Atalaya Opens the Waltz for the 10th Andalucía Golf Challenge

Juan David Carretero Castillo has clearly taken to travelling to the Caribbean with Andalucía Golf/España Golf magazine, and this season he is aiming to do so for a third consecutive year by becoming one of the winners of five trips that will be offered in the grand final of the 10th Andalucía Golf Challenge Circuit-Destination Dominican Republic Ocean's 4 Bahía Príncipe. The young Marbella golfer has already qualified – as scratch winner – for the grand final (at Finca Cortesín on 29 August) following the first leg of this popular open amateur circuit, played on 9 February at Atalaya Golf’s superb Old Course on the Costa del Sol.

As was the case last year with most of the tournaments on the Circuit, all available places for the Atalaya event were sold out more than a week in advance. The 100 players who gathered at the Old Course enjoyed not only a great design by Bernhard Von Limburger but also a splendidly sunny day, with pleasant temperatures and no wind.

The competition distributed numerous gifts – both to the best classified and during the raffle - sponsored by the Fairway + Blue store in Puerto Banús, Holiday Golf Group and Somontano Designation of Origin wines. The awards ceremony, at the Atalaya clubhouse, where a paella and salad was served, was chaired by Antonio Sánchez and Luis Navarro, of Andalucía Golf.

As for the results, the first category winner was Andrey Shultse, with 39 points, while second and third positions went to, respectively, Juan Carlos Mackintosh Cutillas and Alain John Navarro (both 37). In category two, Pablo Ortega Briesemeister led the way (42), second was Ismael Ortega Calvente (39) and third was Antonio Muñoz Lanzas (38). The scratch winner was Juan David Carretero Castillo (37). Those seven players have won places in the grand final at Finca Cortesín on 29 August. The special prize for ball closest to the pin at Atalaya went to Celia Nebot, and the longest drive prizes were won by Karina Budantseva and David Doyle.

The next Andalucía Golf Challenge Circuit-Destination Dominican Republic Ocean's 4 Bahía Príncipe event will be held on 7 March at Fairplay Golf & Spa Resort in Benalup (Cádiz province). To enter the competition, visit: www.andaluciagolfchallenge.com.

This hugely successful open amateur circuit organised by Andalucía Golf/España Golf magazine is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, highlighted by a significant increase in the number of clubs where it will be played: 16 (plus the grand final), six more than in the previous edition. It also extends its geographical scope, reaching more points around the country: in addition to the Costa del Sol, it will be held in Madrid, Sevilla, Segovia and Cádiz provinces.

Apart from the Circuit’s usual iconic Costa del Sol courses, this year it will also be played at Royal Sevilla, Golf Santander (Madrid), Retamares (Madrid), Los Angeles de San Rafael (Segovia) and Fairplay Resort (Benalup, Cádiz). The venues on the Costa del Sol are, in order of their dates: Atalaya Old Course, Royal Guadalhorce, Mijas Los Lagos, Santa Clara Marbella, Valle Romano, Royal Sotogrande, Los Arqueros, Royal Valderrama, San Roque New Course, Flamingos Villa Padierna, La Reserva de Sotogrande and Finca Cortesín.

As was the case in 2018 (in 2019 the destination was the Riviera Maya), the top five players on the Circuit will be rewarded with week-long trips to the Dominican Republic, with all-inclusive stays at the five-star Luxury Bahía Príncipe Bouganville hotel and golf at the spectacular Ocean's 4, Punta Espada and Teeth of the Dog courses. The planned date for the trip is from 26 October to 2 November 2020.

These five winners will be decided at the Circuit’s grand final on 29 August at Finca Cortesín, the venue for three editions of the Volvo Match Play World Championship. The leading three in each of the two categories plus the best scratch player in each tournament will gain places in the grand final. Prizes of a trip to the Dominican Republic’s Caribbean area will be secured by the top two players in each category and the scratch winner of the grand final.