SOUTH AMERICAN GOLFERS SHINE DURING 7TH WORLD GOLF TEACHERS CUP

WORLD GOLF TEACHERS CUP - BRAZIL

February 15-19, 2005
www.brgtf.com.br
:: FOR SCORES AND RESULTS - CLICK HERE ::

Any concerns that the World Golf Teachers Cup is not a major event were completely erased February 15-19 at the Sao Jose Golf Club in Itu, Brazil. With coverage from all major Brazilian networks, ESPN-Brazil, and Golf Digest-Brazil, as well as the largest purse in Cup history, the seventh playing of the WGTC will likely be seen as one of the turning points in the event's history.

From tournament organizer Luiz Martins and host professional Luis Menezes, to tournament committee members Henrique Hollanda and Antonio Araujo, our Brazilian hosts made sure everything about the event was top-notch. The competitive storylines included whether the United States could hold onto its traditional dominance in the team event, and if North American stalwarts Dave Belling from Ontario and Mark Harman from Georgia would continue their fine play in the WGTC south of the equator. Belling came in as the defending champion, while Harman had never finished lower than second in the previous six individual championships.

Day one saw the start of the 36-hole individual event, with 82 players from 22 countries teeing it up. The 6,530-yard Sao Jose course featured firm and fast fairways, moderately tight landing areas, challenging greens, and excellent conditioning - in short, a terrific championship layout. As expected, the South Americans got off to a great start. Raul Fretes from Paraguay, a former European Tour player, seized the first-round lead with a 2-under par score of 70, along with fellow countryman Pedro Martinez. Brazilians Priscilo Diniz, a European Senior Tour player, and Alex Leite were another stroke back at 72, along with Harman. Chile's Pedro Yanes was in at 73.

Day two found another beautiful day, weather-wise. Harman seized the lead at -4 with four consecutive birdies on holes 8 through 11, but bogies on 12, 13, and 15 took their toll. Martinez started slowly by going +3 after two holes and never recovered. Yanes moved up the leaderboard with a fine 70 to finish at 1-under 143.

Meanwhile, Fretes and Diniz utilized their international experience in playing steady if unspectacular golf. Both wound up with 71's, but Fretes's two-day total of 141 was enough to best Harman, Diniz, and Yanes by two strokes. Defending champion Belling pieced together a fine round of 69, but his first day's score of 77 left him with too much ground to make up.

Concurrent with the second day's play was the first round of two-round team qualifying, counting five of six scores for each team. Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Caribbean were safely ensconced in the top four. Meanwhile, defending champion Team USA (Harman, Mike Stevens, Bruce Sims, Jerry Moore, Thomas Wartelle, and Jim Perez) found itself in fifth place, unable to match its form from previous championships.

The final round of team qualifying highlighted day three. Brazil and Paraguay flip-flopped positions to qualify for the championship match. Argentina and Caribbean held onto its third and fourth place seedings. Meanwhile, Team USA could not mount a charge and remained in fifth, meaning that there would be no team championship for the Americans this year.

Day four brought the match play finals, with each team playing six individual matches. Teams were seeded in order of their stroke-play qualifying, with 1 vs 2, 3 vs, 4, etc., to decide the final placings. Perhaps the strain of hosting the event was too much, or perhaps home country expectations were too high, but whatever the case, Brazil came out on the losing end of a 5-1 score to Team Paraguay, which captured its first WGTC team title.

The final day of play on February 19 featured a Pro-Am with some of the most important dignitaries in Brazil. Twenty-six professionals teed it up with 78 amateurs in a best-ball format. The Pro-Am served to introduce high-level golf to some of the most influential people in Brazil, with the hopes of further popularizing the sport in that country.

The location of the 8th World Golf Teachers Cup will be announced in the near future.

Team Event Results

Individual Results

OPEN DIVISION PURSE BREAKDOWN
1st: $5,000
2nd: $3,000
3rd: $2,000
4th: $1,000
5th: $700
6th: $600
7th: $500

LADIES DIVISION PURSE BREAKDOWN
1st: $2,000
2nd: $1,000
3rd: $500

Sponsors of the World Golf Teachers Cup

• UNIBANCO AIG (TILTLE)
• LG ELECTRONICS (TITLE)
• FORBES MAGAZINE
• GAZETA MERCANTIL NEWS PAPER
• JORNAL DO BRASIL
• GLOBAL BLINDAGENS
• RHOSS PRINT
• CBG CONFEDERATION OF BRASIL
• SONARTEC
• TERRAS DE SÃO JOSÉ GOLFE CLUBE