Another year another fabulous St Andrews Day celebration. This year may well have surpassed all others. Our Scottish members always push the boat out and today was no exception. From the incredible costumes to the superb halfway house, then an array of wonderful prizes and the odd dram of malt whisky! What a day, what a brilliant event.
Many thanks to all the organisers but especially Stu and Kath Deans who excelled even their previous high standards.
The format was a two ball better ball and the leading three groups all came in with 45 points.
Photos and results below:
SdM completed their 2019 season at the annual Finals Day held at the Vila Sol golf course.
Six players who had represented the club throughout the year were drawn from a hat to play. Those that were lucky enough to be there had to have their waterproofs with them as the weather was not good. The buffet in the club house afterwards at the presentation ceremony was however fabulous.
SdM did not come in the prizes on the day but they did pick up the Interclub Knockout Trophy -again! having won the same cup last year.
Wendy Emrich, Marja Chapman and Karen Huxtable met Maria De Lurdes of the aoa.pt to present the cheque for €7,170 raised at SdM Pink Ladies Day 2019.
The ladies all met at the Centre De Saude in Albufeira where the mobile breast screening unit was available to assess many ladies from the local area. Maria arranged for the SdM ladies to have a look inside the mobile unit at the equipment. Maria De Lurdes was incredibly proud of the recent award she had received to recognise the work of her late husband, Dr. Santos Pereira. The founder of the aoa, 25 years ago, was awarded a Medal of Merit (posthumously) from the Order of Doctors of Northern Portugal.
Photos:
A fabulous weekend of golf in some testing conditions on Saturday and a very tranquil Sunday saw a keenly contested men's championship. With any one of eight players still in with a chance of winning Jimmy Cruz proved the more consistent. With rounds of 80 and 79 Jimmy saw of the challenge of Peter Hatherley the overnight leader (79,83).
Ladies Champion Marja Chapman (87,91) had a slightly easier run in over second place Ria Raap (93,98).
Congratulations to all those who worked so hard to make this such a successful event. Also many thanks to the Pestana greenkeepers who presented the course in fantastic condition.
Results:
A valiant effort from team SdM at the Interclub match yesterday at Pinheiros Altos (PA), we managed a very close second. However, we only lost three of our five games with one win and one half. The three points attained were enough to move us two positions up the league. Boavista and PA occupy the two top spots and are in a unassailable position with just a few games left ( Full details at www.Interclubalgarve.com ).
Just to emphasise the standard at PA, their star player made no less than nine birdies in the first thirteen holes, a superb display of golf. SDM have just two games left to secure a position in league one for next season. Our next game is at Vilasol on 30th September, we only have nine players registered at the moment and I will be naming the team next week. Our last League game is at Parque de Floresta on 8th October, please enter for these games on the website asap. The Interclub Finals Day is on 21 November, details on the website.
This year's President's Day was one of the most successful SdM has seen. Stunning weather, a large field of competitors and some wonderful food and beverages all contributed to a wonderful occasion.!
Club President Steve Edwards sounded the horn at 09.00 for the shotgun start and what turned out to be the closest contest started. The Seattle Shambles format made for some incredible scoring, and as you will see in the results section below in could not have been tighter for the minor placings. First place however was never in doubt as Wim and Marike Hofmann, Mick McFarlane and Dave Underwood came in with 97 points!
Along the way all groups visited our halfway house, this year's has been regarded as the best ever! A superb array of sandwiches, pork pies and nibbles accompanied by various drinks were provided by Peter, Gloria and Maggie, a fantastic effort.
Well done to all those who made this such a spectacular success.
The presentation dinner and dance was held at the stunning Vale d'Oliverias resort. The ambiance was fantastic, the food superb and the dancing went on late into the night.
A few of the club officers were given a tour of the new clubhouse today. It was agreed by all it's certainly going to be a very impressive building. We all look forward to it opening within the next couple of months. Here are some latest photos:
