The European Tour International Schedule will now feature five visits to Spain in 2007 with the announcement that a new tournament, the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia, will take place at the Aloha Golf Club from May 10-13 with a prize fund of €1 million.
A three year agreement with principal sponsor Junta de Andalucia will see the tournament staged at Aloha Golf Club in 2007. The Valle Romano Open de Andalucia joins the Open de España, the Open de Madrid, the Mallorca Classic and the Volvo Masters on the schedule.
Aloha Golf Club was designed by the renowned Spanish golf course architect, the late Javier Arana, for whom the course proved to his last project as he died nine months before its official opening in October 1975.
The club boasts European Tour winners Diego Borrego and Miguel Ángel Jiménez as Honorary Members and has hosted several prestigious golfing events in its 32 year history, including the Spanish Amateur Championship of 1978.
At 6,882 yards, the course will not be one of the longest on Tour but with narrow fairways and water hazards encroaching on seven holes, including the demanding uphill par four 18th, accuracy from the tee will be paramount for players hoping to break par.
An additional feature of the golf course is the wide variety of trees which border the fairways and greens, trees which were planted in a sequence to ensure blossom on the course throughout the year.
Keith Waters, Director of International Policy for The European Tour, said: “We would like to thank the sponsor Valle Romano and joint promoters Golf Acción and GFC Golf and Business, the respective companies of European Tour professionals Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño.
“Additionally, we are very grateful to the Junta de Andalucia for their support of this new event and the Volvo Masters over the last 19 years, and we also thank Aloha Golf Club for agreeing to host the tournament at short notice. We look forward to returning to this panoramic coast of Spain.”
Paco Sanchiz, from the organising committee, said: “It is a pleasure for us to announce today the new Valle Romano Open de Andalucia. Firstly, we would like to thank our two main sponsors, Valle Romano and Junta de Andalucía, for the belief and support they have shown in both us and The European Tour. Secondly, I would like to point out that the event will be organised by the companies founded by Miguel Ángel Jiménez (Golf Acción) and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (GFC Golf & Business).”
Sergio Moreno, Minister of Commerce, Tourism and Sport for Junta de Andalucía, said: “The staging of the Open de Andalucía is fantastic news for our community and puts our region on the map as a leader in hosting great sporting events.
“The tournament is without doubt an excellent opportunity to further enhance the image of Andalucía, at both national and international level, as a first-class tourism destination closely associated with golf, which is one of the sports that has contributed most to the financial development of our region.”
Luis Fernando Linares, Chief Executive Officer for Valle Romano, said: “In helping to bring this tournament back to The European Tour International Schedule Valle Romano is remaining faithful to its commitment to Andulacia and to professional golf.
“The Valle Romana Golf Resort at Estepona has developed into one of the best golf resorts in Europe and is renowned for its high quality of life, excellent sporting and cultural facilities and leading architectural design, and through the Open de Andulacia we are transmitting those values in perfect harmony with the Junta de Andalucía and The European Tour.”
