Official recognition for successful Spanish team
The Spanish team that came second in the World Golfers’ Championship in Thailand last month were officially honoured at a reception in La Cala Resort, Mijas, Malaga. Amongst other dignitaries present were Antonio Souvirón, the Junta de Andalucia’s delegate for tourism, business and sport and the Mayor of Mijas, Antonio Sánchez.
The Spanish team performed to a high level throughout the championship, played over four courses in the Hua-Hin region. All the team members finished in the top ten of their categories resulting in a second place overall finish behind Russia and ahead of the 21 other countries that took part.
Speaking at the reception, Antonio Souivrón emphasised the Junta’s commitment to sport as a means of making a more cohesive society. He highlighted the importance of golf as not only an important sport but also an important element in making tourism less seasonally-dependent.
Antonio Sánchez said he was not surprised with the team’s success as Mijas offered ideal facilities for playing and practising golf. He congratulated the team on their “great effort” that brought the name of Mijas and Spain to a worldwide audience. He also mentioned the policy of the Town Hall in promoting amateur sport and paid tribute to La Cala Resort, which he said was internationally recognised as a sporting complex of the highest level.
La Cala’s Director of Leisure, José Navas, also paid tribute to the team for their “magnificent result” and said that complexes like La Cala Resort existed because, “amateur players like these team members who have made golf their passion, hobby and, many times, the reason for travelling to play other courses. These dedicated amateurs have helped to make the Costa del Sol one of the main reference points for golf tourism in the world at large.” He added that the resort would continue to support the event over the coming years.
Team spokesman, Carlos Ruiz, thanked the Town Hall and the resort for the help they had both provided. He referred to what he described as “the priceless experience of representing your country in an international competition that was run along the same lines as a professional tournament.”
The World Golfers’ Championship was first held in 1995 and the destination for the final changes annually. It is officially supported by Arnold Palmer and Severiano Ballesteros. The La Cala team was led by non-playing Captain, Ana Nyblom and consisted of: Juan Antonio Ruiz Batana (hcp 0-5); Adam Ford (hcp 6–10); Pedro Antonio Corral (hcp 11-15); Eduardo Casasola (hcp 16-20) and Carlos Ruiz Castilla (hcp 21-25).
Over the past 20 years, La Cala Resort has developed into the biggest golf and leisure destination in Spain with 3x18 hole courses, a luxury hotel & spa plus a David Leadbetter Academy. The resort is ideally located in the heart of the Costa del Sol between Marbella and Mijas and only 30 minutes from Málaga Airport.
