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2011 Gtour Semi-Final

Posted by: Adam Smith on Mon 21 Nov 2011

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The UK semi-final of the 2011 Gtour season came to a dramatic conclusion as the 10 qualifiers booked their seats on the plane to Aphrodite Hills, Cyprus in January for the two-day final taking place between 19 - 23 January 2012.

De Vere Belton Woods was a fitting venue for the two-round semi final where all of the Order of Merit points that were won over the season were reset meaning the top-52 players that held those spots in the Race to Cyprus all had a chance of reaching the final.

Qualifiers

The 10 qualifiers that were successful and will battle it out for the 2011 Race to Cyprus crown are Colin Ainsworth, Steve Howarth, Russell Farrow who was leading after day one, John Moore, Linas Bucys, Michael Goodwin, two-time Order of Merit winner and defending champion Shane Davies, Daniel Alvarez, Graham Miles and Ian Huxford.

It’s certainly been a season to remember as the Gtour has once again gone from strength to strength with more events, great sponsors and the addition of the final in Cyprus to look forward to for those lucky enough to have qualified.

The players played the Woodside course on the first day of the semi-final and scoring was very good as the standard that the Gtour sets surprised many including the greenkeeping staff who were keen not to have a repeat on the second day around the Lakes course.

Good weather conditions also set-up the players to score low as over half of the field played to their handicap or better.

To their surprise players coming in and around playing to their handicaps found themselves mid-table and with some work to do on the final day.

“The first day I shot 35 points and to my surprise I was 28th” said Qualifier John Moore.

“On the second day I shot 37 points and didn't think it would be enough but to my surprise I was that day’s leader and I’m glad I qualified. Thankfully it stayed dry throughout as well.”

Colin Ainsworth, who finished in joint first place over the two days, is really looking forward to the challenge ahead in Cyprus:

“I had already booked my annual leave for Cyprus, as it is far easier to cancel it if you don’t qualify than book it when others are already off. I’m really looking forward to it, I’m glad I’ve met a few of the others who will be there and expect to have a good laugh as well as enjoy a couple of rounds of golf. I hope I play well and it would be great to be successful but whittling down the best 52 to the best 10 means we’ll have a lot of really consistent golfers and it should be a closely fought thing.”

Scoring on the second day was certainly tougher and the course staff stuck to their word on making the course more difficult. Tees were pushed back and some pins were tucked away in some tricky positions. The players knew if they were to qualify then they’d have to play well.

Defending champion Shane Davies knew he had to come out fighting on the second day after sitting in 33rd place overnight and with the course playing like it was he knew it wouldn’t be easy:

“It was a strange predicament for me, one where you couldn’t win it on the first day, but it was in your mind that you could easily throw it away.

“I knew that I had to play aggressive for the second round, so this probably made it easier for me as nerves were not an issue.

“I Finished 3rd on the second day, knowing that I should of easily won it with how I was striking the ball, if only I could have used my putter! This made waiting for the final positions nerve racking as I was thinking ‘had I done enough or had my putter let me down’?

“Thankfully and rather gratefully I made it through to Cyprus. There’s still an opportunity to retain my title with only nine players standing in my way. The final win be an experience to remember that is for sure. One of Europe's finest courses will no doubt prove a test for all 10 finalists and it is a challenge I am looking forward to.”

The Gtour continues to be a great success thanks to the great backing it has from sponsors and partners. De Vere, Srixon, Bunker Mentality, Single Minded Golf, Aphrodite Hills and most recently Aegean Airlines have provided the prizes and accommodation all year and will continue to do so into the new year.

The Final

Aphrodite Hills is home to a magnificent 18-hole championship golf course, spreading over 6,299 metres and overlooking the site where Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is said to have emerged from the sea. The golf course also has a dedicated 3-hole Golf Academy and magnificent clubhouse.

Business Development Director of Aphrodite Hills Resort, Andreas Vasiliou is looking forward to welcoming the finalists to Cyprus early next year:

“It will be a great occasion, I’m sure everybody will have a good time. Aphrodite is a 5* Championship golf course and it will provide a great challenge for the qualifiers and it will certainly be an excellent experience for everyone involved.”

Providing the flights for the final, Aegean Airlines were delighted to come on board and support the Tour.

“With the new route into Larnaca from Heathrow starting at the end of 2011 into 2012, golf was very much a specialist market in Cyprus,” Said Vicky Bruce of Aegean Airlines.

She continued, “We wanted to target the sport along with our new route so working alongside the Tour and Aphrodite Hills we have had great exposure and we’re always looking to the future.”

Gtour’s Tournament Director Colin Astbury had big plans for the Tour at the start of the year and is delighted to have seen them come off and the first year of the Race to Cyprus be a resounding success.

“It is thanks to all of our players and partners that our third year on tour has been another successful one. We must thank De Vere Venues, Moor Allerton Golf Club and Mannings Heath Golf Club for providing us with outstanding venues and a very warm welcome.

He continued, “Our partners have been ultra supportive and have helped to make the Gtour what it has become today so we would like to thank Bunker Mentality, Srixon, Aphrodite Hills Resort Cyprus, Single Minded Golf, Aegean Airlines and of course the Cypriot Tourist Office.

“We are now looking forward to joining the 10 Grand Finalists in Cyprus in January to see who comes out on top of the 2011 Gtour Race to Cyprus.”

Follow the updates as they happen next year and throughout the year at www.gtour.co.uk and also get live scoring updates by finding them on facebook and following @gtour on Twitter.

Full Leaderboard for the semi-final