The European Senior Tour helped pass on its legacy to the new generation at the Benahavis Senior Masters this week when some of the tour’s greatest golf legends played in a nearest-to-the-pin competition with some of the area’s top young golfing prospects.
Argentina’s Horacio Carbonetti, Spaniards Victor Garcia, Antonio Garrido, Manuel Piñero, Juan Quiros and Angel Fernandez of Chile all gave the kids some tips on their impressive swings as they attempted to beat the professionals at their own game
Playing in teams of three including a professional each, they all had two tries and in front of the cameras, parents, officials and Senior Tour professionals, the children were not fazed one bit.
Incredibly, many of the children - some as young as five years of age - put the ball to within a few feet, closer than some of the pros, and many more of them landed the ball on the green.
The professionals showed their true class too with some superb shots and the day was rounded up with a fairytale finish as Angel Fernandez, with the last shot of the day, put the ball straight into the hole to the uproarious delight and amazement of everyone present.
Despite that incredible finish, it was in fact Carbonetti’s team who emerged victorious after a superb performance from the kids on his team. A fun evening was had by all and no doubt the young players will never forget the experience.
The Benahavis region is leading the way in developing golfing talent with 12 golf courses in the local region, where golf is part of the school curriculum and all of the young boys and girls can avail of free rounds on the numerous pristine golf courses in the area.
No doubt this work will come to fruition in the future by producing some of Spain’s top players.
