Thread Tools

Display Modes

**truebluefan** · 03-09-2008, 09:21 PM

Talk about event in here.

**truebluefan** · 04-03-2008, 09:48 PM

Spain’s Pablo Martin, who created history last year by becoming the first amateur to win on The European Tour, returns to the scene of his finest golfing moment when he defends the Estoril Open de Portugal at Oitavos Dunes, Estoril, this week.

Martin bids to emulate England’s Paul Broadhurst, who won the title in 2005 and went on to make a successful defence 12 months later. This time, however, the 21 year old from Malaga intends being paid for his labours rather than simply holding the silverware.

Martin tied for 25th in the MAPFRE Open de Andalucia by Valle Romano just along the coast in Marbella last weekend to fine-tune his game for an eagerly-awaited title defence.

He has fond memories of that extraordinary week when he turned the world of professional golf upside down and recalled: “It was unbelievable. It really changed my life and opened so many doors.

“I’m looking forward to going back. I talked to my dad and brother and they went to Oitavos recently for an amateur tournament and they were telling me the course is in good shape. It is a great place to go.

“I am planning on spending some time down there after the tournament as they have a great beach and I like surfing, so I said to my caddie if I play well we will hang around there.”

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 04-03-2008, 09:48 PM

Pablo Martin, the first amateur to win on The European Tour, said he had no regrets about delaying the launch of his professional career after landing last year's Estoril Open de Portugal title.

The 21 year old Spaniard has made a slow start since turning professional in June but, hopes to kick-start his game when he returns to Oitavos Dunes in Estoril for to begin his title defence.

Martin decided to go back to Oklahoma State University to represent his college golf team, thereby missing eight European Tour events before switching from the amateur ranks to play in the 2007 U.S. Open.

"I don't regret not turning pro straight away," said Martin. "I promised my coach at college I would go back and I was able to finish all but the last year of my economics degree.

"I can finish that when I want now. It would have been nice to earn money but I hope I will have plenty of years to do that."

Martin made a fine professional debut, finishing 30th at the 2007 U.S. Open in Oakmont, but lost his form in the second half of the season. A return to Portugal for the 2007 Portugal Masters saw him return to form as he finished 21st.

He repeated that performance at last month's Arnold Palmer Invitational on the US PGA Tour after missing four successive cuts on The European Tour. His display in Orlando, and a chance to work again with his coaches in America, put Martin in optimistic mood and he finished 25th in last week's MAPFRE Open de Andulcia by Valle Romano.

"I've been playing much better lately and I'm starting to putt better which is very important," he said.

"I think this can be a good week if I don't make too many mistakes because I know I'm going to have a very good feeling about the course."

Last week's play-off combatants in Andalucia, French winner Thomas Levet and teenage runner up Oliver Fisher of England, compete in Estoril.

England’s Brian Davis returns to Europe after finishing tied 33rd in the New Orleans Classic, while 2006 Ryder Cup players Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and David Howell are also in the line up.

**truebluefan** · 04-03-2008, 09:49 PM

Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño equalled the course record at Oitavos Dunes with a seven under par 64 to hold an early one stroke lead in the Estoril Open de Portugal.

Fernandez-Castaño finished his opening round with three birdies to lead South African James Kamte by one stroke . Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke looked poised to head the field after racing to the turn in six under par but three three-putts and a trip to the trees on the sixth - his 17th – left him four off the lead at three under par 68.

"I had a 62 in the Pro-Am, but I never expected 64 today,” said Fernandez-Castaño. “To do it you have to hit all the shots well and that's what happened.

"Last year here it was difficult to hole putts. This time they are in good shape - a bit slow, but it feels like Augusta compared to last year."

Portugal’s Nuno Campino leads the home challenge on four under par 67 alongside the English trio of Simon Dyson, whose course record was equalled by Fernandez-Castaño, Barry Lane and Steve Webster, who has developed a taste for Portugal having won the Portugal Masters last October.

Oliver Fisher, the 19 year old Englishman who last Sunday lost a play-off for the MAPFRE Open de Andalucia by Valle Romano in Spain, reached four under, but then had back-to-back bogeys and in the end finished alongside Clarke.

**truebluefan** · 04-03-2008, 09:50 PM

Pablo Martin is at it again at the Estoril Open de Portugal. Last year he made history at Oitavos Dunes as the first amateur to win on The European Tour. As he began his title defence he set a new course record to share the lead.

His eight under par 63, beating the old course record of 65, was later matched by Frenchman Grégory Bourdy, but it was Martin who stole the show on his return to the scene of his famous victory 12 months ago.

The 20 year old from Malaga reproduced the kind of fearless golf that saw him crowned champion here last year, putting together a flawless display of eight birdies and ten pars to assert himself at the top of the leaderboard, with Bourdy joining him in first place and a host of quality players in hot pursuit at the end of a beautiful, sunny day on Portugal’s Estoril coast.

“It’s good to start the tournament this way,” said Martin. “I just love this place. It is just a beautiful place and I think it’s a great place to be around. I can speak Spanish with everyone around here and I just feel comfortable here. I think the golf course is a great track as well.”

Martin brought his first round to a quite stunning conclusion, arrowing a sublime seven iron from 183 yards to a matter of inches to set up a tap-in birdie on the 18th green.

“It was a good shot – seven iron from 183 yards,” Martin continued. “It was a good shot but it’s the first day and there is still a long way to go.

“I am very focused on doing well this week. I wasn’t sloppy or anything and it’s nice to try and defend a title – it gives you extra motivation and makes you care a little bit more about the week.”

Bourdy was also delighted with his opening effort that matched Martin’s bogey free round. The Frenchman, like Martin, is a class act when in top form and he has put himself in a fantastic position to repeat his Mallorca Classic success at the end of last season.

“I didn’t even know about the course record until I signed the card so it’s always nice to hear that at the end of your round,” said the Frenchman.

“Eight under was a great score, it was a perfect day and my driving was starting to come back which was very important for me. I am really happy.”

Other players who can be satisfied with their first round efforts are the Spanish duo of Gonzalo Fernandez- Castaño and José Manuel Lara, who joined former Open de Portugal champion Michael Jonzon of Sweden in a tie for third place on seven under par after rounds of 64.

Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth, winner of the Madeira Islands Open BPI – Portugal title a fortnight ago, continued his fine Portuguese form with a six under par 65 to join Frenchman François Delamontagne, England’s Simon Khan and the South African duo of James Kamte and Charl Schwartzel in sixth place.

Also right in contention are Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke and David Howell, who are continuing to get their careers back on track.

Howell joined last week’s champion, Frenchman Thomas Levet, among others on four under par, while Clarke is part of a 13 way tie on three under.

The day, however, belonged to Bourdy and, of course Martin, who once more lit up the Estoril coast with some wonderful golf as he began his title defence in quite stunning fashion.

**truebluefan** · 04-04-2008, 09:49 PM

Frenchman Gregory Bourdy carded a six- under 65 on Friday to take sole possession of the lead midway through the Open de Portugal.

Bourdy, an overnight co-leader, matched the tournament's 36-hole record with a two-day total of 14-under 128. Robert Lee posted that number originally in 1987.

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano birdied the last for a five-under 66. He is alone in second place at minus-12, followed by last week's Open de Andalucia winner Thomas Levet. Bourdy's fellow countryman fired a seven-under 64 to finish at 11-under 131.

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 04-07-2008, 12:39 PM

Grégory Bourdy continued his overwhelming performance at the Estoril Open de Portugal to extend his lead to four shots going into the final round at Oitavos Dunes.

The Frenchman, who has led the tournament since establishing a new course record over the stunning 6894 yard par 71 layout on the Estoril coast, fired a third round 68 to move to 17 under par 196 with 18 holes to play.

Bourdy’s course record 63 has been matched by no less than four players since Thursday afternoon (including Miles Tunnicliff’s third round effort), but no-one has been able to match the frontrunner’s overall pace in the race to win Portugal’s National Open Championship.

Only time will tell if anyone from the chasing pack can emerge to mount an effective challenge to the Frenchman, but among the favourites to do so will be Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth, who moved into second place, four behind Bourdy with a third round 66 for a 13 under total of 200.

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 04-07-2008, 12:40 PM

He might have left it late, but Grégory Bourdy completed a remarkable comeback to edge out Alastair Forsyth and David Howell in a sudden-death play-off to lift the Estoril Open de Portugal title after a superb day’s golf.

The final round at Oitavos Dunes had it all, culminating in that extra hole shoot out that saw the Frenchman hold his nerve to fight off Forsyth and Howell to lift his second European Tour title and the €208,330 first prize.

Even before the play-off climax, the crowds around Oitavos Dunes had been treated to a golfing feast packed with dramatic tension and some thrilling golf.

Of the three men who took the tournament into extra time, Howell made the biggest leap up the final round leaderboard, carding a brilliant seven under par 64, including vital birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to set the clubhouse target of 18 under par 266.

Complete article