Barcelona Open (golf) explained

Barcelona Open
Location:Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Establishment:1981
Course:Real Club de Golf El Prat
Par:72
Tour:European Tour
Format:Stroke play
Month Played:March
Final Year:1988
Aggregate:266 Neil Coles (1982)
To-Par:−16 Seve Ballesteros (1985)
Final Champion: David Whelan
Map:Spain#Catalonia
Map Label:RCG El Prat
Map Relief:yes
Map Size:200
Coordinates:41.572°N 2.056°W

The Barcelona Open was a professional golf tournament that was held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Founded as the Sanyo Open in 1981, it was an event on the European Tour from 1982 until 1988, after which it was replaced on the tour schedule by the Catalan Open. For the first two editions it was played at Club de Golf Sant Cugat, and thereafter at Real Club de Golf El Prat.

After sponsors Sanyo withdrew following the 1986 tournament, promoters IMG supported the event in 1987. However persistent bad weather rendered the El Prat course unplayable and the tournament was ultimately postponed until 1988.

The two most notable winners were Spanish major champions Seve Ballesteros in 1985 and José María Olazábal in 1986. The final tournament in 1988 was won by England's David Whelan, who defeated Nick Faldo, Barry Lane and Mark Mouland in a four-way playoff. Whelan, who had borrowed money from his parents in order to make the trip to Spain to compete in the tournament, triumphed at the 4th extra hole after the four players had tied at 276 (12 under par) after 72 holes.

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upVenueRef.
Barcelona Open
align=center colspan=6Cancelled
Torras Hostench Barcelona Open
276 −12 Playoff El Prat [1] [2]
Barcelona Open
align=center colspan=5Cancelled due to course flooding El Prat [3] [4]
Sanyo Open
273 −15 3 strokes El Prat [5]
272 −16 3 strokes El Prat
281 −7 Playoff El Prat [6]
279 −9 1 stroke El Prat
266 −14 1 stroke Sant Cugat [7]
1981 268 −12 3 strokes Sant Cugat [8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Rags-to-riches win for Whelan after four-hole play-off . . 19 March 1988 . 2011-02-01.
  2. Web site: Barcelona Open 1988 . . 2011-02-01.
  3. News: Sport in brief Golf . The Guardian . London, England . 15 October 1987 . 30 . Newspapers.com . 7 June 2020 . subscription.
  4. News: Miller . David . Threat to the welfare of golf . The Times . London, England . 20 October 1987 . 48 . The Times Digital Archive . 7 June 2020 . limited.
  5. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . Ebel World of Professional Golf 1987 . Mark McCormack . Collins Willow . 1987 . 221–223, 439 . 0002182572.
  6. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . Ebel World of Professional Golf 1985 . Mark McCormack . Springwood Books . 1985 . 193 - 194, 399 . 0862541247.
  7. News: £10,000 prize for Neil Coles . The Glasgow Herald . Glasgow, United Kingdom . 11 October 1982 . 7 October 2023 . 14 . Google News Archive.
  8. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . Dunhill World of Professional Golf 1982 . Mark McCormack . Springwood Books . 1982 . 205, 420 - 421 . 0862541018.