Five Americans will get the what Arnold Palmer called a “once in a lifetime experience”.when they play for the right to advance to the 15th World Golfers Championship, scheduled Oct. 24-31 at the Marbella Club Golf and Country Club, the Alferini Golf Club at Gran Flamingos and the Rio Real Golf and Country Club in Spain.
The finals to determine the U.S. team is scheduled Sept. 12-13 at the Spanish-themed Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL, which hosted the world finals last fall. The five winners earn expense-paid trips to Spain.
Boasting rare elevation changes of up to 85 feet from tees to greens, the spectacular Mission Inn courses that meander through towering forests and sparkling spring-fed lakes in a secluded oasis just northwest of Orlando rank among the state’s best. El Campeon, The Champion, was designed by George O’Neil in 1917 and enhanced by Charles Clark of Scotland in 1926 while Las Colinas, The Hills, was designed by former PGA Tour player Gary Koch and opened in 1992.
The qualifiers to determine 32 finalists were determined in 18-hole qualifying events held in Arizona, Florida and Texas.
In flight 1 for players with handicaps of 0-5, Marco Salerno of the President Country Club in West Pal mBeach, FL brings in the lowest handicap index of 1 while Brian Flahery (4.0) and Mike Graves (2.4) will have the advantage of local knowledge as they play at Mission Inn. Ray Madrid of Sun City (AZ) Country Club, sporting 3.7 index, will also compete. Chris Keeley of the Plantation Palms C.C. in Land-o-Lakes , FL, who appeared to be the player to beat with a 67 in the qualifying, had to drop out because of a death in the family.
Flight 2 will have eight players with Chris Borkowski of Sun City and Bill Nitcholas of Carrollton, TX having the lowest rounds in the qualifyings with net 68s. Trey Purser and Jennifer Hartman have local knowledge on their side. Others include Ken Fraser of Land-O-Lakes, Peter Kane of President CC, James McAfee of Wylie, TX and Parker Smith of Sun City.
Mike Vandiver of Razor Golf in New Port Richey, FL appears one of the favorites in flight 3 with his 11.9 index. Bob Graver and Willie Wilson have an edge playing at home while Doug Bisson of Rowlett, TX, who got in as an alternate in a qualifier at the Woodbridge G.C. in Wylie, TX, indicated he used to play a lot on the two courses. Joining them will be Don Lyons of President C.C., John Kucaek of Sun City and Jason Balough of Land-o-Lakes.
Robin Smith of Mission Inn could be hard to beat in flight 4 if she performs as well as she did in the qualifier where she had a net 65. Tom Loegering of Sun City brings in the lowest index of 15.0.
Others competing include Chris Wilson of Mission Inn, Tony Ott of Land-o-Lakes, Lancey Cunningham of President C.C. and John Neal of Carrollton, TX
In flight 5, Vernon deVries of Sun City had the best net of 66 in the qualifiers. Joining him will be Brian Ellman of Dallas along with Pauline White and Frank McInernerney of Mission Inn.
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In the beginning, this unique tournament was an invitational and was held at the PGA National Resort and Spa from 1995 until 1997. It then moved to the Doral Resort in Miami, Hyatt Regency Grand Champions, Desert Willow and Indian Wells in Palm Springs, Disney World and Grand Cypress in Orlando, La Romana and Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Thailand, Gloria Golf Resort in Turkey, KwaZula-Natal at Wild Coast Sun and Port Shepstone in South Africa and Glenmarie, Templer Park and Tropicana in Malaysia.
Seve Ballesteros, who is recovering from a couple of major surgeries, will continue as the honorary chairman of the World Golfers Championship.
“The venue is the most challenging and beautiful one and the climate and golf facilities in Marbella are among the best in the world to play and compete,” he said. “Marbella is one of my favourite places to play golf and (I) would love to be in attendance.”
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