The Seve Ballesteros-designed Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri in Cadiz will host the fourth edition of the innovative Andalucía Match Play 9 from June 11-14, 2020.
One of three Spanish events on the 2020 Road to Mallorca, the Andalucía Match Play 9 has become a popular event amongst European Challenge Tour members and will mark its fourth staging when the action gets under way in June.
The exciting week is comprised of 36 holes of stroke play with the top 64 players making it through to the weekend – where they will compete in a series of nine-hole match play battles for a share of the €200,000 prize fund.
On Saturday the opening knockout rounds will be played on both the front nine and back nine. While Sunday will see the quarter finals, semi-finals and final all contested on the front nine.
European Tour winner Aaron Rai was the first to reign supreme at the event, when he defeated Gavin Moynihan in 2017 at La Cala Resort, before Liam Johnston beat his countryman and roommate for the week Grant Forrest a year later at Valle Romano Golf. Last year saw Eirik Tage Johansen come out on top as he beat Ugo Coussaud to the title for his first Challenge Tour win as Estepona once again witnessed four days of eye-catching golf.
Jaime Salaverri, President of the Professional Committee at the Spanish Golf Federation, said: “The Andalucía Match Play 9 is the only event on the Challenge Tour to be played in this format and it will help the players to prepare for similar events later in their careers.
“The Spanish players have always played well in Match Play and we hope that the fourth edition and the 30th anniversary of the golf course will be celebrated with a Spanish triumph.”
Andalusian Golf Federation President, Pablo Mansilla, said: “Besides having the opportunity to play two different formats in the same event, the Match Play 9 holes will be very good for the speed of the game, and for the spectators to enjoy watching golf filled with drama. There is no doubt that it will be a great golf test among the best players on Challenge Tour.”
Rafael Hernández Alcalá, Manager at Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri, said: “This golf course has hosted some of the best golf events in our country and it is now time to welcome the Challenge Tour players for this innovative format. It will be great for the game, they will enjoy playing the course in its best conditions and the golf course will have the deserved impact.
“This is the 30th anniversary of Destino Turistico Chiclana - a golf benchmark in Europe - and allows us to showcase our golf club which has been growing and getting better over the years, as proved by all the recognitions received, not only for the golf courses but also for our facilities.”
