The first of two European Challenge Tour events to be played at the Ibersotar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri, Chiclana de la Frontera, will be the Challenge de Cadiz. Both tournaments were presented on Monday in the presence of the authorities that make the events possible.
The event was chaired by Mr. José María Román, Mayor of Chiclana de la Frontera, Deputy of Tourism and First Vice President of the Diputación de Cádiz; Mr. Jaime Armario, Deputy of Sports of the Diputación de Cádiz, Mr. Pablo Mansilla, President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation and on behalf of the RFEG; Ms. Pepa Vela, Delegate of Tourism of the City of Chiclana, Mr. Rafael Hernández Alcalá, Director of the Golf Club of Chiclana de la Frontera, Mr. Rafael Hernández Alcalá, Director of the Golf Club of Chiclana de la Frontera, Mr. Rafael Hernández Alcalá, Director of the Golf Club of Chiclana de la Frontera, Mr. Rafael Hernández Alcalá and Mr. Rafael Hernández Alcalá. Rafael Hernández Alcalá, Director of the Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri; Mr. José Mª Zamora, Tournament Director of the European Challenge Tour and Mr. Javier Gervás, Director of JGolf.
Javier Gervás who opened the presentation stated that we must "highlight the quality of the players, there are a total of 156 professionals from more than 24 countries.
We have some of the best players of the Challenge Tour ranking, which represents the level that will be experienced in the Challenge de Cadiz. The prize fund will be 200,000 euros of which 32,000 euros will be for the winner and their images will be distributed both nationally through Movistar + and internationally meaning it will reach more than 166 million homes around the world. Cadiz will undoubtedly be in the spotlight of world golf".
Pablo Mansilla continued thanking "the authorities and institutions that are committed to golf because they know well that it is a great industry, a creator of residential and seasonal tourism, winter, which is what we have to look for in Andalusia, showing them, as we do with golf, that in Andalusia you can live well all year round, where winters are fantastic.
From the sporting point of view, for the RFEG and Andalusia is great to have two Challenge Tour events for Chicalana and Andalusia. I am sure that the Challenge of Cadiz will continue to be played for many years because it is important for everyone, especially our players. We have just experienced the victory of Santiago Tarrío last week in the Czech Challenge and we have many players every week challenging at the top of the leaderboard. Last year we had a Spanish winner and I hope that this week at the Challenge de Cadiz, and next week at the Challenge de Espana, we will also have a Spanish winner".
The director of the Seve Ballesteros designed course, Rafael Herndández Alcalá said "We must thank the public and private sectors, because together we have once again managed to have two tournaments of this stature in this tourist destination which, as you know, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Today we clearly have a wonderful destination for golf but this was not the case thirty years ago. The City Council, private Moll Family and a great golfer and course designer, our beloved Seve Ballesteros were very clear about what they wanted to turn Chiclana in to and left a lasting legacy that we can still develo pinto the future. The two events are a tribute to Severiano Ballesteros on the tenth anniversary of his death and I hope that all the players enjoy his course and Chiclana de la Frontera".
Jaime Armario stated that "What was born last year as an opportunity, this year is a consolidation of that. We hope that this Challenge becomes a firm appointment in the European Challenge Tour, and we are working on it from the Diputación de Cádiz, to be a territory of sporting events. Cadiz is a magnificent destination for all sports and sporting events. With tournaments like this we can get fantastic exposure, because it is undoubtedly a great showcase for the province of Cadiz.
José Mª Román closed the presentation on behalf of the City Council of Chiclana and the Provincial Council of Cádiz: "In the Challenge de Cádiz and Challenge de Espana we can see fantastic golf championships and events that can help promote Cadiz as a tourist destination. The media and television coverage will be a great advertisement for Cadiz. It is difficult to find such an open area that combines so many fantastic facilities and at the same time all the security measures that we have; golf being a perfect example of this.
When you come here, you come to play golf. Our purpose is to continue increasing the number of sporting events that we host so that more people come to this destination. We have a magnificent field for the evento and it will showcase to all Europeans that they can come to play in Cadiz.
The Challenge of Cadiz, which will be played at the Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri from 10 to 13 June.
Event sponsors: Royal Spanish Golf Federation, Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, Diputación de Cádiz, Provincial Tourism Board of Cadiz, City Council of Chiclana, Superior Sports Council, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, EDP Solar, Allianz, AON, Halcón Viajes, Kyocera (official printing services), Iberostar (Official Hotel), Solán de Cabras and Hospital Viamed Novo Sancti Petri.
Tournament promoter: JGolf.
