PGA celebrates its 80th anniversary with tournament

By Gabriela Padín Losada

Herald staff

The Argentine Professional Golfers Association (PGA) announced yesterday the 75th Argentine professional championship to be held at the San Isidro Golf Club on September 24-30 as part of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the PGA.

Golf icon and PGA honorary Vice-President Vicente “Chino” Fernández — among other speakers such as PGA President Sebastián Fernández, PGA Executive Director Carlos Rau, tournament director Marcelo Soria and sponsors representatives — talked about the relevance of this tournament.

“Our main objective is to improve the incomes for the professional golfers and to create better conditions for the newcomers to this sport. I have been playing many tournaments in Argentine cities in the last months and I noticed that there are a lot of skillful players in Argentina and we must support them with tournaments like this one,” said Fernández.

“I am currently playing my last career tournaments at the US Champions Tour. So, I remain most of the year in Argentina. I am pleasantly surprised of the talent and positive values by the young players,” added.

Entries for the tournament — with 400,000 dollars in prizes — are only available for professional golfers but there will be a Pro-Am on September 25 where 48 amateur golfers with national handicap will pair with a professional in an American four-ball tournament. Those interested in taking part can submit the application at the tournament website. Some personal objects donated by the main Argentine golfers will also be sold at auction.

Apart from Vicente Fernández, Andrés “Pigu” Romero and Carlos Franco also confirmed their participation while Ángel Ca- brera is trying to find some days off from his PGA Tour schedule to travel to Buenos Aires in order to play the tournament.