Last week saw the Portimão area host the inaugural Europcar International Trophy, a new annual event designed to link the international car hire firm’s brand with the most popular sport in the Algarve.
Although primarily aimed at foreign participants, entries for the tournament are equally welcome from local residents. This year the Pestana Gramacho, Pinta, Silves and Alto courses were chosen to stage the 72-hole stroke play competition while the same company’s Alvor Praia and Dom João II Hotels provided the accommodation for the 100 competitors.
Under normal circumstances, the players would compare scores having experienced each of the four courses on separate days – however, the tornado, which hit the region on the final Friday, curtailed the proceedings and resulted in Portuguese-American John Bernardino (212 strokes) and Austrian Silvia Knapp (224) being declared the general net classification gentlemen and lady player winners.
The success of the event, despite the at-times inclement weather conditions, has given sponsors and organisers every hope that the planned 2013 repeat in Vilamoura will be even bigger and better.
