The Algarve presents the “perfect setting” for the final tournament of the 2024 EDGA Tour calendar with the tenth EDGA Algarve Open at Pestana Vila Sol, held from November 21-23.
The Algarve Tourism Association and EDGA launched the event in 2014, this becoming a regular feature to complete EDGA’s ‘G4D’ (golf for the disabled) season for golfers who have a range of physical, neurological, intellectual and sensory impairments.
A full field of 74 players from 16 nations will arrive for the tournament which has become well-known for providing an exciting competitive test but in a highly welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all the players, especially those attending an international event for the first time.
There are trophies in three divisions to play for: Gross, Net and Stableford, with golfing handicaps ranging from ‘scratch’ (0.0) to 35. Winners of the 2023 tournament, Charles-Henri Quélin of France (Gross), Ian Dixon of England (Net) and Liliane Cambré of Belgium (Stableford), will be returning to defend their titles, and there are many past-winners present.
This two-round tournament has witnessed a number of gripping finishes over the attractive Vila Sol course (par 72 for the event), none more so than last year’s Gross trophy, as Quélin, fellow Frenchman Thomas Colombel, Mari Berkers of the Netherlands and Sweden’s Rasmus Lia were all faced with a sudden-death play-off after a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard, with Charles-Henri Quélin prevailing to win the trophy only after the fourth extra play-off hole.
“Due to the high quality field of players, the beautiful surroundings and the warmest of welcomes we always receive from the Pestana Vila Sol team, the EDGA Algarve Open has become a much-loved tournament for golfers with a disability,” said EDGA President Dr Tony Bennett.
“Vila Sol and the Algarve Tourism Association came forward in 2014 to help create the first EDGA Algarve Open. We only had 30 players, and yet the atmosphere was so good that since then we have had a full field of 74 players and a lot of reserves every year. This event has become a perfect setting that blends competition with a wonderful feeling of inclusion. Many of these golfers have helped to shape the history of the tournament and always welcome and encourage players who are new to experiencing international events.
“Several world number ones played their first G4D tournament at the EDGA Algarve Open, and as such we can truly state that golf can change the lives of people with disability. It’s a game everyone should take a look at, from simply putting and chipping, to the longer, full game.”
Tony Bennett added: “Vila Sol offers a great advertisement for the Algarve to players and their families, while the EDGA golfers create an excellent showcase for how people with a disability can reach their potential in a chosen sport.”
The event is one of more than 120 tournaments which EDGA runs, badges or supports in the year. These are central to the ‘player pathway’ which helps people with a disability to sample the game for the first time, play regularly, and/or seek to compete at all levels, including landmark tournaments such as The G4D Open (staged by The R&A in partnership with the DP World Tour), the G4D Tour (staged by the DP World Tour), the European Individual and Team Championships (European Golf Association), and the RSM European Play-offs; all supported by EDGA.
During this year’s tournament EDGA’s leading research in G4D will be further boosted by the capturing of performance data to gain further understanding of how golfers with a disability maximise their performance; detailed work at this event focusing on short-game and bunker play, with the provision of a short-game clinic for players and coaches.
EDGA is an international not-for-profit association which works with 50 National Golf Federations from around the world, and provides advice, guidance and standards to leading golfing bodies, including The IGF, The R&A, and The EGA.
The staging of the EDGA Algarve Open is being made possible once again thanks to supporters of EDGA, including The R&A, European Tour Group, RSM, PING, Srixon, and Ottobock.
Find out more: www.edgagolf.com