Lima and Antonio Sobrinho. Their opening rounds of 68 and 72 left them initially trailing badly, but a spirited 3rd round of 63 with six birdies and an eagle in an 8-hole stretch earned them an equal 20th spot and ahead of Colombia and Venezuela.

Victoria Golf Course

Thursday, 1/Dec/2005
At the Vale de Pinta Course the PGA European Seniors Tour Qualifying School Finals were also affected by storm damage on the opening day but course maintenance staff, aided by many volunteers, made massive efforts to make the course playable. Full cards to play on the 2006 Tour were available for the top six players and conditional ones for a further eleven. It was 56-year-old Aussie, Stewart Ginn who came out on top with a steady 72-hole total of 274 (10 under par), with only 4 dropped shots. Until now Ginn who plays on the US Champions Tour, and winner at the Ford Seniors Players Championship (one of the majors in 2003), he now wants to change his career and succeed on the European Tour. Winning the Q-School is a tonic to Stewart Ginns aspirations. The other full cards went to Kurt Cox (USA), Bobby Lincoln and Bertus Smit (SA), Stephen Chadwick (Eng), and Rigoberto Velasquez who will turn 50 in September. His place until then will be taken by Angel Fernandez from Chile. Amongst the winners of conditional cards, who were involved in playoffs to secure them, was our Brian Evans the local Pro at Pinheiros Altos.

Vale da Pinta Golf Course

Thursday, 1/Dec/2005
The Final of the Bader Cup took place over the Morgado Course, and was won by the Gareth Francis and his fiancee Emily-Kate Brown from the Benton Hall Golf Club in Essex with a better-ball Stableford score of 51 points. They gained their trip to the Algarve, by winning their regional final at Ely City, and competed against 11 other regional final mixed-couple winners throughout the UK. Lady Joan Bader O.B.E. was present at the prize-giving gala dinner. Around 500 golfers take part in the UK regional finals and the funds raised are donated to the Douglas Bader Foundation established in the name of the famed WWII pilot (and golfer) who lost his legs in a flying accident in 1931. The Foundation helps children and adult amputees and others with physical disabilities.

Morgado Golf Course

Thursday, 1/Dec/2005
Palmares Course was the venue of the 1st Clube Porto-Mos Tournament at the end of November organised in conjunction with the Lagos Golf Club which is one of the most popular societies in the western Algarve. A total of 74 players took part in the 18-hole Stableford tournament, and included a golf clinic and putting competition. The veteran teaching Pro, Luis Espadinha, was on hand teaching beginners which including the Lagos Mayor, Dr. Julio Barroso, The main trophy winners were: Overall - Joaquim Silva; 1st Net, Men – Amilcar Fonseca; 1st Net, Ladies – Lurdes Cerol; 1st Gross – Jose Custodio.

Palmares Golf Course

Thursday, 1/Dec/2005
The John Aldridge Charity Golf Classic was played over two days, at the Morgado and Palmares Courses. Now in its 4th year this event has been successful in raising funds of over 70,000 Euros for childrens charities in Ireland, Portugal, as well as in Johns birthplace being Liverpool. Apart from the host, the Irish international footballer Jim Belgin, the Scots Gary Gillespie and David Speedie, and several other celebrities played in the 16 four-man team event. The Do Rons team won with 179 points and Amendoeira were second, only two strokes behind. David Speedie took the celebrity prize and Mike Feeley was the overall individual winner.

Palmares Golf Course

Tuesday, 1/Nov/2005
During the second week in October, the Quinta de Cima course near Tavira in Eastern Algarve hosted the Algarve Seniors Portuguese Open, the second last tournament of this years PGA European Seniors Tour. Sam Torrance, seeking to overtake Carl Mason in his bid to win the Order of Merit, had an excellent opportunity on the penultimate green to break out of a 4-way tie for first place with Jerry Bruner, Eddie Polland and Jose Rivero. He unfortunately missed a slick downhill 8-footer putt for birdie. Sam Torrance then had to pull out all the stops on the difficult par-4 final hole after Jerry Bruner hit his second shot onto the putting surface, some 30 feet from the hole, and he followed suit by placing his ball a few feet closer. However, it was the American who sank his left to right putt, and under this added pressure, Sam Torrance missed, leaving him in a tie on 10 under par with Eddie Polland and Jose Rivero. The result left the Scot a mere 245 Euros ahead of Carl Mason in the Order of Merit going into the final Seniors event in Bahrain from 10th to the 12th November.

Quinta de Cima Golf Course

Tuesday, 1/Nov/2005
The Santa Eulalia Resort staged their 1st Golf Tournament on the Laguna course at Vilamoura. A total of 72 players took part, including a contingent from Vilamoura GC junior golfers including the very promising Ricardo Santos, now playing off a plus 5 handicap. He led the field and won easily the gross prize in his division with 44 points-. Ines Mendonca had the best gross score amongst the junior girls (27 pts.). The top prize-winners for net scores were: Juniors - Frederico Figueiredo (37); Ladies – Lidia Goncalves (32); Men – Joao Moreira )36); Gross – Serafim Pinto (31).

Laguna Golf Course

Tuesday, 1/Nov/2005
The November golfing calendar is of course dominated by the anxiously awaited Algarve World Cup at the new Palmer-designed Victoria course in Vilamoura from the 17th to 20th, with 24 nations sending two-player teams to compete for prize money totaling at least US$ 4 million. Luke Donald and David Howell will be trying to retain the John Hopkins trophy England won in Seville last year. Spains exciting duo, Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez, will be seeking revenge for missing out by a single stroke on home soil on the last occasion. Paul McGinley the newly crowned Volvo Masters champion and Padraig Harrington are expected to make a good showing their country, Ireland. The last countries to be included in this event were qualifiers Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Singapore and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan).

Victoria Golf Course

Tuesday, 1/Nov/2005
Coinciding with the Algarve World Cup, the PGA Seniors Tours Qualifying School for the 2006 season is being staged over 36 holes at the Pinheiros Altos and Gramacho courses, on 17th-18th November, with the 72-hole finals taking place from the 21st to the 24th at Vale de Pinta. The 28th TAP (Portuguese Airline) Open for amateurs is once again being held in the Algarve. This competition is located for the first time in the western part of the Algarve and will be played from the 13th to 18th November. After two practice rounds the 72-hole stroke-play marathon starts in earnest with rounds at Morgado and its brand new sister course the Alamos, as well as Gramacho and Salgados courses. After the impending opening of the Alamos Course at the Morgado do Reguengo complex just north of Portimao, the next one in the pipeline is the Jack Nicklaus signature course scheduled for opening in the spring of 2006 at Monte Rei, north of the A22 (Via do Infante) highway near Vila Nova de Cacela in eastern Algarve. The two Oceanico courses planned at their Amendoeira Golf Resort on a 259 Hectare site near Silves are likely to be playable about mid-2007.
Saturday, 1/Oct/2005
The Vila Sol Barclays European Masters, a PGA Europro Tour event, was a resounding success for local golfer Angolan-born Antonio Sobrinho, a 9-time Portuguese PGA Order of Merit winner, who took the £15,000 first place cheque after completing the 54 holes in 209 (7-under par). Recovering from his opening round of 75, Sobrinho then set a record of 65 for the recently updated course. His final round of 69 proved too good for the 2nd round leader, 24-year Dutchman Inder van Weerelt, who was brought up in the Algarve and started playing golf at the age of six in Vilamoura Golf School.

Vila Sol Golf Course

Saturday, 1/Oct/2005
On 20th September, the PGA European Tour and the Le Meridien Hotel Group announced that the Algarve Open de Portugalis to be held once again at Peninas designed by Sir Henry Cotton and the first Championship course to be built in the Algarve. First held here in 1973 the next years Open will be the tenth time it will be staged at this venerable course.

Penina Championship Golf Course

Saturday, 1/Oct/2005
Vale do Lobo staged a 3-day Millionaires Open in early September in conjunction with Dutch lifestyle magazine. A total of 140 players, including football manager Louis van Gaal, took part in the event involving a 2-day individual Stableford tournament over the Royal and Ocean courses. Other golf events at this resort during the month were the Lady Taverners Charity Tournament, and the grand final of the Pro-Am Lombard Trophy.

Vale do Lobo Royal Golf Course

Saturday, 1/Oct/2005
The most important golfing fixture in the Algarve in October will be the European PGA Seniors Open of Portugal at Quinta de Cima, from the 7th to the 9th. The race for that Tours Order of Merit is heating up, with Carl Mason seeking a 3rd consecutive title, although we are led to believe that a niggling back problem is hampering his efforts. Sam Torrance, currently lying 2nd is his main rival and hopefully both will be here to attract numerous spectators to the course near Tavira. Several of the senior professionals will be back in the Algarve in November for the Tours Qualifying School. The 1st Stage will be hosted by the Pinheiros Altos and Gramacho courses, before the finals on the Vale de Pinta near Carvoeiro.
Saturday, 1/Oct/2005
The 10th Tivoli Almansor Golf Classic is being held on 1st, 3rd and 4th November, and about 270 golfers are expected to take part, with the usual strong Irish contingent. The tournament will be played over the Salgados, Morgado and Vale de Pinta courses and it is preceded by warm-up Texas Scrambles on Gramacho. Player will be able to play their Scrambles on either the Sunday 30th or Monday 31st October. There are many prizes to be won, for both daily and overall net scores, and overall best gross scores for ladies and gents.
Saturday, 1/Oct/2005
Looking a little further forward to November, the Algarve World Cup of Golf and one of the World Golf Championships is being held Vilamoura on the Victoria course. Many of the two-man teams playing for their countries have already been decided; Luke Donald (victorious at this event in Seville in 2004 with Paul Casey) & David Howell (Eng); Sergio Garcia & Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spn); Angel Cabrera & Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg); Stephen Dodd & Bradley Dredge (Wal); Stephen Gallacher & Scott Drummond (Sco); Alex Cejka & Marcel Siem (Ger); Maarten Lefeber & Robert-Jan Derksen (Hol); Jose Filipe Lima & Antonio Sobrinho for the host country Portugal; Padraig Harrington & Paul McGinley (Ire); Trevor Immelman & Tim Clark (RSA); Thomas Levet & Raphael Jacquelin (Fra); and Henrik Stenson & Niclas Fasth (Swe).
Saturday, 1/Oct/2005
Both local Algarve players Antonio Sobrinho and Inder van Weerelt passed the 1st Stage of the PGA European Tour Qualifying School. Sobrinho scored 68-69-68-68 at Chart Hills, tying for second place amongst the qualifiers, and Inder van Weerelt came in 11th at the Golf-und Land course in Germany after scoring 274. Both now go forward to the 2nd Stage in Spain in November. Another Vilamoura golfer, Hugo Santos, also passed the 1st Stage, coming in equal 11th at Golf de Moliets, France.
Thursday, 1/Sep/2005
The long drought has given headaches to owners and green-keepers alike and many water hazards which act as reservoirs for irrigation are almost dry. Several courses are sensibly irrigated with re-cycled water, suitably purified at treatment plants, and the Castro Marim course close to the Spanish border, has since its inception used a clever underground watering system that incorporates leaky pipes containing small intentional holes. These supply the precious liquid directly to the grass roots and consequently avoid the rapid evaporation experienced with conventional aerial sprinkling.
Thursday, 1/Sep/2005
During the second fortnight in August, Vilamoura Golf Club held its 9th Junior golf school that culminated in the traditional 2-day Junior Tournaments. The event is held on the Laguna course, and support of sponsorship and generosity of several local companies and organisations, individuals, club professionals and club members in addition to the course owners, Lusotur Golfes. Over 100 keen youngsters, from both Portugal and abroad participated including the usual strong contingent from neighbouring Andalusia. Results were with Beginners without handicaps - 2 divisions, Stableford, by age – Under 10s, Afonso Bento; 11 and over, Joao M. Rodrigues. With EGA handicaps – 6 divisions, medal play, gross, by age - Under 10s, Miguel A. Ribeiro; Ages 11/12 - Boys, Goncalo Pinto, and Girls, Marta G. Jimenez; Ages 13/14 - Boys, Jose M. Joia, and Girls, Lourdes L. Caballo; Ages 15/16 – Boys, Marcos P. Rufian and Girls: Patrícia L. Moreno; Ages 17/18 – Boys, Pedro N. Ward and Girls, Janu Sauramo: Over 18s – Club Team members: Ricardo Santos (132 strokes). The overall winners of the Vilamoura Trophy; Boys – Sean Hawker (135 strokes); Girls – Rocio S. Lobato (144). In compiling his above score, Ricardo Santos established a magnificent new record of 61 strokes for the Laguna course.

Laguna Golf Course

Thursday, 1/Sep/2005
On 3rd September, a Texas Scramble for teams of 4 players was held on the Gramacho course to help raise funds for the Lagoa Volunteer Fire Brigade

Gramacho Golf Course

Thursday, 1/Sep/2005
The Boavista Golf Club is hosting a Charity Day on 10th September, the beneficiaries being the Lagos Orphanage and the Pirilampos Orphanage in Albufeira. The tournament will be played by 4-player amateur teams with the two best scores per hole to count, with prizes for the 3 leading teams as well as extra individual prizes.

Boavista Golf Course

Thursday, 1/Sep/2005
The finals of the Lombard Trophy this year will be at Vale do Lobos Ocean Course from 14th to the 18th of September. This Pro-Am event involves several qualifying competitions throughout the UK.

Vale do Lobo Ocean Golf Course

Thursday, 1/Sep/2005
On 17th September, one of the Expresso BPI Golf Cup regional qualifying semi-finals is being held at the Vilamoura Old Course.

Old Course

Thursday, 1/Sep/2005
The final of the Lombard Trophy is to be played on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores Archipelago on 25th tot he 26th of November.
Thursday, 1/Sep/2005
This years popular TAP Golf Open, an annual event for regular passengers on Portugals national carrier is being held in the Algarve from 12th tot he 19th of November. One of the courses scheduled to be used for this 28th edition of the TAP Open is the new Alamos Course due to be opened just before the above dates and is located alongside the Morgado Course near Portimao. The other courses involved being Palmares and Salgados.
Friday, 1/Jul/2005
The Norman Collisson Foundation Cup organised by Alto Golf is played annually played by teams of 8 golfers in two flights of four, on an aggregate Texas Scramble format based on one-eighth of the total handicap of each flight. The Lagos Golf Society team won the cup with 117.8 strokes net, followed by the Alto B Team (119.4) and the Carvoeiro Team with (122.8).

Alto Golf Course

Friday, 1/Jul/2005
The Faro branch of the Portuguese Red Cross organised their inaugural Open Golf Tournament, a sociable Texas Scramble played on the Gramacho course to raise funds for its international Protect Children in War campaign. Supported by the Portuguese President (who is a golfer himself), this tournament raised over 11,000 Euros from entry fees and sundry donations. Ex-Benfica and international footballer Humberto Coelho with current Sporting player Sa Pinto were the main sports personalities taking part. The Candido Oliveiras added to their vast trophy cabinets as their team comprising of three of the family and Fernando Rodrigues scored a remarkable 57 strokes gross - handing in a card revealing a barely credible 14 birdies and an eagle, less a generous 6.25 handicap, i.e. one eighth of their total of 50, to win the 1st prize. During the prize-giving dinner there were some vocal protests by some golfers who doubted the legality of the handicaps of the winning team members.
Friday, 1/Jul/2005
As part of the Portuguese governments 2005/6 campaign to bring more professional tournaments to the country, the latest confirmation received is the return of the PGA European Seniors Tour Qualifying School to the Algarve on the 17th to the 24th of November. As in recent years the 72-hole final is being played at the Vale de Pinta course near Carvoeiro, but this year the two pre-qualifying rounds will be first played at Pinheiros Altos and Gramacho. Bob Boyd from the USA, last years runaway winner by 7 strokes, will return to the European Seniors Tour only after completing his 50th birthday on 29th July. One of the Tour events is the Portuguese Algarve Seniors Open being played from 7th to the 9th October at the praised Quinta da Ria course near Tavira.
Friday, 1/Jul/2005
The important golf event of the month was the Portuguese Ladies Open, part of the Ladies European Tour and played over 54 holes again on the Gramacho course. The original sponsor of this event that offered the prize money of 300,000 Euros did not reach an agreement with the authorities, but happily in April an eleventh hour replacement backer was found. With the short time then still available and together with the on-going drought in the Algarve, it was difficult to put the course into the perfect playing condition required. Considering this factor and the unusual prevailing strong winds there were some excellent scores returned. After a 1st round of 5 strokes over par it seemed that Cecilia Ekelundh from Sweden would not retain the title after her maiden tournament win last year at Aroeira near Lisbon. However, she rallied with rounds of 66 and 67 winning by 3 strokes from Ludivine Kreutz of France. Aussie Cherie Byrnes and another French player Gwladys Nocera were placed a stroke further behind in equal 3rd position.

Gramacho Golf Course

Wednesday, 1/Jun/2005
The May edition of respected magazine Golf Digest published a list of the best 100 golf courses throughout the world less those in the USA. Headed by the St. Andrews Old Course, this list included two in courses in the Algarve. The perennial favorite of San Lorenzo was in 38th spot (the best in the Iberian Peninsula) and the Vilamoura Old Course, ranked 84th. The revered Valderrama Course in Spain was rated at a surprisingly 75th place. The magazine also included a ranking of the top 20 courses in Portugal, the first eight of which are located in the Algarve. The new Victoria course in Vilamoura and the venue of the 2005 Algarve World Cup in November was placed in 13th position, but it also appears that the selectors completely bypassed the excellent Quinta da Ria and Quinta de Cima courses in the Tavira area.
Wednesday, 1/Jun/2005
After several months of negotiation the Professional Ladies Open, one of the Robi di Kappa Ladies European Tour (LET) tournaments, is being held at the Gramacho course near Carvoeiro in the Algarve, from 23rd to the 26th of June. Points counting for the next Solheim Cup team will be at stake at this event so a strong contingent of players is expected to take part. The holder of the title is Cecilia Ekelundh from Sweden who won her maiden LET tournament at Aroeira, near Lisbon last year.

Gramacho Golf Course

Wednesday, 1/Jun/2005
The Vila Sol course recently hosted a new 18-hole golf tournament, the Vila Sol Spa and Golf Trophy, with many socialites and press representatives from both the Algarve and Lisbon area taking part. The guests stayed at the new 5-star hotel alongside the course and were invited to try out a variety of therapeutic and well-being treatments available at Vila Sols well equipped Spa. A total of 58 golfers played in the individual Stableford tournament which was won by Elza Honorio who scored 43 points playing off a 35 handicap, followed by Madalena Simoes de Almeida (38 pts.). The gross prize went to 19 handicapper Domingos R. Pinho 27 pts.

Vila Sol Golf Course

Wednesday, 1/Jun/2005
On the 6th May the legendary golfer Arnold Palmer paid his long-awaited return visit to the Victoria course that he and his team designed. After demonstrating his skills on the driving range Palmer played a 9-hole exhibition round on the course delighting the spectators. The timing of this visit coincided with the 6th Taca Presidente da Republica on the Victoria. Around 150 Portuguese and foreign celebrities took part in this annual prestigious event that including the Portuguese President, Sr. Jorge Sampaio. The winning team was Nuno Rebelo de Sousa and Benno van Veggel with 49 points. Placed in second position were Terense Regan and Andrew Higginson with 45 points. The special Taca Afonso Patrício Gouveia which is awarded during the competition was presented to Sabine Wiendenbruch with 43 points.

Victoria Golf Course

Sunday, 1/May/2005
Robert-Jan Derksen - (Holland) Madeira Island Open Santo da Serra - Madeira - Portugal - 7th to 10th April, 2005 Dutch golfer Robert-Jan Derksen won the Madeira Island Open, a dual ranking event between the European and Challenge Tours. A birdie on the 18th secured Derksens second European Tour win by a margin of two strokes from Gary Orr and Andrew McLardy. Robert-Jan Derksen climbed 96 places into the World Top 200 at 194th place.

Santo da Serra Golf Course

Friday, 1/Apr/2005
Earth-moving has commenced on the Sandy Lyle designed layout near Silves owned by Pestana and will be a sister course to the Gramacho and Vale de Pinta courses.

Silves Golf Course

Friday, 1/Apr/2005
Vila Sol has appointed Peter Lester to be the resident professional at its recently upgraded Golf Academy beside the resorts new 5-star hotel and its 27-hole Donald Steel designed course. Originally from Scunthorpe, Peter turned Pro in 1978 and has worked in several European countries and has taken part in many golf schools and training camps held in the Algarve. The Vila Sol Golf Academy is well equipped and includes swing analysis and recording equipment as well an extensive practice area. Peter Lester has started to develop junior golf for students at local participating schools.

Vila Sol Golf Course

Friday, 1/Apr/2005
An exciting new Amateur International Golf Week has been scheduled for 27th June to 1st July by ATV – Vilamoura Promotional Bureau and staged at the Vilamoura Old Course, Laguna, Millennium, Pinhal courses. The main event is a 72-hole stroke-play tournament on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with individual daily prizes and on Wednesday. There is an 18-hole 2-player Team Trophy plus an optional Sand Bunker Championship.
Friday, 1/Apr/2005
Golf continues to expand in the Algarve and three new projects have been started. The most advanced is the Alamos course which should be ready toward the end of this year. It will be located alongside the Morgado do Reguengo course but will not have a playing length as long as the latter.

Alamos Golf Course

Friday, 1/Apr/2005
In eastern Algarve landscaping of the first of two courses designed by Jack Nicklaus is in progress. These are part of a large property development near Vila Nova de Cacela called Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, and the first course is due to open in about a years time. The Oceanico Group which has invested in Holiday Resorts in western Algarve is expected to break ground on their new Amendoeira Golf Resort between Silves and Alcantarilha where two 18-hole courses are planned. Construction of both these are scheduled to begin simultaneously and the expected opening date is May, 2007.
Tuesday, 1/Mar/2005
The 13th International Portuguese Senior Ladies Amateur competition was held on three of the Vilamoura courses during the last week in January. Although the sunny Algarve weather prevailed throughout the 3-day event week, a cold north wind brought early morning frost on the final day, especially at the Vilamoura Old Course, making it seem more like its St. Andrews counterpart, temperature-wise. The field of 140 players from several European countries was split into four handicap divisions (Scratch to 6; 6.1 – 12.0; 12.1 – 18.0 and 18.1 – 24.0). A total of 15 of these senior ladies were playing off handicaps of 5 or under, including French sisters-in-law Cecilia (0.1) and Florence Mourgue dAlgue (4.2). The format for the 1st day competitions was better-ball pairs with Spanish duo Isabel Lorenzano and Beatriz Ramirez de Hero winning the gross prize in the 1st Category (two lower handicap divisions) scoring 71 at Laguna. The best net (65) was returned by Joan Broady and Linda Bennet (UK). As for the 2nd Category better-ball competition held at Vilamoura Old Course, Adeleide Lezana Leguizamon and Isabel Martinez Cubells (Spain) carded 85 to win the gross whilst Conceicao Alves do Rio and Teresa Negrao took the net prize with a score of 69. The closing event was a 36-hole stroke-play individual competition, with Cecilia Mourgue dAlgue - a member at Quinta da Ria, near Tavira in the Algarve - scoring a magnificent one over par 147 gross to win the 1st handicap division by 11 strokes. In the 2nd, 3rd and 4th divisions, the winning gross scores were returned by Luise van den Bergue, who also won the super senior prize, Adeleide L. Leguizamon and Marion Zielke respectively.
Tuesday, 1/Mar/2005
On 29th January, one of the largest and outstanding annual charity event in the Algarve chose the Vilamouras new Victoria as it competition course. Thanks to the generosity of the tournament participants, companies all over Portugal and Gala dinner guests, a magnificent sum of about € 60,000 was raised. The proceeds went to the Loule charity, Existir, who are involved with aiding and rehabilitating disabled and underprivileged people. The main winners in the better-ball pairs golf event were the father and son team of Manuel and Jose Candido Oliveira with a net score of 42 Stableford points, followed by Elmo and Lynn DSouza (40) and Fernando and Lurdes Serpa (39).

Victoria Golf Course

Tuesday, 1/Mar/2005
Palmares held their well-known annual Almond Blossom Championship week in early February with brilliant sunshine throughout, although unusual frost welcomed the early starters. Golfers who were able to master the lightning fast undulating greens topped the leader-boards in the four separate tournaments, and the overall winners therefore deserved their well won prizes. In the opening competition William Milliken won the mens prize with 43 Stableford points, and Dra. Maria de Lourdes Cerol (35 points) was the leading lady. This was followed by a Stableford better-ball pairs event which was won by Ed Aldiss and Julio Pires with 44 points. The names of Candido de Oliveira Sr. and Jr., keep appearing in the winners lists at Algarve golf events and this was no exception as they took top spot in Thursdays aggregate Stableford competition played off 3/4 handicap. They amassed an impressive 67 points to coast into first place by 6 points. In the culminating Palmares Golf Trophy, a stroke-play tournament played off the championship tees, Julio Pires was the overall winner with 67 strokes net, with Alan Winstanley taking 1st place gross after carding 73 strokes (2 over par). The ladies prizes went to Kornelia Troyer (2nd division, 70 net) and Maria Keupers (1st division, 69 net), and the mens 1st and 2nd division winners were Doug Gilchrist (73) and Alex Winstanley (74).

Palmares Golf Course

Tuesday, 1/Mar/2005
The 3rd John Aldridge Celebrity Charity Golf Classic was held at Boavista Golf in Lagos on the 4th and 6th. This event was held to raise much needed money for 3 childrens charities, one each in the Algarve, in Dublin and Johns home town, Liverpool. By special request this year a donation was also made to benefit two young Liverpuddlian sisters, Chloe and Jamie-Lee Lathom, who lost their mother to serious illness and their dad as a result of a road accident. Main sponsor Oceanico fielded six teams and it was their representatives from the U.S.A. plus celebrity Vince Earl from Channel 4’s Brookside, that led the way after day one with a score of 92 points. This was closely followed by local team Kelly’s Heroes (T. Cash, P. Pope, S. Hyams and A. Sequeira) sponsored by Kellys Bar in Praia da Luz, and last years winners, The Rednecks, led by ex-Liverpool defender Nigel Spackman, both teams scoring 89 Points. Although Kellys Heroes increased their day 1 score by 91 points to finish on 180, it was the U.S. visitors who maintained the edge and emerged as victors on 185 points. In 3rd place was another local team of G. Warton, B. Hawkins, S. Tanner and R. Price with 177. In the individual competition the winning celebrity was David Speedie on 73 points, but special mention should be made of the best non-celebrity, Brian Hickey who scored a superb 78 points playing-off a handicap of 1.

Boavista Golf Course

Tuesday, 1/Mar/2005
A total of 260 amateurs from 14 countries from Europe, N. & S. America and Africa, played in the 72-hole TAP (Air Portugal) Open on the Vilamoura Laguna, Millennium and Pinhal courses as well as the nearby Vila Sol layout. This year there were particularly large contingents from Switzerland (70), and South Africa (60). The former once again included Georges Galay - now 88 years old - showing that age is no obstacle in taking part. Former lady skiing champion, Ingrid Gutzwiller from Austria played in the event for the first time and promised to return. The ladies prize went to local player Lurdes Cerol and John Coelho from the U.S.A. succeeded in taking the overall mens trophy. Following on the success of U.S. amateurs in Algarve events, 49-year-old pro Bob Boyd from Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation in N. Carolina and former PGA Tour player, won the PGA European Seniors Tour Qualifying School held at the Vale da Pinta course, near Carvoeiro. Boyd, who scored a record-equaling tally of 265 (19 under par) won by 7 strokes, but he must now wait until he completes the age of 50 next July to be able to play on the Tour. His impressive display over the 72 holes included only a single bogey, 4 holes from the end, and three missed greens in regulation. The remaining 7 qualifiers who earned their cards to play on the 2005 Seniors Tour were Englishmen Kevin Spurgeon, Gordon Townhill and Martin Foster, the Americans Rex Caldwell and Lee Carter, Spaniard Emilio Rodriguez and Frenchman Jean Pierre Sallat. The qualifiers placed 9th to 16th were assured provisional cards. Although Nigel Mansell scored 74 in his first round at the Penina pre-qualifying event, his 2nd round 78 unfortunately fell short of the total required to play in the finals at Vale da Pinta. A 13-year-old Portuguese girl, Maria Moreira da Silva, the youngest ever to pass a Royal & Ancients rules test anywhere, attended the Penina 36-hole pre-qualifying event to gain experience as a future referee. Maria decided to study the rules of golf after being given an incorrect decision at a tournament and took part in a rules seminar near Lisbon earlier this year.
Tuesday, 1/Mar/2005
Le Meridien Penina staged the 10th Henry Cotton Team Trophy on the 26th-27th with 21 four-player teams taking part. Included were teams from clubs with which Sir Henry in his lifetime had close connections, such as Temple, Ashridge and the Penina itself. The team comprising PGA European Tour staff, Ian Barker, James Finnigan, Gary Tait and M. Lichtenhein, cruised to victory with a total of 165 better-ball Stableford points, nine ahead of local team, GMDA, with the Le Meridien team a further point behind in 3rd place. The best individual prize for golf writers playing in the tournament went to Jeremy Elmwood with a score of 72 points.

Penina Championship Golf Course

Tuesday, 1/Feb/2005
After the semi-lull of December and January low season for visiting tourist golfers (the main low one being the hot summer months), the Algarve main season has teed off with countless luggage trolleys at Faro airport loaded down with bulging golf bags. Some of the local golf courses and especially those owned by hotel chains have found it advantageous to offer special winter package deals. Each year the courses are now beginning to see more use during the December and January period. Visiting golfers have been extremely lucky this winter with extra fine sunny weather although, crisp early mornings with a touch of ground frost have occasionally been a feature. The downside has been the general lack of rain throughout large parts of the country and the usual fine condition of the courses in the Algarve has proved to be extremely difficult to maintain. Courses with Bermuda grass are particularly vulnerable to cold weather as it hibernates and turns straw coloured in the winter. In March and April there will likely be some relief to the course owners and their concerned green-keepers. However, yesterday the writer drove to play a match on a course about 100 kilometres from home but the event was cancelled after playing only one hole due to the rain and a particularly strong cold wind.
Saturday, 1/Jan/2005
The 17th edition of Vilamouras traditional annual Grande Trofeu, a 54-hole stroke-play tournament was held in December. Each handicap division plays on three different courses, and this time those used were the Vilamoura Old Course, Pinhal and Millennium. As usual there were a large contingent of players from all over Europe and the overall net winner was Fernando Serpa, a member of the Aroeira Club located near Lisbon. Fernando Serpa had a close battle with Wolfgang Lang from Germany and the final result was decided only after a playoff.
Saturday, 1/Jan/2005
After a sequence of 7 years ending in 2004 and during which the Portuguese Open was played in the Algarve, the tournament goes back to the Lisbon area this year. The selected venue is the Oitavos course at Quinta da Marinha, Cascais, and the dates are 31st March to 3rd April. Seniors and Challenge Tour events have already been staged at this new exciting layout featuring both links and parkland style holes. The Algarve will, however, be hosting the Portuguese Ladies Open, a Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour event. It will be played at Penina during the week of 2nd-8th May. A PGA Seniors Tour event is also due to be staged in the Algarve this year.