European Seniors at Vilamoura

International European Senior Amateur Championships June 2007 Oceânico Pinhal and The Oceânico Old Course

The Oceânico Group recently hosted the International European Amateur Seniors Championship at Vilamoura. Oceânico already sponsors several of the leading young golfers of Portugal, plus several Tour professionals, the up-and-coming professionals of the EuroPro tour and Lady professional Vanessa Bell.

Now Oceânico is proud to have played host to many of the top amateur Seniors from around the world at Pinhal and the Old Course during June. A total of 141 players competed in the men’s competition on the Pinhal Course and 70 in the Ladies competition on the Old Course.

Norman Swenson from the United States took the Men's title with a 54-hole level-par total of 216. And Virginie Burrus from France won the Ladies’ Championship with a one-over par total of 220.The tournament was a huge success, with both the EGA and the Portuguese Federation—not to mention the players—heaping high praise on the quality of Oceânico’s courses, services and organisation. So much so that the Championship will return to the Algarve next year, before the Championship moves on to Greece.

David Lane from Goring & Streatley, who won the English senior men's championship a week earlier, set the early pace with a 69 at Pinhal on the opening Friday, June 15, leading by one shot from Scotland's Donald McCart. In the senior women's amateur championship over the Vilamoura Old Course, Marina Buscaini (Italy) led with a one-over-par 74 from former champion Cecilia Mourgue D'Algue (France). Leading Briton in joint third place was former Scottish women's champion Fiona Anderson, formerly from Blairgowrie but now Formby Ladies. Fiona had a 76. On the second day at Pinhal, Norman Swenson from the United States set the pace on 141 with McCart in third place on 145 after rounds of 70 and 75.

In the women's even at the Old Course, Fiona De Vries, the 2006 Scottish Senior women’s champion, and Fiona Anderson both finished the day on 153, three shots behind joint leaders Else Kalsted (Denmark) and Cecilia Mourgue D'Algue (France). On the final day Swenson held onto his lead—and his nerve—to finish three shots ahead of Ireland’s Maurice Kelly with England’s Terence Brown the highest-placed Brit in 6th place, eight shots behind the winner.
And in the women’s final round St Andrews hotelier De Vries achieved the highest finish of all the Scots – men and women – who took part in the championships.

St Rule member Fiona finished sixth in the women’s event over the Vilamoura Old Course with rounds of 78, 75 and 78 for a total of 231 - nine shots behind the women’s champion, Virginie Burrus from France. Bogeys at the two of the last four holes cost Mrs De Vries a possible top four finish. Former Scottish women’s amateur champion Fiona Anderson, formerly of Blairgowrie but now living in Merseyside and a member of Formby Ladies, finished joint ninth with scores of 76, 77 and 83 for 236. Helen Faulds and Maureen Richmond tied for 15th place on 238.

FINAL TOTALS

MEN (at Vilamoura Pinhal)

Par 216 (3 x 72)
Pos. Name Club To PAR Total Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
1 Norman Swenson USA PAR 216 73 68 75
2 Maurice Kelly IRL + 3 219 73 71 75
3 Miguel Preysler De La Riva SPA + 5 221 73 74 74
4 Hans-Hubert Giesen GER + 6 222 73 74 75
5 Björn Ronning NOR + 7 223 76 72 75
6 Terence Brown ENG + 8 224 71 77 76
7 Gustavo Larrazabal SPA + 9 225 76 74 75
7 John Baldwin USA + 9 225 76 77 72
9 Alain Coune FRA + 11 227 80 76 71
9 Federico Lang ITA + 11 227 77 70 80

WOMEN (at Vilamoura Old Course)

Par 219 (3 x 73)
Pos. Nome Clube To PAR Total Dia 1 Dia 2 Dia 3
1 Virginie Burrus FRA + 1 220 76 75 69
2 Cecilia Mourgue D'Algue FRA + 4 223 75 75 73
3 Marina Buscaini ITA + 9 228 74 79 75
4 Else Kalstad DIN + 10 229 78 72 79
5 Viveka Hoff SWE + 11 230 79 75 76
6 Fiona De Vries SCO + 12 231 78 75 78
7 Ann-Kristin Hermansson SWE + 12 231 79 74 78
8 Maj-Britt Heden SWE + 13 232 79 78 75
9 Christine Quinn ENG + 17 236 79 79 78
10 Mimmi Guglielmone SWI + 17 236 82 80 74