COPA S.M. EL REY
Englishman Robin Williams was the “executioner” of the portuguese players in the International Amateur Championship of Spain (Copa S.M. El Rey) at the Real Golf La Manga Club in Cartagena, Murcia. Having eliminated Pedro Lencart in the Round of 32, he beat Vítor Lopes in the quarter-finals, winning the match 5/4.English golfers were in evidence at the tournament, placing three players among the four who participated in the semi-finals. Robin Williams would later lose to Alex Fitzpatrick on hole 18, down 1. The winner of the Copa S.M. El Rey, was Billy Mackenzie, who after having eliminated Spanish Eugenio Coto (5/4) in the ‘semi’s’, defeated (3up) Fitzpatrick in the final. Despite being eliminated in the quarter-finals, Vitor Lopes was satisfied. “I played good golf, but he played better. I had good moments, namely five birdies in a six-hole stretch, between the 4th and the 9th. On my side I did not have that little putt star, and the pars were not enough,” he explained, after his participation in an event that started with 120 players. In addition to Pedro Lencart and Vítor Lopes, who made the cut to the match-play phase, the national team also had Afonso Girão, who was eliminated after rounds of 85 and 80. In the stroke play phase, on a par 73 course, Pedro Lencart was brilliant. Two rounds of 74 for a total of 148 (+2) had him tied for third place with Spain’s Alejandro Aguillera, Englishman Tom Sloman and Frenchman Clement Charmasson.
Oinglês Robin Williams foi o “carrasco” dos portugueses no Campeonato Internacional Amador de Espanha/Copa S.M. El Rey, no Real Golf La Manga Club, em Cartagena, Murcia. Depois de ter eliminado Pedro Lencart nos 16 avos-de-final, deixou pelo caminho Vítor Lopes nos quartos-de-final, ganhando a partida por 5/4. Os golfistas ingleses estiveram em evidência no torneio, colocando três jogadores entre os quatro que participaram nas meias-finais. Robin Williams viria a perder depois com Alex Fitzpatrick no buraco 18, por 1 down. O vencedor da Copa S.M. El Rey, foi Billy Mackenzie, que depois de ter eliminado (5/4) o espanhol Eugenio Coto nas ‘meias’, derrotou (3up) Fitzpatrick na final. Apesar de ter ficado pelos quartos-de-final, Vítor Lopes estava satisfeito. “Joguei bem golfe, mas ele jogou melhor e teve bons momentos, nomeadamente cinco birdies numa série de seis buracos, entre o 4 e o 9. Do meu lado não tive aquela estrelinha de meter putts, e os pares não foram suficientes”, explicou após a sua participação numa prova que contou 120 jogadores iniciais. Além de Pedro Lencart e Vítor Lopes, que passaram o cut e seguiram por isso para a fase de match-play, a seleção nacional contou ainda com Afonso Girão, que foi eliminado após voltas de 85 e 80. Na fase de stroke play, e num campo de Par 73, Pedro Lencart esteve brilhante. Dois resultados de 74 para um total de 148 (+2), deram-lhe o terceiro lugar empatado com o espanhol Alejandro Aguillera, o inglês Tom Sloman e o francês Clement Charmasson.
Vítor Lopes, a recent winner of the International of Portugal, made a birdie in the 36th and last hole to make the cut on the line, with 154 (78-76), tied in 30th place with the Englishmen Todd Clements and Billy Mackenzie. In the S.M. La Reina Cup, the female version of the International of Spain, rain and wind led to the stage of stroke play being only one round instead of the two predicted. The cut, for the 32 best, was fixed at 79 and the two Portuguese present, Leonor Bessa and Sara Gouveia, both with 84, were thus eliminated. Já Vítor Lopes, recente vencedor do Internacional de Portugal, fez um birdie no 36.º e último buraco para passar o cut no limite, com 154 (78-76), empatado no 30.º lugar com os ingleses Todd Clements e Billy Mackenzie. Na Copa S. M. La Reina, a versão feminina do Internacional de Espanha, chuva e vento levaram a que a fase de stroke play só tivesse uma volta em vez das duas previstas. O cut, para as 32 melhores, fixou-se em 79 e as duas portuguesas presentes, Leonor Bessa e Sara Gouveia, ambas com 84, foram assim eliminadas.