THE WINNER of this year’s Examiner Matchplay Golf Tournament is all set to be in ‘Seventh Heaven’ in Vilamoura.
For the millionaire’s playground on Portugal’s fabulous Algarve coast is where this year’s Examiner Matchplay champion (the seventh) will be heading in November, for a week-long completely FREE golfing holiday.
Once again, the opening round will be played over 36 holes on a home-and-away basis, with the rest of the competition drawn out after each round to determine home advantage.
The Knockout is again sponsored by The Examiner and Hanson Travel, and the climax will be staged at Bradley Park Golf Club, on Thursday, September 23 when the semi-finals and final will be played on the same day.
Examiner sports writer and competition organiser David Lockwood said: “We have enjoyed some excellent competitions over the last six years, with some really exciting finals to savour, and I’m sure this year’s will be no different.
“The Examiner Matchplay is widely acknowledged as carrying the biggest prize in amateur golf in Yorkshire with the first prize alone valued at over £700 (non-transferable) as well as having prizes for second, third and four places.
“And unlike other competitions, there are no regions, areas, etc, to win before getting to the actual final.
“With the Examiner Matchplay tournament, you get to the finals, you win it, and you are off – simple as that!”
“And it is open to anyone over the age of 18 with an official handicap, which has given a wide range of range of winners since it was first launched in 2004, with players from Huddersfield’s Richard Broadley (playing off scratch at the time) to Woodsome Hall’s Paddy Carmody (playing off 18) winning the Examiner Golf holiday.”
The Examiner’s Overseas Challenge is a particularly popular holiday for golfers, with five days of competition, usually spread over two or three different courses, all of which are spectacular.
And this year’s promises to be no different as Vilamoura is one of the most prized venues in the whole of Portugal.
The lucky Matchplay winner (with an option available for his or her partner) will join the Overseas Challenge party, departing from Leeds/Bradford on November 4, for the eight-day long jaunt on the Algarve.
The entrance fee to the Matchplay competition this year is £25, and open to anyone 18 years and over with an official handicap (men and ladies) and payable to Hanson Travel, and sent to David Lockwood at the Examiner, Queen Street South, Huddersfield HD1 3DU.
