Algarve returns prize

Nov 14 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PA Sunshine Challenger Greg Roach yesterday pledged to mount another bold bid for Algarve glory.

The 39-year-old Perth paramedic lapped-up life in Portugal, returning to Scotland with a nearest the pin prize and runner-up spot in a team stableford event to compensate for missing out on the luxury trip to Penina which was up for grabs, courtesy of event sponsors Bill Goff.

Greg, from Wolfhill, was pipped to the 2008 PA matchplay title by past champion Vic Trojan at Gleneagles – but happily stepped into the breach when the winner found himself double booked with a golf tournament already fixed-up in Spain.

Five-handicapper Greg found himself off the pace after a disappointing opening 28-point salvo at challenging Palmares, before finding his true form with a splendid 38 at Morgado.

That resuscitated his chances but a closing 30 over Vale da Pinta, a resort championed by Nick Price, ensured his Algarve trip wouldn’t be crowned by the UK championship.

Instead, it was 22-handicapper Chris Swaby, representing the Yorkshire Post, who bagged the Penina package teed-up by golf break specialists Bill Goff. But it required a countback to pip six-handicap Alastair Strange, from the Chichester Observer.

Greg, a father of one playing out of Glenisla, said: “I loved the whole event based around the four star Tivoli Almansor Hotel in Carvoeiro.

“It was fantastic. I had no idea what to expect but I’ll definitely try to get back next season.

“No wonder past PA champions always enter the competition. Once you’ve had a taste of the finals you want more.

“This season I was just enjoying taking part. The problem now is that I really want to win it next time round because Portugal was just so good!

“Everyone was very friendly and the event was well organised. All the courses were enjoyable but Pinta has to go down as my favourite. It is hosting a European Seniors qualifier and it was in magnificent condition.”

He’d played on holiday in the Caribbean but the Sunshine Challenge on the Algarve lived up to its name, with temperatures around 70 degrees providing the best possible conditions for 11 newspaper contenders to build scores.

Greg, joined by Gordon Bannerman from PA Sport, and Yorkshire Post pairing Chris Stratford and his champion Chris Swaby, were denied the stableford team competition honours by a single point over Alamos.

But it was the first day score at Palmares which rankled with Greg.

“Palmares is a combination of links and parkland golf,” he said. “It was the first time in years I’d failed to get more than 30 points in a stableford and I found myself eight off the pace.

“But I was in better shape in the Monchique hills with a 37 over Morgado, just one behind the best score posted that day.

“I was five off the pace and back in with a shout. But the gap proved too big to close over the final day at Pinta. I’d left it with too much to do.

“I had to adjust my game over there. Thankfully the weather was much better than it has been in Scotland but the grass around the greens can snag the ball.

“It was nice bonus to get a nearest the pin prize. I was three feet from the hole but didn’t have to worry about picking up a bar tab for a hole in one!”

LOCAL golfers eager to emulate Greg by winning a trip to the Algarve should look out for details of the 2009 PA Sunshine Challenge appearing early in the New Year.